In 2024/25 ISEAL supported its members to reflect and take action towards embedding equity and producer empowerment within their systems and practices. To date, this support has included: the development of an equity framework; the strengthening of equity within the ISEAL Code of Good Practice; a guidance note for embedding equity within monitoring and evaluation systems; and grant funding for specific projects to advance equity.

This case study highlights how credible voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) support palm oil companies with regulatory requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Featuring the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), it explores how VSS enable traceability, ensure legal production, and promote smallholder inclusion - helping businesses build deforestation-and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains that go beyond compliance.

We are excited to launch the revision of the ISEAL Chain of Custody (CoC) Definitions and Models Guidance. The revision process will include:

Empowering small-scale seafood producers is a cornerstone of a sustainable seafood future. Small-scale seafood producers have historically been overlooked, yet they are not marginal actors—they are crucial contributors to global food security, ocean governance, and wider sustainability goals.ISEAL is engaging with stakeholders across the seafood sector – producers, companies, investors, researchers and NGOs - to develop understanding and take action to address the inequities in seafood markets and adopt more inclusive approaches.

Chain of custody (CoC) and traceability are big news right now. But are we all speaking the same language? We’re updating our CoC models and definitions guidance and we would value your input. Our public consultation is now open.