sustainable business development

from corporate social responsibility to sustainable business

In a sustainable world, governments, civil society organizations and companies strive to create a healthy environment and fair social conditions while ensuring solid growth of the economy. The free market forces that drive economic growth can also be exploited to resolve social and environmental issues. As more and more companies acknowledge their social and environmental responsibilities, the challenge is to develop business plans that address these environmental and social issues and seize the business opportunities they present.

Aidenvironment helps public, civil and private parties realize sustainable, market-oriented initiatives and projects. Focusing on Aidenvironment’s principal areas of expertise, we concentrate primarily on agrocommodities, biofuel and biomass, access to water and sanitation, and nature and poverty.

Our understanding of the different perspectives of our clients, our empirical knowledge of sustainability issues and our local field experience enable us to build ecomically sound business cases. We assist our clients by devising sustainable revenue models and business plans, by conducting market and partner scans, building consortiums with partners in western and southern markets, financial engineering, securing access to finance and structuring deals.

What have we done so far?

• developed the Appropriate Technology Business Development Toolkit for the water and sanitation sector, compiled by Aidenvironment, AT@Work and BiDconsult and funded by Partners for Water.  Download the Toolkit here.
• enhanced the sustainability of the rubber value chain in Borneo, Indonesia, and strengthened the entrepreneurship of local rubber smallholders
• developed a financing instrument
• developed a financing instrument, along with Solidaridad, for a Dutch financial institution to improve the investment possibilities for coffee farmers
• conducted market studies on behalf of a number of international companies
• carried out environmental, social and economical impact assessments on investment opportunities for several international financiers
• completed feasibility studies on sustainable biomass plantations for a Dutch energy company
• managed a large number of activities in the water and sanitation sector through the Micro Water Facility. For further details please consult the MWF portfolio.