Responsible purchasing is an increasingly important part of supply chain management. Suppliers are analyzed on different environmental and social aspects, for example on labor conditions or the prevention of hazardous waste. By acting upon the results and making strategic partnerships within the value chain, companies can realize social, environmental, and even monetary benefits.
Van Gansewinkel group has decided to join forces with the German EPEA from Michael Braungart, co-author of the book Cradle to Cradle. The purpose of the agreement is to spread the Cradle to Cradle principle in the Benelux, to use each other’s specific knowledge and to share this with third parties. The core of Cradle to Cradle lies in the concept ‘Waste = food’: all used materials should after their lives in one product become useful in another product. In the vision of Braungart materials should not contain ingredient that harm either the health of people or the environment.