Regulatory pressure is growing for companies to have more sustainable supply chains. Such rules have great potential. They could change the incentive structure of the market, allowing companies to overcome competition hurdles that have hampered sustainability action in the past. But beyond the right market conditions, companies also need credible solutions that enable efficient compliance with the rules and help realise the intended sustainability impacts.

Decent work is one of the most challenging aspects in advancing social sustainability. Voluntary supply chain tools have long aimed to improve decent work and wages in supply chains. Yet, there has been little research to understand their impacts: research is crucial for enhancing effectiveness and aligning voluntary and mandatory measures.

We often talk about system-level change to address root causes of poverty and imbalance of risk. This requires us to unite in different and creative ways. The Living Income Community of Practice motivates actors across sectors to help close the income gap, so that smallholders can earn a decent standard of living as a basic human right.