Betting on best quality
Within the framework of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the European Commission accredited some 17 certification schemes ranging from RTRS, RSPO to ISCC. Differences in quality: in terms of transparency, criteria, verification & assurance.
To assess the situation in-depth, the Ecosystem Alliance (IUCN-NL, Wetlands International and Both ENDS) commissioned consultancy firm ProForest to undertake a comparative benchmarking study, supervised by IUCN-NL.
This benchmarking study offers a systematic overview. It also surfaces that some schemes lack the most basic assurance mechanism and are failing to offer transparency. This, while companies and consumers increasingly demand openness and guarantees that the sourcing of feedstock meets sustainability criteria.
It is a matter of urgency that the Commission and EU member states ensure that all schemes offer transparency, reliable systems for third party verification and assurance and encompass at least the minimum in social and ecological criteria.
Both ENDS serves on the Board of Governors of RSPO and is a member of the Committee on Sustainable Biomass (Corbey Commission) advising the Dutch government. Both ENDS is pleased to see the ProForest report confirms that RSPO, and other schemes such as RTRS which also offer a robust assurance system, sets the highest standard.
Read more about this subject
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News / 29 June 2020
Global civil society pushes for mandatory environmental and human rights rules in the EU
On 23 July 2020 a global network of NGOs working to strengthen corporate accountability for environmental destruction and human rights abuses, including Both ENDS, published an open letter to European Commission DG Justice Commissioner Reynders. The letter is a response to his recent commitment to propose legislation in 2021 on both corporate due diligence and directors’ duties as part of an initiative on sustainable corporate governance.
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Video / 24 November 2014
Certification and beyond - Solutions for responsible agro-commodity governance
The impacts of large-scale soy and palm oil production explained by local experts.
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Blog / 16 June 2020
The political and industrial elites in Indonesia grasp their opportunity
In September 2019, the streets of Jakarta were filled with angry demonstrators protesting against the Omnibus Employment Law. The law will ease the rules for mining, make it much more difficult to hold companies liable for criminal acts and severely restrict the power of the national anti-corruption committee. At the moment, such protests are completely impossible in Indonesia because of the COVID-19 crisis and the associated lockdown measures. And Indonesian people already had few other means of exerting influence on decision-making and legislative processes.
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Publication / 26 July 2018
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Blog / 16 February 2021
The Netherlands can contribute much to making agriculture sustainable – nationally and internationally
If the Netherlands wants to make its agriculture and livestock industry sustainable and to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their products, it will also have to look beyond its own borders. The Netherlands is the world's second largest exporter of agricultural products. We have a great impact because, through our trade relations, we uphold a system of intensive agriculture that destroys ecosystems and undermines local production. Partly due to our trade in agricultural products, the Dutch economy is has a large, and growing, footprint. That should and can be different: the Netherlands is in a good position to lead the required transition in agriculture. Fortunately, the party manifestos for the coming elections offer sufficient opportunities to set that in motion. A new coalition can thus take decisive new steps.
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News / 12 October 2018
The Soy Coalition ended, but the work must and will go on!
After 15 years, the members of the Dutch Soy Coalition have decided to disband the coalition. A total of 16 civil society organisations have worked together for many years to put the negative impact of the production, transport, processing and consumption of soy on the agenda and to seek solutions together with other stakeholders.
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Publication / 12 October 2018
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Publication / 27 June 2018
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Dossier /
Soy: trade in deforestation
The rising demand for soy is having negative consequences for people and the environment in South America. Both ENDS reminds Dutch actors in the soy industry of their responsibilities and is working with partners on fair and sustainable alternatives.
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News / 14 June 2019
Both ENDS partner TUK presents symbolic tree to Dutch minister Schouten
Last Thursday June 13, Rahmawati Retno Winarni of TUK, an Indonesian partner organisation of Both ENDS, presented a symbolic tree and an appeal to the Dutch Minister of Agriculture Carola Schouten, also on behalf of 10 NGOs. The joint NGOs are pushing the EU, including the Dutch government, for strict EU legislation to prevent the destruction of forests and ecosystems and to protect human rights.
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News / 28 June 2018
Indigenous leaders present 'Supply Chain Solutions' and petition in Paris and Brussels
Last week, indigenous leaders from various countries were in Paris to urge action on deforestation and human rights abuses at the multi-stakeholder meeting of the Amsterdam Declarations Partnership. The group, invited by Forests Peoples Programme and Both ENDS, presented a publication 'Supply chain solutions for people and forests' containing a set of practical recommendations from local communities on how to make supply chains more sustainable and fair.
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Publication / 18 November 2013
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Publication / 4 February 2008
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News / 18 December 2017
Communities take Guatemala to court for water rights abuses
Last month, our partner Utz Che' filed a lawsuit against the Guatemalan state on behalf of some communities along the Madre Vieja River. The communities demand, among other things, that their right to water is respected and that they are protected against water abuse and pollution by large-scale agriculture.
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Publication / 13 October 2016
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Publication / 29 October 2014
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Publication / 5 December 2012
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Publication / 2 December 2014
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Publication / 28 February 2018
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Transformative Practice /
Agroecology
Agroecology is a diverse set of agricultural practices, a field of science and a social movement. It aims to transform food systems towards greater ecological sustainability, social justice, and resilience. Both ENDS and CSO-partners around the world support farmers and pastoralists practising agroecology, both on the ground and in gathering political and financial support.