Sustainability Markets Hub

Sustainability markets refer to global systems for exchanging goods using practices that are environmentally, socially, and economically responsible. They are expanding rapidly due to a growing number of both voluntary-led initiatives and new sustainability regulations.

However, many small-scale producers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Global South face significant barriers to accessing these markets. These challenges range from unequal levels of access to information and capacity to meet requirements to the absence of an enabling policy environment that supports compliance and alignment between market tools and regulations.

IISD’s Sustainability Markets Hub aims to provide a resource centre for actors across all stages of a value chain seeking to make sustainability markets more effective and accessible to small-scale farmers, women, and SMEs in low- and middle-income countries. By fostering learning and sharing experiences, it aims to scale up effective solutions among policy-makers, standard-setting bodies, industry actors, and producer groups.

The Hub is comprised of three main services:

1. Provision of market intelligence: We offer insights on sustainability trends, voluntary and mandatory requirements, and market developments in key commodity sectors to highlight opportunities and challenges for advancing inclusive sustainability markets.
2. Policy development support: We support governments and standard-setting bodies to develop and implement policies that advance sustainable production and trade while ensuring small-scale producers and businesses can comply with new requirements.
3. Capacity and connection building: We equip small-scale producers and businesses with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to better engage and compete in sustainability markets.

Join the community

The Sustainability Markets Hub is not just a service; it’s a community. If you are interested in connecting with other like-minded actors seeking to build sustainable and inclusive value chains, please contact us at [email protected].