Upscaling the impact of sustainability certification initiatives; Enabling conditions and policy recommendations for regional development

Sustainability certification is seen by many as an important means to make supply chains more sustainable. Even though there is some robust evidence on farm-level impacts of certification, and more studies are underway, very little information is available on regional level impacts of certification initiatives. In this study, we offer recommendations to governments, businesses, standard-setting bodies and civil society organisations to help contribute to improvements in impact. Three research questions have been addressed: 1. What impact of initiatives, positive and negative, on farm level but especially on regional level, has been documented on the environment, the society and the economy in production areas? 2. Which contextual factors and regional conditions are required or have proven instrumental for the scaling up of impact and catalysing regional impacts? 3. What can certification initiatives, governments, businesses, international organisations and NGOs do to ensure that the abovementioned conditions are created, supported and promoted? In this study, we refer to the impacts on the regional level as impacts which result from farm-level or local level impacts. To answer the above questions, we reviewed literature sources and conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders involved in coffee, cocoa, soy and palm oil supply chains

Financial value-chain analysis : tuna, shrimp, soy and beef

This study is a detailed analysis of which parts of the tuna, shrimp, soy and beef supply chains are most open to constructive engagement through financial vehicles and mechanisms. The study indentifies the largest market shares in the various supply chains. For the retail sector, the objective was to analyse the openness of the retail sector to financial influence taking into account the latest sector trends

Gedragscode eerlijke handelspraktijken : quick-scanevaluatie

The agrofood sector, and the fashion, textiles and footwear sector have been working towards the drafting and implementation of a code of conduct with possibilities for dispute resolution in order to promote fair trade practices. Steering groups from within each of these two sectors started a pilot in order to achieve this. For the 2 years that these pilots were running, the two steering groups did not receive any complaints about unfair trade practices. Both steering groups emphasised that they determined that a code of conduct does have an edifying effect. The general perception is that the code of conduct made businesses more aware of fair trade and unfair trade practices. The steering group from the agrofood sector, although not unanimously, is sympathetic towards a continuation of the pilot which is in contrast with the steering group from the fashion, textile and footwear sector. This steering group supports putting the current pilot on hold and to make it available on demand if the branch organisations advise its usage. Both steering groups do not support extra legislation in this area

Integrating ecosystem services into the tropical commodity value chain : cocoa, soy and palm oil

This technical report explores the governance options available to the Dutch government to promote the sustainable use and maintenance of ecosystem services in tropical commodity value chains with Dutch links. It examines how ecosystem services can be given a more explicit role in public and market mechanisms, using the cocoa, soy, palm oil and timber chains as case studies. The document presents a discourse analysis of the way Dutch policies and practice address ecosystem services, updating the report of a forerunner study on the timber chain (Van den Berg et al. 2013). The discourse analysis indicates that the term ecosystem services still lacks a clear definition in Dutch policy, with ecosystem services largely being seen as an economic issue, which can be solved by market drive, voluntary and multi-actor value chain based solutions. The report presents results of a detailed examination of specific cases of innovation in sustainability initiatives and payments for ecosystem services projects in the cocoa chain, the Round Table for Responsible Soy (RTRS) and the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Lessons learnt from the analysis of these cases include the need to simplify what is meant by ecosystem services – for example using the term natural capital - to make it more appealing and intuitive, particularly for business. More evidence is needed on the impact of certification and how it maintains or enhances ecosystem services. Internationally agreed impact indicators are also recommended. The array of available certification schemes could be harmonised. A mix of policy instruments appears to offer more scope for the government, using market based ‘carrots’ and incentive-based ‘sticks’ (such as tax incentives and pilot projects) to stimulate new partnerships and initiatives. Challenges include giving ecosystem services an explicit role in policysupported innovations, and engaging with all value chain stakeholders, particularly community and consumer organisations

Upscaling sustainability initiatives in international commodity chains : Examples from cocoa, coffee and soy value chains in the Netherlands.

This study reports on the extent to which sustainability initiatives in the cocoa, coffee and soy value chainshave been scaled up by companies. We have investigated how the private sector can be further stimulated to engage in, sustain and increase their involvement in actions to increase the sustainability of commodity chains with links to the Netherlands. The report analyses the motives for companies to join sustainability initiatives and their reasons for not engaging. It concludes with several recommendations on how government and value-chain stakeholders could further stimulate the scaling up of sustainability initiative

Fairtrade certification in the banana hired labour sector

Evidence is needed about the difference that certification makes to workers on banana plantations. The Fairtrade system is therefore investing in monitoring to understand the difference certification makes to banana workers’ employment, living and working conditions, and empowerment. This study meets this need by gathering data on a range of indicators. This study 1) gathers baseline data on indicators and themes that monitor the progress of implementation of Fairtrade’s revised hired labour standards on certified plantations in key banana origins; 2) based on this data it researches and analyses the difference that Fairtrade makes across key themes in comparison to non-certified contexts; it prioritises workers’ voices and perspectives in achieving the objectives of the study. It particularly focuses on understanding the role of Fairtrade in supporting worker empowerment and empowerment-related goals. Focus countries are Ghana, Colombia and the Dominican Republic

Upscaling the impact of sustainability certification initiatives; Enabling conditions and policy recommendations for regional development

Sustainability certification is seen by many as an important means to make supply chains more sustainable. Even though there is some robust evidence on farm-level impacts of certification, and more studies are underway, very little information is available on regional level impacts of certification initiatives. In this study, we offer recommendations to governments, businesses, standard-setting bodies and civil society organisations to help contribute to improvements in impact. Three research questions have been addressed: 1. What impact of initiatives, positive and negative, on farm level but especially on regional level, has been documented on the environment, the society and the economy in production areas? 2. Which contextual factors and regional conditions are required or have proven instrumental for the scaling up of impact and catalysing regional impacts? 3. What can certification initiatives, governments, businesses, international organisations and NGOs do to ensure that the abovementioned conditions are created, supported and promoted? In this study, we refer to the impacts on the regional level as impacts which result from farm-level or local level impacts. To answer the above questions, we reviewed literature sources and conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders involved in coffee, cocoa, soy and palm oil supply chains