Unstandardized standards: Examining the inconsistencies in global sustainability practices

As society faces mounting environmental challenges, sustainability has become a core value for many organizations and individuals. One promising solution to addressing these challenges is implementing sustainability standards for organizations.

To date, though, these standards have been far from standardized. To address this lack of consistency and explore possible solutions, Professor José Carlos Marques has been awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant for his project “Examining the global sustainability standards organizational landscape: A whole network analysis.”

An explosion of certifications

“We've seen an explosion of certifications and labels claiming to address social and environmental issues — this has led to a fair share of confusion and greenwashing,” says Marques. “My work seeks to shed light on how this network of standards operates, how it’s structured, and ultimately how it can be improved for greater transparency and impact.”

Marques adds, “On a personal level, I simply want to go to the grocery store and feel confident that the sustainability labels on the products in my cart truly represent sustainable practices.”

Investigating the system of sustainability standards

The growth, diversity, and relationships among the numerous sustainability standards affect nearly every supply chain and can lead to unintended sustainability outcomes. Marques suggests that it’s impossible to investigate this system without fully understanding it at an interorganizational level.

Marques will collect and analyze data on the global network of organizations often referred to as voluntary standard setting organizations (VSSOs). He aims to understand how these VSSOs are formed, structured and grow their membership and influence within the global system of sustainability standardization.

This research could open avenues for understanding how VSSOs interact with organizations and offer solutions to sustainability challenges. The research dataset will be shared, providing a foundation for future studies.

The research could also boost VSSO  efficiency, effectiveness, and overall environmental impact, thus shaping a more sustainable future.