Sustainability of international Dutch supply chains: Progress, effects and perspectives

Dutch trade has become ever more sustainable, over the last years. The sustainable market
share was able to soar, also because of the efforts by social organisations, consumers
and the business community. Dutch market parties voluntarily have been contributing
to the certification of sustainable production and trade, using widely supported
voluntary sustainability standards. The government has been playing a facilitating role
by supporting these initiatives financially, by their own purchasing policy, and by
entering into declarations of intent with the various market parties. In this respect, the
Netherlands is one of the frontrunners in the European Union.
The PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency published a report in 2014 on supply chains of natural resources that are important to the Dutch economy. The report includes an assessment of the progress and effects of sustainability initiatives related to supply chains of cocoa, coffee, timber, palm oil, fish and soy,