Sustainability Standards: Changing Lives and Unlocking Markets
Sustainability standards guide businesses in good environmental and social practices. They are also good for business, as more consumers and governments increasingly expect ethical trade.
That is why the International Trade Centre (ITC) has created the world’s largest repository of data on sustainability standards.
Meeting these standards changes lives—such as for Kelly Johana Granja, a young cocoa farmer and community leader in rural Colombia, whose products now reach markets in Belgium, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Building Opportunity Through Trade for Sustainable Development
Kelly’s journey was made possible through ITC’s Trade for Sustainable Development (T4SD) programme, with the long-standing support of the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) since 2009.
Through this partnership, the ITC Standards Map was launched in 2011. Today, it is the world’s largest repository of information on voluntary sustainability standards.
Developed as a global public good, the Standards Map provides detailed data on more than 360 sustainability standards across 19 sectors, ranging from cocoa and textiles to services.
From Standards to Impact on the Ground
Kelly lives in Colombia’s conflict-affected Caquetá region. She is one of 850 farmers in the Acamafrut association, a growing example of sustainable agriculture in action.
In 2015, Acamafrut joined a T4SD initiative—the Basic Guidelines for Sustainable Cocoa (LBCS). Developed with SECO support and grounded in the Standards Map, the initiative enables producers to comply with baseline sustainability guidelines that open access to premium international markets.
Through a combination of online tools and on-the-ground coaching, Kelly’s cooperative developed tailored improvement plans. The impact went beyond compliance. Access to the ITC Sustainability Map platform increased visibility to global buyers, while training delivered in partnership with the Colombian Cocoa Network (Red Cacaotera Colombiana) and technical partners such as Swisscontact Colombia enhanced product quality and trade readiness.
Connecting Producers to Global Buyers
“LBCS allowed us to position Colombian cocoa in specialized international markets that value traceability, origin and good agricultural practices. Through this tool, we’ve established direct relationships with international buyers such as Willis Cacao (United Kingdom), Círculo del Cacao (Netherlands), Blue Cacao (Republic of Korea) and Felchlin (France).”
— Miguel Rodriguez, General Manager, Red Cacaotera Colombiana
Through LBCS Colombia, more than 2,000 cocoa producers across 30 cooperatives adopted a systematic approach to better production practices, opening access to international markets including Belgium, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
“We decided to work with LBCS producers in Colombia because they are cocoa farmers who have invested time, dedication and passion in producing quality and sustainable cocoa. Thanks to the LBCS licence, buyers feel greater security and confidence.”
— María Camila Suarez, Co-founder and Marketing Manager, Suagu (Colombia)
Success Across Borders With ITC Data Tools
Inspired by Colombia’s success, the LBCS model expanded to Peru in 2020. Within four years, more than 3,500 smallholders across 22 cooperatives received support services.
With guidance from LBCS coaches, smallholders developed personalized sustainability plans and improved production methods, laying the foundation for future certification and strengthened trade opportunities.
“Connecting us to international markets through technological tools and virtual platforms is especially essential today, to better integrate with international markets.”
— Yudi Martínez Gracián, Agroindustrial Cooperative APCCA, Huánuco, Peru
Expanding the Model to Ecuador
ITC is now expanding the model to Ecuador, adapting it to local environmental legislation and upcoming European regulations, ensuring that smallholders and small businesses are prepared to meet future requirements.
The Lineamientos Básicos de Sostenibilidad de Ecuador (LBS Ecuador) coaching programme was launched last June in Quito, with 31 coaches trained and 43 small businesses ready to receive advisory services.