Launch of the Sustainable Procurement Manifest

Sustainable procurement: a key lever for food systems transition. Dutch businesses spend more than 400 billion euros annually on products and services. This includes products and services procured in the agrifood sector. By purchasing sustainably, companies can make a huge impact to address todays pressing issues, as defined by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. This includes the potential positive impact on food security (SDG2) and the sustainability of the food system. When companies use their collective purchasing power to steer toward global goals, they develop a demand for sustainable (e.g. agrifood) products. They thus encourage suppliers in domestic, regional and global value chains to develop greener and more social products and services. Hence, organizations can use the procurement function to influence sustainability in the here and now as well as later and elsewhere. The more organizations choose to do this, the closer we will come to achieving the SDGs and our own sustainability goals.

In view of boosting sustainable procurement, a group of Dutch organisations have developed the Sustainable Procurement Manifesto . Initiators include the Global Sustainable Enterprise System (GSES), the National SDG Coordinator, Alliance Coordinator SDG 12 and SDG Netherlands. The Manifesto is meant as a joint statement and call to action, and was signed by many organisations and companies in the Netherlands. The purpose of this manifesto is to provide support to both principals as well as purchase managers and procurement professionals who want to make the choice for further sustainability in their organization and want to encourage sustainable production in their suppliers.

Find more information about the Sustainable Procurement Manifesto here and you can also read it: (in English) (in Dutch).

Agriculture and Food Sector

NFP recommends the Manifesto to its network partners in the agriculture and food sector. These partners may create more SDG impact if they:

Sign the Manifesto (click here) and strengthen their own companies’ or organisations’ sustainable procurement policy and practice;
Work with their partners in specific agrifood value chains, to advance the volume of sustainably produced food and agricultural products, and reduce the volume of produce that does not meet standards (for an inspirational example, see this initiative of MVO-NL and partners to advance biodiversity;
Reflect on the innovations that are possible in their sphere of influence, which may be technical, financial and/or related to organisational aspects;
Connect to this network working on Sustainable Procurement. NFP is available to facilitate the connections within the Dutch network, via our role as SDG 2 alliance coordinator.

On Thursday, June 8th they will host a launch event for the Sustainable Procurement Manifesto at the SDG House in Rotterdam.