Standardising Sustainability in the Global Soy Sector
The market for sustainable soy has reached a turning point. What was once handled through supplier promises and general commitments now depends on third-party audits, satellite monitoring, and recognised certification schemes. For UK businesses that rely on soy in their supply chains, particularly in food manufacturing, animal feed, and retail, this represents a material shift in how sourcing decisions are made and verified.
Several factors explain why this change is happening now. European regulations are tightening around deforestation and due diligence. Customers and investors expect transparent proof of responsible sourcing. Meanwhile, the sheer number of certification schemes has created confusion. Consequently, the industry is moving toward a smaller group of widely accepted standards that can be compared, audited, and traded internationally.
This article explains what that standardisation looks like in practice, how different schemes compare, and what it means for businesses sourcing soy or soy-derived products into the UK.
How certification schemes verify responsible soy production
The Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) operates one of the most established frameworks. Its standard covers five core areas: legal compliance, responsible labour practices, community relations, environmental responsibility, and good agricultural practice. Producers must meet 106 specific indicators, each verified through independent third-party audits.
RTRS certification includes a requirement for zero deforestation and zero conversion of natural ecosystems. Auditors verify compliance using a combination of documentary evidence, satellite imagery, aerial photography, and field visits. This creates a traceable record that buyers can rely on when demonstrating their own supply chain due diligence.
The protocol also requires ongoing monitoring. Certification is not a one-time event. Producers undergo regular re-assessment to maintain their status. That makes it harder for problems to go unnoticed between audit cycles.
In Europe, two schemes dominate soy imports: RTRS and ProTerra. Both provide assurance on deforestation, labour standards, and environmental impact. However, their approaches differ slightly in scope and geographical coverage. RTRS tends to focus heavily on South American production, while ProTerra has broader international reach.
U.S. soy enters the market with a different model
The United States developed its own framework in response to international buyer requirements. The U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) was launched in 2014 following a multi-stakeholder process involving farmers, buyers, environmental groups, and industry bodies.
Unlike schemes that certify individual farms, SSAP takes a regional approach. It verifies that soy produced across the United States meets national environmental laws, labour regulations, and voluntary sustainability practices. Independent auditors assess compliance at a sector level rather than farm by farm.
This method reflects the fact that U.S. agriculture operates under comprehensive federal and state regulation. The protocol builds on existing legal frameworks rather than creating parallel requirements. As a result, it reduces the administrative burden on individual producers while still providing credible assurance to international buyers.
More than 207 companies worldwide now use transferable SSAP certificates within their supply chains. These certificates allow sustainability assurance to move with the product as it passes through traders, processors, and manufacturers. That makes them particularly useful in complex supply chains where soy changes hands multiple times before reaching the final buyer.
The protocol has also been benchmarked against the FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines, a European feed industry standard. This recognition matters because it allows U.S. soy to meet European buyer requirements without requiring dual certification. For UK businesses importing from North America, this simplifies compliance and reduces cost.
Why roughly 70 schemes exist and what that fragmentation costs
Industry estimates suggest around 70 different soy sustainability standards now operate globally. Some are geographic, covering specific regions or countries. Others focus on particular issues like organic production, non-GMO status, or carbon footprint. A few are proprietary schemes developed by individual retailers or manufacturers for their own supply chains.
This proliferation creates practical problems. Producers may need multiple certifications to serve different markets, which increases cost and administrative complexity. Buyers struggle to compare schemes that use different criteria, audit methods, and verification processes. Smaller businesses, in particular, find it difficult to assess which certifications genuinely reduce risk and which simply add paperwork.
Fragmentation also weakens the market signal for sustainability. When dozens of schemes compete, it becomes harder to differentiate truly responsible production from minimal compliance. Consequently, some buyers have started specifying particular schemes in their procurement policies rather than accepting any certification.
The response has been a gradual convergence toward a smaller group of widely recognised standards. RTRS, ProTerra, and SSAP now account for the majority of certified soy traded internationally. Other schemes either align themselves with these benchmarks or risk losing market relevance.
For UK businesses, this consolidation simplifies decision-making. Instead of evaluating dozens of options, procurement teams can focus on a handful of credible schemes with proven track records. That reduces due diligence costs and makes it easier to demonstrate compliance with emerging regulations.
Core facts on global soy sustainability standards
- RTRS certification requires compliance with 106 specific indicators across five principles, verified through independent third-party audits.
- Both RTRS and SSAP include requirements for zero deforestation and zero conversion of natural ecosystems, supported by satellite monitoring and documentary evidence.
- Approximately 70 voluntary soy certification schemes operate worldwide, though most international trade now relies on a small number of dominant standards.
- The U.S. Sustainability Assurance Protocol was created in 2014 and has since been adopted by more than 207 companies globally using transferable certificates.
- RTRS and ProTerra are the most widely used certification schemes for soy imported into Europe, reflecting their acceptance by feed manufacturers and food producers.
