UEBT standard review and revision 2025

Background

In line with international best practice and our own standards development procedure, UEBT reviews the its standard every five years.

As part of this review we look at:

  • the continued relevance of the standard's sustainability outcomes against the UEBT intended sustainability outcomes and impacts as outlined in our Theory of Change, and

  • the continued effectiveness of the standard in meeting its stated objectives as found in our standards’s Terms of Reference.

Results of the review of the standard

The review of the standard was carried out in 2024. We analysed relevant data, information, and learnings from the implementation of the standard since the last revision in 2020. The standard was also discussed with UEBT members at the UEBT members’ exchange in October 2024.

The general feedback was that:

  • The UEBT standard remains fit for its purpose, however significant experience has been gained since its release in 2020.

  • A revision should focus on clarifying some aspects of the standard, and reducing complexity where needed.

  • A revision should be based predominantly on the experiences of regular users of the standard.

  • The standard could be better aligned with:

    • evolving regulatory requirements,

    • the most recent UEBT monitoring and evaluation insights,

    • the strategic direction to deepen UEBT’s work on human rights, working conditions, just remuneration and livelihoods,

    • strengthened guidance added to the UEBT field checklist to clarify current indicators,

    • the continued partnership with Rainforest Alliance on herbs & spices, and

    • the new partnership with SAI Platform on wild-harvested botanicals.

What is under revision in 2025

Based on these considerations and feedback, UEBT will undertake a limited standard revision focused on improving the standard where needed for clarity, or improved applicability or impact.

We do not intend to introduce completely new topics or to make significant changes to the scope of the standard.

Key considerations for this limited revision are:

  • promoting long-term economic, social and ecological supply chain resilience,

  • not making any changes that significantly increase compliance threshold or burden for organisations using the standard, and

  • ensuring as much continuity as possible for organisations using the standard.  

Objectives of the revision

  1. Consider impacts on supply chain resilience, including economic, social, and ecological factors. 

  2. Secure feedback of organisations assessed against the UEBT standard, organisations using the UEBT standard as part of their responsible sourcing strategies, and organisations that have conducted assessments using the standard.

  3. Reduce complexity of the standard where possible without affecting its intended impact.

  4. Clarify some indicators to improve auditability or implementation. 

  5. Clarify and include any required definitions and indicators to align with relevant international instruments and regulatory requirements. 

  6. Where possible, further introduce outcome or impact indicators in order to focus on results.

  7. Strengthen approaches for continued engagement and continuous improvement. 

  8. Consult stakeholders on the possible unintended effects of the standard.  

Timeline for the consultation

As defined in UEBT’s standards development procedure, one round of stakeholder consultation input will be held since this is a revision of an existing standard and not the development of a new standard. This round of input will last 45 days and start in May 2025. The standard revision should be finalised by the end of 2025.  

All comments will be considered carefully. A summary of comments and how they were addressed will be provided after the consultation period ends.

We invite you to contribute

Since its founding, UEBT has offered a platform where companies committed to sourcing with respect for people and biodiversity, can share their experiences and insights, and where other affected stakeholders can also engage.

How to comment

UEBT offers many ways for all interested stakeholders to participate in our standards revision process:

  • Online - via our comment form (coming soon). We prefer this option if possible, as this will help us process your comments more efficiently.

  • In-person and online - in our consultation workshops and stakeholder interviews (schedule coming soon).

UEBT will reach out to all stakeholders via different communications tools (mailings, LinkedIn etc.). Special efforts will be made to reach out to underrepresented stakeholders such as producers and field operators (farm workers, and wild-collectors / pickers). We also aim to promote gender balance among stakeholders.

Other ways to comment

If you have problems using these two methods above, please contact your local UEBT representative (see all contacts here) or UEBT at info@uebt.org to discuss way to best provide inputs.

Governance bodies and decision making  

The UEBT Standard and Assurance Committee oversees the process and recommends approval of the revised standard to the UEBT Board of Directors.

The UEBT Board of Directors evaluates if the revision process it is asked to evaluate is duly followed and endorses the recommendations from the Standard and Assurance Committee. 

More information - access all resources on the standard

UEBT standard version 2020

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