Case studies

Developing sustainable supply chains; how is that done? What kind of steps need to be taken, what kind of work to be done? Below a selection of cases that gives examples of the work involved. From drawing board to fieldwork.

Rajlakshmi producing responsible fashion

Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills was one of the first companies in India to specialise in organic cotton. Around the world, more and more fashion labels buy Rajlakshmi products.
Treehouse improves working conditions

Knitwear factory Treehouse in China and Solidaridad collaborate to improve working conditions and efficiency. Target is compliance with SA8000 labour standards.
Chetna boosts organic cotton in India

Chetna Organic in India has grown from reaching 234 farmers in 2004 to a membership base of 8,138 farmers in 2010.
Centres demonstrate sustainability

The global demand for UTZ CERTIFIED coffee is increasing. Centres of Excellence in Kenya assist smallholders to take full advantage of the demand.
Solidaridad introduces Fairtrade Fairmined gold

Solidaridad supports 3 miners' organizations in Fairtrade Fairmined certification and market linkage by the end of 2010.
Sustainable energy from coffee waste

Together with Solidaridad, UTZ CERTIFIED set up a pilot project in which coffee pulp and waste water is used to produce sustainable energy.
Training cocoa farmers for UTZ certification

Solidaridad trained cocoa farmers in Ivory Coast to enable them to produce better quality beans and higher yields. In 2009 two cocoa cooperatives became UTZ CERTIFIED.
Biomass opportunities in Mozambique

Mozambique is seen as one of the most promising countries of origin for sustainable biomass. Soldaridad aims to involve the rural population in this opportunity.
Research for gender equality

Solidaridad investigated the position of women on cocoa farms in Ghana. Suggestions for improvement are adopted by partners that conduct trainings.
Campaign shows Mars' sustainability

Cocoa manufacturer Mars turned into a leader in sustainability. Together with Solidaridad, Mars campaigned to promote sustainable cocoa in the Netherlands.
Palm oil company supports farmers

New Britain Palm Oil Limited supports smallholders in Papua New Guinea to achieve sustainable standards (RSPO). This will improve their productivity and margins.
RSPO standard includes smallholders

Solidaridad and the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) work together to include small scale palm oil farmers in the certified supply chain.
Dutch companies support responsible soy

FrieslandCampina, CONO and Keurslagers support responsible soy produced by family farmers in India and Brazil. Solidaridad stimulated these three Dutch companies to do so.
Training and certifying soy family farmers

Solidaridad supports more than 800 soy family farmers in South Brazil. Target is to train and certify around 3000 soy family farmers in responsible soy farming within 3 years.
A final standard for sustainable soy

The Round Table on Responsible Soy established a standard for sustainable soy in 2010.
20% higher soy yields for Samarth Kisan

Increase of income and reduction of environmental problems can go hand in hand. Producer company Samarth Kisan in India proves that.
Global standard for 'better' sugarcane

Bonsucro, previously known as Better Sugarcane Initiative (BSI) drew up a code of conduct for sustainable sugarcane production. Solidaridad took the lead in developing a tracking system.
First sustainable supply chain of sugarcane

North Sea Group works with Solidaridad on the first large-scale sustainable supply chain of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil to the Netherlands.
Farmers save water in sugarcane cultivation

In Pakistan, Solidaridad trains farmers to grow more sugarcane while using less water. This improves farmer income and reduces the risk of water conflicts.
Tea estates see new opportunities with UTZ

Solidaridad assist tea farmers in Malawi to get an UTZ certification. It helps them to increase productivity, efficiency and tea quality.
Banana producers own model company

Export company Grupo Hualtaco combines the strong points of a cooperative model and a traditional business model. It is co-owned by Peruvian banana producers.
Better Cotton Initiative benefits sector

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) aims to promote measurable improvements of cotton cultivation to make it more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable.

Case studies

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