The State of Sustainable Markets 2024: Statistics and emerging trends

STATISTICS AND EMERGING TRENDS Supported by: © International Trade Centre 2025 The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency ofthe World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Street address:ITC54-56, rue de Montbrillant1202 Geneva, SwitzerlandPostal address:ITCPalais des Nations1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTelephone:+41-22 730 0111Fax:+41-22 733 4439E-mail:itcreg@intracen.orgWebsite:www.intracen.org THE STATE OFSUSTAINABLE MARKETS 2024 STATISTICS AND EMERGING TRENDS ABOUT THE REPORT This eighth global report provides new insights into the evolution of certified agriculture and forestry.The International Trade Centre has teamed up once again with the Research Institute of Organic Agricultureand the International Institute for Sustainable Development to provide data on 13 major sustainability standardsfor bananas, cocoa, coffee, cotton, oil palm, soybeans, sugarcane, tea and forestry products. This year’s report adds data from 2022 and finds that growth continued after an unusual dip in 2020.The publication helps shape decisions of policymakers, producers and businesses, working to addresssystemic labour and environmental challenges through certified sustainable production. Title:The State of Sustainable Markets 2024: Statistics and emerging trends Publisher:International Trade Centre, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Publication date and place:December 2024, Geneva Page count:80 Language:English ISBN:9789211070521 UN Sales Number:E.25.III.T.1 ITC Document Number:P.189.E/GIVC/DSIT/24-XII Citation: Kemper, L., Sampson, G., Bermúdez, S., Schlatter, B., Luna, E., Dang, T.D., and Willer, H. (2024).The State of SustainableMarkets 2024: Statistics and emerging trends. ITC, Geneva. For more information, contact: Gregory Sampson at sampson@intracen.org, Helga Willer at Helga.willer@fibl.org or Laura Kemperat laura.kemper@fibl.org. For more information on sustainability standards see: www.sustainabilitymap.org/standards. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinionwhatsoever on the part of ITC concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerningthe delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by anymeans electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from ITC. Digital image(s) on the cover: ©iStockphoto FOREWORD Over the past year, the toll from environmental crises like climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution hascontinued to rise, devastating communities, countries and entire regions. More and more, governments andinternational bodies are introducing policies to address climate change, deforestation and other environmentaland social ills—reinforcing the urgency to establish frameworks that can guide businesses through thesechallenges. Sustainability standards are one of the tools that can help, enabling businesses to demonstrateleadership, build trust and position themselves as drivers of sustainable trade. In a rapidly evolving global economy, where supply chains span continents, sustainability standards helpcreate consistency, transparency and accountability. They are valuable tools to combat greenwashing, ensurefair competition and promote ethical practices. While not without their challenges, these standards provide afoundation for businesses to align with consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. This year’s report on sustainable markets highlights encouraging trends. Certified areas continue to expand formany key crops, reflecting a growing commitment to sustainability. Standards including organic, Better Cotton,the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and Rainforest Alliance remain central to these efforts. In parallel,the rise of due diligence legislation underscores the growing importance of these standards, along with theneed to see how standards and regulations can complement one another, and where harmonization is possibleor where accompanying measures or support may be needed. Our mission at the International Trade Centre is to foster connected, sustainable and inclusive trade, drivenby micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. This report, alongside tools such as the Standards Map(www.standardsmap.org), equips businesses, policymakers and consumers with critical knowledge fornavigating the complexities of sustainability and trade in the face of immense global challenges. We hope thisreport inspires you to act decisively in building a more sustainable and equitable future. Pamela Coke-HamiltonExecutive DirectorInternational Trade Centre ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), the International Institute for Sustainable Development(II