Analysis and Insights

October 2025

Mapping the drivers of forest loss: how new data can inform strategies to protect the world’s forests

Why understanding the drivers of forest loss matters Ongoing forest loss and degradation due…

This blog presents research findings using satellite imagery and machine learning to identify the dominant drivers of global tree cover loss from 2001-2024, revealing that permanent agriculture caused 33% of losses, followed by wildfire and logging, with implications for targeting conservation efforts and monitoring supply chains.

Michelle Sims

September 2025

What cocoa certification in Indonesia means for forests and biodiversity

Imagine yourself in the supermarket, standing in front of the chocolate shelf. You are trying to decide between different chocolate bars.…

This blog explains that certification in Indonesian cocoa often falls short of protecting biodiversity and preventing deforestation, highlighting the need for stronger standards, better monitoring, and complementary policies to make sustainable chocolate truly impactful.

Saskia Dröge

September 2025

How are sustainability standards driving real-world change?

Scientific evidence shows sustainability standards help improve livelihoods, promote decent work, protect human rights and reduce deforestation. Their continued uptake…

In this blog, the Director of Policy and Engagement at ISEAL explains how sustainability standards are driving measurable real-world improvements in farmer livelihoods, environmental protection, and human rights, backed by scientific evidence showing they work best when combined with supportive policies and stakeholder collaboration.

Vidya Rangan

September 2025

Are we fighting forced labour or just managing it?

Introduction Current forced labour assessments may be institutionalising harm reduction instead of eradication –but what if we've been looking a…

This blog argues that current forced labour assessments are too reactive, focusing on visible abuses while missing systemic drivers. It highlights The Remedy Project’s new framework, which integrates decent work and business model indicators to enable earlier prevention, shared accountability, and more meaningful remediation across supply chains.

Vruti Patel

September 2025

Despite rampant deforestation, a billion hectares of forest are still standing. Here’s why

It has been a bad few years for the world’s tropical forests. Last year, annual records for the l…

This blog highlights that while tropical forests are still under severe threat, past successes in Brazil and Indonesia show deforestation can be dramatically reduced. The key lesson: political will and law enforcement are essential, but they depend on long-term pressure from civil society, public awareness, and international diplomacy to create the conditions for lasting forest protection.

Joss Lyons-White, Matthew Spencer, and Rachael D. Garrett

September 2025

Argentina and the EU Deforestation Regulation: challenges and opportunities

Deforestation is one of the main drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss. Much of it is linked to clearing…

This blog examines how the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) impacts Argentina, highlighting its economic and environmental effects, the country’s readiness to comply, and the broader lessons for aligning trade, sustainability, and supply chain governance. It emphasises that while short-term challenges exist, proactive engagement can turn regulatory compliance into opportunities for sustainable development and market competitiveness.

Pablo de la Vega

June 2025

Voluntary market-driven approaches in fisheries management: buttressing our government policies and regulations

Market-driven approaches to fisheries management incentivize producers to…

This blog examines how voluntary and government-led fisheries management measures affect the sustainability of fish stocks, finding that regulatory approaches typically have greater impact, while voluntary initiatives can provide complementary support.

Michael Melnychuk

June 2025

Driving change: practical insights for NGOs role in shaping agri-food sustainability

Sustainability standards are key to driving improvements in agri-food supply chains and NGOs play a…

This blog offers clear, research-based insights into how NGOs can drive real change in agri-food sustainability by making standards more practical, credible, and locally relevant.

Pilar Pampin and Clare Mike

June 2025

Promoting sustainable agro-commodity production through jurisdictional approaches: insights from a synthesis review

Amidst the ongoing search for more effective governance structures to promote…

This blog presents findings from a synthesis review of jurisdictional approaches as a model for promoting sustainable agro-commodity production.

Kate Macdonald, Janina Grabs, Rachael Diprose Bahruddin, Philip Shleifer

June 2025

Are sustainability systems reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Help us build the evidence base

2023 findings show some promise but many gaps remain. Join us in advancing the…

Tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a central priority for climate action – and understanding the role of sustainability systems in that effort is essential for guiding investments and policy. To strengthen and update this work, we now call on readers to contribute their work to help close these gaps.

Naomi Black

September 2024

World Benchmarking Alliance: 90% of world’s 2,000 most influential companies do not meet societal expectations on human rights

At a time when many people are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis…

The World Benchmarking Alliance’s 2024 Social Benchmark finds that the world’s 2,000 most influential companies are failing to fulfil societal expectations to foster a more equal and inclusive world.

Jill van de Walle

August 2024

Carrots rather than Sticks: how governance of Voluntary Sustainability Standards affects farmer welfare

Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) have gained prominence worldwide as a market-based…

VSS are designed to foster sustainability through different governance mechanisms, which can take the form of "carrots" or "sticks". Whilst VSS have been subject to much research attention, a vital gap in the evidence base remains: how does their governance design affect their impact?

Eva Boonaert, Charline Depoorter, Axel Marx and Miet Maertens.