DEG helps to promote sustainable value chains

Together with econsense – the Forum for Sustainable Development of German Business – DEG has launched the Initiative for Sustainable Value Chains.

More than ever before, consumers today set great store by sustainably produced goods. From chocolate and coffee to pullovers and jeans, they expect sustainability standards to be adhered to. This not only refers to domestic production but also to compliance with international standards in the supply chain. In many cases, this is a particular challenge when producing and developing in emerging-market countries.

The DEG-supported Initiative for Sustainable Value Chains was recently launched at the 2018 Hanover Fair. It aims to promote structures and expertise in developing and emerging-market countries that pave the way for sustainable business practices in international value chains. The initiative is spearheaded by econsense, a union of leading global companies and organisations in German business, in cooperation with the Wittenberg Center for Global Ethics (WCGE).

In an initial pilot phase, the programme is to liaise with local players and partners in Mexico and China with a view to networking knowledge and identifying opportunities for action.

In order to ensure a sustainable structure for its international value chains, the companies involved in the initiative will, among other things, be setting up training programmes for their suppliers during the pilot phase. The training will be developed and provided by the global consulting firm Systain. It will also be supplemented by setting up a network of trainers, thereby ensuring that the work can be continued by local trainers in the long term.