A systematic review of the impacts of voluntary sustainability standards on the cocoa global value chain

The paper presents a Systematic Literature Review that examines the effects of VSSs on a sector facing increasing social, environmental and economic sustainability challenges: the cocoa sector. To do so, the review addresses the question: What are the economic, social, and environmental effects of VSSs on the cocoa sector, and which factors influence their effectiveness? Despite growing research interest in Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs), literature rarely provides a clear and comprehensive perspective on their impacts on sustainability and adoption dynamics within a specific sector. The paper seeks at addressing this gap. A comprehensive search of Scopus and Web of Science (April–May 2024, updated February 2025) identified 228 studies, of which 45 met inclusion criteria. Each study was assessed for quality and risk of bias using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Studies were categorised by sustainability dimension and analysed through narrative synthesis. Findings indicate modest income gains, primarily through yield improvements rather than price premiums. Environmentally, certified farmers adopt sustainable practices—particularly agroforestry and regulated agrochemical use—though effects on deforestation and biodiversity are limited. Social outcomes are mixed: child labour and gender inequality persist, with only minor improvements in education and training access. Overall, it emerges that VSSs contribute to incremental sustainability gains, but their effectiveness remains context-dependent and constrained by systemic dynamics in the global cocoa value chain. Strengthening institutional support and cooperative governance is crucial for fairer value distribution; without such reforms, VSSs risk perpetuating existing inequalities.