The ISEAL Alliance is a global membership organization based in London that was founded in 2002. Its mission is to strengthen sustainability standards systems for the benefit of people and the environment. ISEAL has full member organizations and associate members that must meet its Codes of Good Practice. ISEAL works to improve the effectiveness and impact of standards systems, increase adoption of credible sustainability standards, and define best practices. It provides resources like conferences, publications, and collaborative projects to support its mission.

1. ISEAL Alliance
Sifting coffee in Brazil ©David Dudenhoefer, Rainforest Alliance

2. What is the ISEAL
Alliance
› Membership organisation
› Based in London
› Founded 2002
› Not for profit company
› 15 staff Secretariat
Photo © Simon Rawles | Fairtrade InternationalMussel fishing © Marine Stewardship Council

3. ISEAL’s Mission
To strengthen sustainability
standards systems for the
benefit of people and the
environment.
Photo © UTZ CERTIFIEDPhoto © Forest Stewardship Council

4. A Growing Movement
Full Members Associate Members

5. Membership Criteria
› Must demonstrate ability to
meet the ISEAL Codes of
Good Practice and
accompanying requirements
› Must commit to learning and
improving
Tea in Malawi© UTZ Certified

6. ISEAL Subscribers
Photo © Charlie Watson| Rainforest Alliance
Photo © ISEAL Alliance
› Exclusive webinars
› Online community discussions
› Monthly newsletter
› Expert analysis of trends and policies
› Reduced fees at ISEAL Conference
› Relationships with ISEAL Community

7. › Demonstrate and improve
the impact of standards
› Improve the effectiveness
of standards systems
› Increase adoption of
credible sustainability
standards
› Define credible practices for
standards systems
Photo © Rainforest Alliance
ISEAL’s Strategies
The ISEAL Alliance’s overall goal is to
improve our sustainability impacts,
both individually and collectively, to
benefit people and the environment

8. ISEAL Codes of Good
Practice
› Standard-Setting Code (2004)
› Impacts Code (2010)
› Assurance Code (2012)
› Claims (in development)
-----------------
› Credibility Principles (2013)
ISEAL Codes all build on the
Credibility Principles
References to ISEAL Codes

9. ISEAL’s Credibility
Principles
› Sustainability
› Improvement
› Relevance
› Rigour
› Engagement
› Impartiality
› Transparency
› Accessibility
› Truthfulness
› Efficiency
Bananas © Marvin del Cid, Fairtrade AustriaPeruvian Rainforest © Max Bello | Rainforest Alliance

11. Improving Effectiveness of Standards
Systems
Photo © Fairtrade International
A neutral platform for shared
learning through…
› Conferences
› Consultations
› Publications
› Collaborative projects

12. Impacts Project
› Agreement on common indicators
• Understanding each other’s
theories of change
• Measuring system influence
• Outputs and outcomes along
six pathways to impact
› Integration of M&E into business
› Commitment to collective
reporting
› Agreed upon research agenda
Achievements to Date
Cocoa harvest improvements © UTZ CERTIFIED
Dozens of M&E staff from ISEAL
member organisations participating
and sharing in the project.

13. Increasing Access for Small Producers
› Group certification guidance
› Research on barriers to joint audits
- preparation for field work
› Commitment to a common
framework for banned pesticides
› Agreement to work on a living
wage project
› Guidance developed for lower-risk
assurance models to reduce
burdens and costs
Achievements to date:
Tea in Malawi© UTZ CERTIFIED
Supported by:
“ISEAL is facilitating
harmonisation in key standards’
content areas which members
identify as resulting in efficiencies
and which are of concern for
small holders.”

14. Scaling Up Project
› 150 emerging economy leaders
engaged
› Peer networks created
› Credibility Principles
consultations
› Sustainable Public Procurement
workshops and global report
drafted
› Local partnerships forged for
deeper implementation
Achievements in Year One
Photo © Charlie Watson, Rainforest AllianceConsultation in Brazil © Marcus Nyman, ISEAL Alliance

15. Outreach to Private
Sector
Responsible business uptake of
credible standards systems
› Business case for
certification
› Impacts information
› Credible comparisons
› Long term supply issues and
small holder access
Uganda coffee flowers © Marta Maireles for ISEAL Alliance

16. Ways to get
involved with ISEAL
› Membership - standard-
setters /accreditation bodies
› ISEAL Subscribers
› News Bulletin
› Online Community
› Webinars
› Annual Conference
› Follow us on Twitter
@isealalliance

17. ISEAL Annual Conference

18. ISEAL Training and
Consulting Services
› Monthly “Standards Systems
Essentials” webinars
› Review of progress towards
compliance with ISEAL Codes
› Online scheduled Q&A sessions
› One-on-one technical support
› Training modules for emerging
systems
› Reduced ISEAL Conference and
workshop fees
Learn from ISEAL Experts
ISEAL training in China © WWF
Who for: emerging standards systems or any
sustainability professional or organisation
working with standards
Fore more information:
www.iseal.org/training

19. Thank You!
Photo © UTZ Certified
info@isealalliance.org
www.iseal.org