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Sustainability Standards and Sustainable Development – Synergies and Trade‐Offs of Transnational Governance

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  • Clara A. Brandi

Abstract

This article investigates potential trade‐offs between the socioeconomic and environmental dimensions of development within the context of transnational business governance and sustainability standards, exemplified by smallholder certification in the palm oil sector as a means to improve both sustainability and the inclusion of small farmers in global value chains. This article finds that there are important trade‐offs between environmental sustainability and inclusive development. First, there is a worry that the diffusion of standards that aim at enhancing environmental sustainability may undermine the socioeconomic situation of smallholders by excluding them from global value chains and from international markets that demand certified commodities. Second, while smallholder certification can generate socioeconomic benefits for farmers included in certification schemes, these potential benefits may have contradictory and undesired implications for environmental sustainability. The article analyses these trade‐offs and discusses implications with a view to fostering the synergies between economic, environmental and social sustainability. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

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  • Clara A. Brandi, 2017. "Sustainability Standards and Sustainable Development – Synergies and Trade‐Offs of Transnational Governance," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(1), pages 25-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:25:y:2017:i:1:p:25-34
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    Cited by:

    1. Dimitropoulos, Panagiotis & Koronios, Konstantinos & Sakka, Georgia, 2023. "International business sustainability and global value chains: Synthesis, framework and research agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    2. Ogahara, Zoë & Jespersen, Kristjan & Theilade, Ida & Nielsen, Martin Reinhard, 2022. "Review of smallholder palm oil sustainability reveals limited positive impacts and identifies key implementation and knowledge gaps," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    3. Michelle Scobie, 0. "International aid, trade and investment and access and allocation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-16.
    4. Schleifer, Philip & Fiorini, Matteo & Fransen, Luc, 2019. "Missing the Bigger Picture: A Population-level Analysis of Transnational Private Governance Organizations Active in the Global South," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Fangyu Ye & Qilong Deng, 2021. "Strategies for poverty alleviation supply chain with government subsidies and misreporting behavior in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Eusebius Pantja Pramudya & Otto Hospes & C. J. A. M. Termeer, 2018. "Friend or foe? The various responses of the Indonesian state to sustainable non-state palm oil initiatives," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-22, December.
    7. Henderson, Kirsten & Loreau, Michel, 2023. "A model of Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and opportunities in promoting human well-being and environmental sustainability," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 475(C).
    8. Milind Kumar Jha & K. Rangarajan, 2020. "The approach of Indian corporates towards sustainable development: An exploration using sustainable development goals based model," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1019-1032, September.
    9. Michelle Scobie, 2020. "International aid, trade and investment and access and allocation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 239-254, June.
    10. Watts, John D. & Pasaribu, Katryn & Irawan, Silvia & Tacconi, Luca & Martanila, Heni & Wiratama, Cokorda Gde Wisnu & Musthofa, Fauzan Kemal & Sugiarto, Bernadinus Steni & Manvi, Utami Putri, 2021. "Challenges faced by smallholders in achieving sustainable palm oil certification in Indonesia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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