UNFSS Welcomes New Members, Strengthening Global Expertise on Sustainable Standards
The United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) has expanded its global network with the addition of new institutional and academic members, reinforcing its role as a leading intergovernmental platform on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS). The latest developments include the accession of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to the UNFSS Steering Committee and the appointment of new experts to its Academic Advisory Council (AAC).
ILO Joins UNFSS Steering Committee, Reinforcing Social Sustainability
The UNFSS Steering Committee, comprising FAO, ITC, UNEP, UNIDO, UNECE and UNCTAD, has welcomed the ILO as its seventh member, marking a significant step in strengthening the social dimension of sustainability standards.
As the central governance body of UNFSS, the Steering Committee guides the Forum’s overall work and strategic direction, ensuring coherence across its activities. It plays a key role in linking international organizations with policymakers, practitioners and the academic community, helping translate global sustainability objectives into practical, evidence-based approaches.
The ILO brings a unique mandate grounded in its tripartite governance model and its globally recognized authority on labour rights, decent work and social dialogue. Its expertise will help ensure that sustainability standards go beyond environmental performance to deliver measurable improvements in working conditions, fair wages, occupational safety and the eradication of child and forced labour.
Importantly, the ILO’s contribution is closely linked to its Better Work programme, a flagship initiative that advances labour standards and competitiveness in global supply chains. Through this connection, UNFSS will benefit from practical, field-level insights on how sustainability standards can be effectively implemented and monitored across industries and geographies.
By integrating internationally agreed labour principles into VSS frameworks, the ILO strengthens accountability across value chains and supports UNFSS’s broader objective of promoting inclusive and equitable sustainable development under the One UN approach.
Academic Advisory Council Expands with New Experts
In parallel, UNFSS has expanded its Academic Advisory Council (AAC) with six new permanent members and one expert joining the UNFSS Secretariat.
The AAC plays a critical role in UNFSS by providing independent, evidence-based analysis on the design, impact and effectiveness of voluntary sustainability standards. It bridges academia and policymaking, ensuring that UNFSS guidance is grounded in rigorous research, multidisciplinary perspectives and real-world relevance.
The newly appointed members significantly strengthen this mandate:
- Charline Depoorter (University of Basel) contributes strong analytical expertise in development economics and impact evaluation, enhancing the Council’s capacity to assess the socio-economic outcomes of sustainability standards.
- Evelien de Olde (Wageningen University) adds cutting-edge research on sustainability assessment frameworks in agri-food systems, helping refine how environmental and social performance of VSS is measured.
- James Harrison (University of Warwick), a leading scholar in business and human rights, strengthens the Council’s work on labour standards, corporate accountability and the intersection between VSS and international legal frameworks.
- Kate Macdonald (University of Melbourne) contributes extensive research on transnational governance, ethical supply chains and accountability mechanisms, reinforcing UNFSS work on inclusive and rights-based sustainability approaches.
- Rodrigo Fagundes Cezar (FGV School of International Relations) brings expertise in global governance and international political economy, enriching analysis on how sustainability standards interact with trade, diplomacy and multilateral systems.
- Yixian Sun (University of Bath) brings expertise in global value chains and sustainability governance, supporting deeper analysis of how VSS shape firm behaviour and international production networks.
- Paulo Mortara Batistic (University of Münster) joins the UNFSS Secretariat as a new member, contributing specialized research capacity to support ongoing work and emerging priorities in sustainability standards.
Together, these additions broaden the AAC’s interdisciplinary reach and reinforce UNFSS’s ability to deliver policy-relevant insights that help governments, producers and stakeholders navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability standards.
A Stronger Platform for Sustainable Development
With these new members, UNFSS is better positioned to advance its mandate of promoting credible, inclusive and effective sustainability standards. The combined institutional strength of the ILO and the expanded academic expertise of the AAC will help ensure that VSS contribute meaningfully to sustainable development outcomes worldwide.
