This report, Global Value Chain Policy Series: Environment, presents some preliminary thoughts and recommendations on the linkages between environmental protection and global value chains (GVCs). It examines the barriers and opportunities in environmental goods and services value chains, and the role of global producers and retailers in improving sustainability impacts throughout the value chain, particularly through voluntary sustainability standards. Finally, some suggestions are made for the way forward, considering the importance of convergence and coherence among various initiatives and actors.
The Global Value Chain Policy Series was launched in 2018 by the World Economic Forum’s System Initiative on Shaping the Future of International Trade and Investment. It consists of brief policy papers on various aspects of global value chains (GVCs). The aim of the series is to stimulate cross-policy discussion and thinking about GVCs and collect ideas from researchers and practitioners on how to help GVCs contribute to development, sustainability and inclusiveness. These ideas can then be examined in more depth in the context of particular value chains, regions or public-private initiatives. The World Economic Forum is working to bring the relevant actors together to facilitate this multistakeholder, cross-policy undertaking, aimed at catalysing partnerships for impact.