- SSAP has been benchmarked against FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines 2021, allowing U.S. soy to meet European buyer requirements without dual certification.
Supply chain implications for UK manufacturers and importers
The shift toward verified sustainability changes how businesses manage soy sourcing. Previously, many relied on supplier declarations or general sustainability policies. Now, buyers increasingly require documented proof backed by independent audits. This affects businesses at several points in the supply chain.
Food manufacturers using soy protein, soy oil, or lecithin must demonstrate that their ingredients meet specific sustainability criteria. That often means working with suppliers who can provide certification to recognised schemes. Without it, products may be excluded from certain retail contracts or face challenges in tender processes.
Animal feed producers face similar pressures. Retailers and food service companies increasingly require their suppliers to source certified soy for livestock feed. This demand flows back through the supply chain, affecting poultry, pig, and dairy producers who use compound feed.
The cost implications vary. Certified soy typically carries a small premium over conventional product, though the difference has narrowed as certification has become more widespread. However, businesses also need to factor in the cost of maintaining audit trails, updating supplier contracts, and training procurement teams.
Traceability systems become more important under this model. Businesses need to track certified soy separately from conventional product, maintain documentation through processing and blending, and provide evidence when required by customers or regulators. This often requires investment in supply chain management systems and internal processes.
Public procurement presents additional considerations. Government buyers and public sector organisations increasingly specify sustainability criteria in tender documents. Businesses supplying food to schools, hospitals, or government facilities may find that certified soy sourcing becomes a threshold requirement rather than a competitive advantage.
The upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation will make this more urgent. From December 2024, businesses placing certain products on the EU market must demonstrate that they are deforestation-free. Although the UK is not directly subject to EU law, many UK businesses export to Europe or operate in integrated supply chains. Therefore, they will need equivalent assurance systems to maintain market access.
Certification schemes like RTRS and SSAP can help businesses demonstrate compliance with these requirements. However, they are not identical to legal compliance. Businesses still need to conduct their own due diligence and understand what specific regulations require. Certification provides supporting evidence, not automatic regulatory approval.
What procurement teams should focus on now
Understanding which certification schemes your current suppliers hold is the logical first step. Not all schemes carry equal weight in the market. RTRS and ProTerra are widely recognised in Europe. SSAP is accepted for North American soy. Other schemes may be less familiar to auditors or less widely accepted by downstream buyers.
Businesses should also review their supplier contracts. Standard terms may not address sustainability certification, traceability requirements, or the right to audit. Updating contracts to include these provisions helps protect your position if regulations tighten or customer requirements change.
Traceability deserves particular attention. Can your supplier demonstrate which farm or region the soy originated from? Is there a clear chain of custody through processing and transport? Can they provide certificates that match specific shipments? These details matter when you need to demonstrate compliance or respond to customer queries.
For businesses with complex supply chains, segregated supply may not always be practical. In those cases, book-and-claim systems offer an alternative. These allow you to purchase sustainability credits that match the volume of soy you use, even if the physical product is not segregated. However, book-and-claim may not satisfy all regulatory requirements or customer expectations, so it should be considered carefully.
Training internal teams also helps. Procurement staff need to understand what different certification schemes cover, how to verify certificates, and what questions to ask suppliers. This knowledge reduces reliance on external consultants and speeds up decision-making when sourcing decisions need to be made quickly.
Businesses may also want to consider our sustainable procurement support if soy represents a significant part of your ingredient or feed costs. We work with manufacturers and food businesses to assess supply chain risks, evaluate certification options, and develop practical sourcing strategies that meet regulatory and customer requirements without unnecessary cost.
Engaging with industry groups provides additional insight. Trade associations, sector bodies, and sustainability forums often share updates on regulatory changes, emerging standards, and common challenges. They also offer opportunities to learn from businesses facing similar sourcing decisions.
Where to find further guidance and technical detail
The Round Table on Responsible Soy publishes its full standard, audit procedures, and certified producer lists on its website. This provides detailed information on what RTRS certification requires and how compliance is verified.
The United Soybean Board provides information on the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol, including technical documentation, benchmarking reports, and guidance for international buyers. This is useful for businesses sourcing from North America or evaluating different certification schemes.
The European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) maintains its Soy Sourcing Guidelines, which set out the standards that European feed buyers typically require. Although FEFAC is a trade body rather than a government regulator, its guidelines heavily influence commercial practice in the European market.
The UK government's guidance on due diligence in agricultural supply chains provides the legal context for businesses operating under UK jurisdiction. This includes obligations under the Environment Act 2021 and forthcoming regulations on forest risk commodities.
Businesses with more complex needs, particularly those managing carbon reporting alongside supply chain sustainability, may benefit from our compliance support services. We help UK businesses navigate overlapping requirements across procurement, reporting, and regulatory compliance without duplicating effort or creating unnecessary process.