An interdisciplinary conference on Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) will take place in Leuven, Belgium, on 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, taking place at the Irish College in Leuven, 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 developments. In this context, the event will provide an opportunity to continue these exchanges and explore how research and policy discussions can respond to emerging governance challenges and adaptation needs in a rapidly changing international environment.
The meeting has already generated considerable interest among policymakers, academics, international organizations, and sustainability standards practitioners. Following a competitive selection process, the programme will feature 50 research papers, 10 poster presentations, 10 academic panels, and over 100 participants registered for in-person attendance. The two-day event will bring together scholars from a wide range of disciplines to examine the design, implementation, adoption, and effectiveness of voluntary and private sustainability measures, as well as their interaction with mandatory due diligence and sustainability regulation.
The event will begin with opening remarks from distinguished experts whose work and insights help shape the policy debate in this field:
In addition, three high-level policy roundtables will be organized on:
- Due Diligence, the New Regulatory Environment and Smart-Mix Policies
- Trade Effects of Sustainability Value Chain Governance Instruments
- Reflections on Future Developments and Challenges
Together, the roundtables will provide a unique opportunity for dialogue between researchers, policymakers and practitioners on the future of sustainability governance.
Roundtable speakers and participants
View the full list of speakers and participants.
Download the Conference Programme
Organisation and Partners
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.
Visit the conference’s webpage
Share this:
