The threat of global warming, high oil prices and concerns about energy security have all contributed to a renewed global interest in biofuels as an alternative to oil for transport. This interest is reflected in the rapid expansion of biofuel markets. But what are the implications of this expansion for sustainable development?

Sustainable products (ie, products that provide greater positive or lower negative social, environmental and economic impacts along the value chain than conventional products) have the potential to contribute to sustainable development in developing countries. But at present there are many factors impeding the growth of markets for these products in developing countries. For example, at national level, there is a lack of market information, while at international level ecolabelling requirements impose financial burdens on small-scale producers. This paper aims to bring some fresh perspectives to the debate on international trade, sustainable products, ecolabelling and production and process methods, with a view to helping developing country governments draw up suitable policies to support sustainable products.

There is common agreement that international trade should contribute to sustainable development, particularly in the South. What is less clear is how to make this happen. Based on a broad analysis of the changing trends in supply chain management, this report looks at the real pressures faced by producers in the South and how they are responding to new social and environmental challenges. The report contains case studies from four developing countries -- Bangladesh, Ghana, India and South Africa -- looking at sectors as diverse as cocoa, shrimp, textiles, and tourism. The report identifies a dangerous disconnect between the often abstract trade and environment policy discussions and the realities in the marketplace, and proposes an agenda for action

Retailers are under increasing pressure to take a share of the responsibility for the life cycle social and environmental impacts of the products they sell. As globalisation gathers momentum, so action to improve retail performance will inevitably impact on suppliers and subcontractors in developing countries. But these producers often have little understanding of the driving forces for higher standards and the coming trends that could affect their export performance. ~To explore these issues, Sustaining the Rag Trade assesses the challenge of sustainable development for the UK clothing retail sector. The report reviews the state of the sector and the critical issues that face the rag trade at each stage of the clothing chain. It also profiles the current social and environmental policies of leading clothing retailers, including BHS, C&A, Littlewoods, Next and Marks and Spencer and recommends some practical options for improving performance in partnership with suppliers.

This report, commissioned by the UN for the five year review of the Earth Summit in 1997, presents 10 case studies of producers in developing countries who had benefited from moves towards sustainable consumption in their export markets. Examples are drawn from the agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and tourism sectors from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.