ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evolution of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling (ISEAL) Alliance and the new challenges ahead. It provides an overview of the organization's beginnings and then describe its main goals and membership. The chapter also discusses the evolution of the Alliance and foreseeable changes. It addresses the challenges and opportunities ahead in terms of organizational growth and governance structures. The ISEAL Alliance is an international non-profit organization which seeks to strengthen and promote the use of voluntary standards and conformity assessment as policy instruments and market mechanisms to bring about positive social and environmental change. The ISEAL Alliance's main goal is clearly stated: "Working together, ISEAL and its members represent a holistic movement that is changing the way world does business." The ISEAL Alliance standards build on technical standards defined by World Trade Organization and the International Organization for Standardization, further developing them to incorporate practices and requirements uniquely linked to delivering social and environmental outcomes.
