Constructing Private Governance

The Rise and Evolution of Forest, Coffee, and Fisheries Certification

Auld Graeme

Recent decades have witnessed the rise of social and environmental certification programmes that are intended to promote responsible business practices. Consumers now encounter organic or fair-trade labels on a variety of products, implying such desirable benefits as improved environmental conditions or more equitable market transactions. But what do we know about the origins and development of the organizations behind these labels? This book examines forest, coffee and fishery certification programmes to reveal how the early decisions on governance and standards affect the path along which individual programmes evolve and the variety and number of them across sectors.

About the Author

Graeme Auld is assistant professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and in the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton University. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Reviews

"Comparing the evolution of environmental and social certifications, Auld sheds light on the new institutions regulating the coffee in our cups, fish on our plates, and wood in our tables" – Laura T. Raynolds, Center for Fair and Alternative Trade, Colorado State University

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