Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) are standards developed at local, national or international level by organizations from the public and private sectors on environmental and social improvements. Private VSS are developed by businesses or not-for-profit NGOs¹.

In the agricultural sector, VSS promote sustainability along the value chain. They define criteria to be met by the certified organization or product, often resulting in an identifiable label for consumers.

Over the last decade, certified commodities markets have grown at annual rates between 20% and 100%², along with an increasing number of private standards. An increasing number of agricultural producers and traders get certified as they identify potential social, environmental but also economic benefits in VSS. Among the environmental and social labels, the most common in the agricultural sector are the Rainforest Alliance, organic agriculture and fair trade labels³.

VSS in the banana sector

Voluntary Sustainability Standards are becoming mainstream in the banana export market as big companies to measure and showcase the improvement of their practices to limit supply and reputational risks.

In 2013, most of the global certified banana production was compliant with GlobalG.A.P, followed by Rainforest Alliance, organic and Fairtrade⁴.

Between 2009 and 2012, standard-compliant banana production increased at a rate of 12% per annum⁵. Latin America is historically a sustainable crop production area: the region produces more than 90% of global standard-compliant bananas⁶.

Examples of VSS for bananas

Organic agriculture⁷

(refer to organic certifications in the banana industry)

• Organic products have to comply with national organic standards. Private organic standards also exist but do not replace the public organic standard in place.
• The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) federates 750 member organizations (non-governmental organic certifying organizations, producer organizations, NGOs, importers and retailers) in more than 120 countries.
• The IFOAM Family of Standards operates as basic voluntary standards to harmonize the different organic certifications.

Rainforest Alliance⁸

• The Rainforest Alliance certification is based on the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) Standard, which is built around the guiding principles of effective farm planning and management, protection of biodiversity and natural resources, and improved livelihoods.
• The standard is based on 10 social and environmental principles.
• Founded in 1997.
• Certifies producers of all sizes.
• The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) is an association of non-profit conservation organizations (including the Rainforest Alliance) that promote the environmental and social sustainability of agricultural activities through standards for best practices, certification and training for farmers.
• 3.5 million hectares of agricultural land has currently achieved Rainforest Alliance certification, and 1.4 million people have been trained in sustainable land use practices.

Fairtrade⁹

(refer to fair trade practices in the banana industry)

• The Fairtrade standard focuses on small farmer cooperatives and was originally oriented towards social criteria to guarantee fair trading relations and fair production conditions, increasingly incorporating environmental criteria over the years.
• Fairtrade International (FLO) is a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder association that develops Fairtrade standards.
• Founded in 1988 in Germany.
• The Fairtrade system includes 1,65 million farmers and workers in 1 226 producer organizations in 74 countries.

GlobalG.A.P.¹⁰

(refer to good agricultural practices in the banana industry)

• Focuses of production processes.
• The Global Partnership for Good Agricultural Practices was founded in 1997.
• Today, more than 400 member organizations such as producers, retailers, industry and service providers support the initiative in more than 100 countries.

SA8000® Standard¹¹

• Accredited social certification standard that helps organizations manage and demonstrate their dedication to the fair treatment of workers in any industry and anywhere in the world.
  
• Drives standards of social performance, benefiting both workers and businesses.
  
• Focuses on child labour, forced and compulsory labour, health and safety, freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, and remuneration, underpinned by a management system component that drives continual improvement
• Established by Social Accountability International (SAI) in 1997.

For more information, please refer to Banana industry good agricultural practices (GAP), ISO14001 standard for bananas, Organic certifications for bananas, Fair trade standards for bananas.