An interdisciplinary conference on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) will take place in Leuven, Belgium, on the 27th and 28th of October 2026. The conference will provide a space for researchers and experts to reflect on the changing role of VSS, with particular attention to new challenges, adaptation and future pathways.
The conference comes at a time when the global sustainability governance landscape is evolving rapidly. Recent UNFSS discussions have highlighted how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) are increasingly interacting with new regulatory approaches, reporting requirements, traceability measures and due diligence-related developments. In this context, the Leuven conference will offer an opportunity to continue these exchanges, reflect on the changing role of VSS, and explore how research and policy discussions can respond to new challenges, adaptation needs and future pathways in a changing international environment.
UNCTAD is co-organizer of the conference through the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS). The conference is jointly organized by the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies and UNFSS, for which UNCTAD serves as secretariat. UNFSS is overseen by a steering committee comprising FAO, ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNECE, UNEP and UNIDO.
The conference will be held alongside the 6th UNFSS Academic Advisory Council, which brings together academics, policy-makers and sustainability governance practitioners to exchange research findings and discuss recent developments in the governance of sustainable global value chains. The event will provide a platform for dialogue on the evolving role of voluntary sustainability initiatives in an increasingly regulated environment.
