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May 12, 2026

Can One Label Simplify Sustainable Choices? Reducing label fragmentation through one holistic approach.

Consumers today are surrounded by labels. A single package of rice may carry multiple certifications, each representing a different sustainability issue. Recent research published in Food Quality and Preference (read more: Rice Today) explored how consumers respond to holistic sustainability systems such as the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) compared with combinations of familiar single-issue labels.

At the same time, the research also demonstrated encouraging results for SRP in emerging markets such as Singapore, where consumers responded positively to SRP’s integrated sustainability approach. In some cases, consumers valued SRP more highly than established single-issue certifications, reflecting growing interest in more connected and holistic sustainability systems.

Unlike single-issue certifications that focus on one sustainability aspect alone, SRP was developed specifically for the rice sector as a multi-issue label. SRP brings together environmental, social, economic, food safety, and climate considerations within one integrated framework for sustainable rice cultivation.

Sustainable Rice Platform Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation (Version 2.2)

Rather than functioning as simply another label within an increasingly crowded certification landscape, SRP aims to make sustainability communication more coherent, accessible, and easier to navigate. By consolidating multiple sustainability dimensions within one system, SRP helps reduce certification fragmentation while supporting clearer and more accessible sustainability choices. This complementary approach reflects the evolving future of sustainability communication itself, one that increasingly values not only credibility, but also clarity, accessibility, and connection across the value chain.

Most recently, SRP was recognized as one of the Top 12 Most Ambitious Certifications in the Netherlands by Milieu Centraal, following an assessment conducted by 22 independent experts. This recognition highlights SRP’s commitment to advancing credible and meaningful sustainability outcomes within global rice production systems.  SRP’s integrated sustainability approach has also received international recognition. In October 2025, SRP received the FAO Global Technical Recognition Ceremony for Sustainable Plant Production and Protection, advancing sustainable rice cultivation and supporting improved sustainability outcomes for smallholder farmers.

As sustainability expectations continue to evolve globally, the need for clearer and more integrated sustainability communication will continue to grow. In this context, SRP aims to support a more connected and simplified approach to sustainable rice production by helping reduce certification fragmentation while promoting a holistic sustainability framework tailored specifically for the rice sector.

By Thanaporn Thammawongsa, Jidapa Noosawas