Coalitions

Accelerating supply chain transformation through collective action

Moving beyond competition to maximise impact

No single company controls an entire global supply chain. Within any given sector, environmental and social risks, limited upstream transparency and growing regulatory pressure affect every player, whatever their size or position in the chain. Acting alone is costly, places a heavy burden on suppliers and delivers limited results.

History shows that collective action is what aligns expectations and drives the most significant social and environmental progress.

Key initiatives:

From producers to end users

Transitions works with companies that share the same supply chains: brands, retailers, manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, processors, traders and producers. We help them build and run operational coalitions, whether sector-wide or supply chain-specific, to increase their collective influence on sustainability issues.

Our goal is to help members better understand their value chains, agree on a common language and shared ambitions, and develop joint methods to analyse and mitigate risks.

These commitments translate into concrete action on the ground, coordinated with upstream stakeholders and in production areas.

Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD) An operational coalition led by Transitions and BSR that brings together commodity buyers (palm oil, coconut, soy, etc.) to collectively deliver on NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation) commitments.
Action for Responsible Timber Sourcing (ARTS) An operational coalition led by Transitions that brings together buyers of wood-based products (timber, paper, cardboard, packaging, etc.) to improve supply chain transparency and manage related risks together.
Sector-wide and technical cooperation We work alongside a wide range of stakeholders and organisations to share knowledge, pool efforts and develop joint solutions that tackle deforestation, uphold human rights and support smallholders.

Our expertise:

A strategic and operational partner for coalitions

We support collective efforts on two levels. First, we help private-sector players come together as coalitions: defining a theory of change, a governance framework and an impact strategy, then set up and run the activities needed to reach their objectives.

Second, we support existing collaborative initiatives, trade associations and sustainability standards with solutions tailored to their needs.

Due diligence & risk management Trace supply chains back to production origin, map and assess risks, centralise and investigate non-compliance alerts, and coordinate risk mitigation plans upstream.
Supplier engagement & practice change Pool supplier assessment and engagement at every stage of the supply chain, support their development, track progress and build clear pathways to compliance and performance.
On-the-ground impact Design, fund and manage social and environmental transition projects at the heart of production areas, while helping members integrate them into their value chains.
Stakeholder engagement & influence Foster dialogue with civil society, local communities, peers, experts, coalitions and standard-setting bodies to address key issues and shape sustainability policies: discussion forums, working groups, thematic workshops, consultations, advocacy strategies, etc.

Antitrust statement

The multi-stakeholder coalitions led by Transitions sometimes bring together competing companies.

Because some of these collaborations are sensitive under competition law, discussions are strictly limited to their purpose: supply chain sustainability. They exclude any topic that could suggest anti-competitive behaviour: prices, margins, costs, volumes, customers or commercial strategies.

Action for Sustainable Derivatives (ASD)

Action for Responsible Timber Sourcing (ARTS)