Summary
To gain a better understanding of the potential of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs (sustainable development goals), the report maps the environmental and social requirements of 13 international and regional VSSs against 10 targets from SDGs 2, 6, 8, 12, and 15. Practical reporting examples from Uganda, India, and Tanzania are used to identify how national governments can benefit from increased collaboration with these VSSs. The analysis finds that VSSs can help advance all the selected targets, with a particular emphasis on SDGs 6, 8, and 12. In order to support other national governments interested in leveraging VSS data in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), the report provides guidelines whic outline how VSSs and governments can enhance coordination and support one another in order to make progress towards the SDGs.