Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can support governments to boost trade and sustainable production practices. As a result, VSS are increasingly integrated into trade instruments such as market access regulations, export promotion strategies, and free trade agreements. 

Against this background, this policy brief, developed in collaboration by ISEAL and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), aims to illustrate and share insights on how the use of VSS in developing countries can enhance trade opportunities while advancing sustainability through three concrete case studies from Colombia, Pakistan, and Ethiopia.