Europe

Solidaridad was founded in 1969 in the Netherlands, and has since evolved into a leader of global sustainability initiatives. We engage European market actors, including corporations and governments, to commit to fair and sustainable value chains, contributing to an economy that works for all.
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Solidaridad’s Europe office generates support and commitments for making international value chains more sustainable, with a focus on improving livelihoods of farmers, miners and workers around the world. With offices in the Netherlands and Germany, representation in the UK, and partnerships in various European countries, there are ample opportunities to influence corporations, governments and citizens to take up and commit to more sustainable practices.

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regulatory frameworks in place in Europe

64

corporates improved their sustainability policies, practices and inclusive business models

 369,000

citizens were mobilized to demand a sustainable economy

RECLAIM SUSTAINABILITY!

Together with our partners, in this programme we strive to foster genuine and inclusive sustainability in global value chains, where the voices of farmers, miners, workers and citizens are well represented in decision making, and civil society is strengthened. 

Achievements

Collaboration with meaningful impact

Solidaridad Europe engages with donors and companies, knowledge institutes and civil society organizations to make global supply chains more sustainable. With our offices based in the Netherlands and Germany, we work with various European partners and explore opportunities to create a sustainable and inclusive impact. Companies and governments of both producing and consuming countries must prioritize the sustainability and inclusivity of global value chains, and the livelihoods of the people involved in these processes, and Solidaridad continues to advocate for this system change to happen.

Challenges

Excess extraction

European market actors extract too much value from remote communities and ecosystems. As a result, many farmers, workers and miners live in poverty, while our biosphere and atmosphere are degrading rapidly. Only when European market actors commit to sustainability, and are ready to pay for it, can we facilitate the transition to an economy that works for everyone and safeguards the planet for future generations.

We have seen some turbulent years worldwide recently, with growing socio-political divisions that have become increasingly visible; in Europe this has included demonstrations by European farmers as well as climate activists. Citizens are worried about their social and economic well-being, now and in the coming years. Within this context, tackling global challenges requires partnerships and collaborations, which is an essential part of Solidaridad’s work.

Our global economy in unequal. European economic priorities are centered in the region itself, often lacking conversation around the interconnectedness of the global supply chain. Many products sold here are grown, made or mined far away by people who are vulnerable to poverty. In particular, female factory workers, farmers and small-scale miners are severely affected.

Voluntary sustainability initiatives haven’t led to sufficient impact. Supply chains are still troubled by deforestation, unsustainable practices, and underpaid farmers and workers. We need a smart mix of measures – mandatory frameworks, voluntary initiatives, supporting policies — to ensure all products sold at the European market are produced in a sustainable way. Solidaridad has continuously advocated in the recent years for smallholder-inclusive implementation of the EU legislation around Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR); read more on this under our ‘solutions’ section.

Climate change is the major challenge of our time. Despite governments and companies increasingly committing to fighting climate change and allocating resources in their policies, mitigation strategies and climate financing still fall behind. Meanwhile, the producers (farmers, workers, miners) are often the ones who suffer most from the impact of climate change.

Solutions

Creating meaningful connections

Tackling supply chain inequity requires a comprehensive and multi-stakeholder approach. Through advocacy, media engagement, working in partnership with companies, and fundraising, Solidaridad is creating a supportive environment for meaningful policy changes and programme implementation around the world.

Regulatory frameworks and sustainability policies are essential to ensure that products sold at the European market are produced in a sustainable way. We continuously work on establishing and maintaining cooperation with public and private sector decision makers to foster our advocacy efforts in this area.

There’s increasing political momentum in Europe for regulatory frameworks promoting sustainable production. The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is an important legislation to foster the sustainability of international supply chains, and jointly with coalition partners, Solidaridad has lobbied to help ensure that the Directive is implemented in a smallholder-inclusive way. Moreover, the final European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) entered into force in 2023, and will also have an important impact on smallholders and supply chains, and must be implemented in a way that prioritizes the interests and livelihoods of producers worldwide.

The private sector is pivotal in enabling sustainable production, trade and investments as well as stimulating demand for sustainably-produced products. Companies are increasingly pledging to invest in good production practices, though implementation is variable. Solidaridad is a constructive yet critical partner, calling on companies to make and live up to sustainability promises, and to adopt new inclusive business models.

We work in partnership with corporations to encourage  them to make genuine choices in favour of sustainability, implementing sustainability policies and embracing new inclusive business models.

We activate European citizens and consumers to raise their voices for a more sustainable and inclusive economy. We encourage them to demand that companies and governments ensure that goods are produced in a sustainable and responsible way.

We are a trusted partner to our donors and supporters. We work to ensure a growing and diversified stream of funding for the continued implementation of our global programmes. We engage with donors across Europe and at the European Union level.

In Europe Solidaridad actively contributes to innovative solutions, promoting transparency and traceability in global supply chains. By providing verified farmer data, we create transparency, leading to a fairer value distribution. We promote innovative inclusive business models with increased farmer ownership for truly sustainable sourcing, production, trade and investment.

Inclusive practices and policies are essential in reclaiming sustainability as a practice that benefits all equally, and creates lasting, positive change.  This means that the role of, and impact on, women, youth, minority groups, and people with disabilities, among others, are taken into account.

In Europe, we partner with hundreds of players across global value chains, from corporations to knowledge institutes and civil society organizations. Find out what we can achieve together.

Get in touch

Want to know more about our work in Europe? Get in touch with our team.


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‘t Goylaan 15 
3525 AA Utrecht
The Netherlands
+31 (0)30 272 0313
info@solidaridad.nl

Heske Verburg
Managing Director
heske.verburg@solidaridadnetwork.org

Photo of Myrtille Danse, Head of Corporate Engagement and Partnerships, Solidaridad Europe

Myrtille Danse
Head of Corporate Engagement and Partnerships
myrtille.danse@solidaridadnetwork.org

Melanie Rutten-Sülz
Country Representative, Solidaridad Germany
melanie.rutten-suelz@solidaridadnetwork.org

Europe supervisory board

The members of the Continental Supervisory Board Europe from left to right: Claire Gentil, Jan Karel Mak (chair), Martin Staehle, Kajsa Johansson, Marion Kappeyne van de Coppello. (Robin Veenstra and Nadia Bernaz are not in this picture.) 

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