International standards are essential tools for promoting economic activity and international trade. They are used as the basis for improving efficiency and quality, developing new products and services, harmonizing requirements, accessing national and international markets and even creating markets. Economic growth and trade have contributed to an unprecedented decrease in global poverty, while at the same time resulted in an increase in income inequality and environmental degradation, loss of species, pollution of water and air, deforestation and climate change.

International Standards exist to improve the performance of businesses and access to markets, as well as making them socially and environmentally sustainable.

• ISO 9001 is the world's best-known quality management standard for companies and organizations. It can be used to streamline the internal processes by for example reducing the time needed to perform specific activities, decreasing waste, reducing procurement costs and increasing productivity.
• ISO 26000 provides guidance on how businesses and organizations can operate in a socially responsible way.
• ISO 45001 is the first International Standard for occupational health and safety and sets the minimum standard of practice to protect employees’ health and safety in the workplace.
• ISO 37001 on anti-bribery helps organizations fight bribery and promote an ethical business culture while
• ISO 20400 provides guidance on sustainable procurement.

The environmental aspect of sustainability is explained under environment and climate.