26 September 2017, Geneva.
Within the framework of the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) Forum, the Environment and Trade Hub contributed to a panel discussion on drivers and constraints for adopting sustainability standards in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Environment and Trade Hub represented UN Environment as well as the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS), a platform for international dialogue on voluntary sustainability standards, led by five collaborating UN agencies: UN Environment, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the ITC.
The panel discussion, part of the three-day T4SD event, was led by researchers from the German Development Institute’s (DIE) Managing Global Governance (MGG) network and centered on challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs with regard to voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) and the related demand for finance. The session shed light upon original case studies in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa and offered policy solutions such as credit schemes for SMEs and green procurement programs, among other government-led initiatives. Panelists also shared an array of common constraints including the rising cost of certification, low consumer awareness and a lack of technological support.
The Environment and Trade Hub offered insights into the conclusions presented in the case studies, highlighting the role of VSS in linking sustainable producers with environmentally conscious consumers. UNFSS was put forward as an initiative to exchange views and to help drive the VSS agenda, including through its support for national-level VSS platforms.
The panel followed a suite of dynamic sessions at the T4SD Forum, including on topics such as sustainable food systems and innovative partnership models for inclusive trade, in which UN Environment also participated.
For any additional information please visit the UNFSS, the T4SD Forum, and the MGG country case studies.
