Non-State actors and sustainability labelling schemes: Implications for international law

Abstract

This paper argues that although labour, human rights and environmental law provide the minimum standards for international action, the law of sustainable development provides an aspirational goal, but not a measurable standard. As such, pressure groups that want to promote environmental and social protection have pushed for ethical self-regulation by industry. This has led to a new global trend in self-regulation and hybrid forms of regulation. This paper examines the impact of this trend on international law.