Summary
This report delves into the topic of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and how they can be used to promote more sustainable international trade. The first chapter provides an overview of the history and growth of VSS as a tool for transnational governance across various sectors and commodities. The second chapter examines the inner workings of VSS, including the actors involved in the certification process and the diversity among VSS. The third chapter assesses the effectiveness of VSS in terms of usage and impact on sustainability indicators, with a specific focus on social and environmental effects. The final chapter explores how VSS can be incorporated into public policy as a supplementary tool to achieve sustainability goals.