25 years ofThis year CREM celebrates its 25th anniversary! Founded in 1989 CREM is one of the oldest consultancy firms in the Netherlands that specializes in sustainable development. Looking back at 25 years, we always had an important focus on the international dimensions of sustainability. We have developed a lot of expertise and a strong network in this field and we aim to further inten-sify our international activities in the years to come.

As part of our celebration we give you a glance at the situation regarding sustainability around the world. We gathered input from our international partners, whom we will introduce to you in this overview. International consultants from around the world provided us with their view on sustainability in their country.

Firstly, we have asked them what they consider the most important sustainability achievements and future challenges in their countries. Secondly, we wanted to know to what extent consumers are already taking into account sustainability issues in their purchase behaviour. Without the fast growing force of upper and middle class consumers in emerging economies it will be difficult to make global supply chains more sustainable. Finally, we have asked our partners whether attention to sustainability in their countries may pose a new business opportunity for importers or foreign investors. If so, that may be a new business case for internationally operating companies to improve their sustainability performance.

Much has happened in 25 years. CREM has grown from three people into a professional firm with a mul-tidisciplinary team of consultants working on sustainability. Although we grew a bit more grey hair, we kept our motivation and ambition to work on a sustainable society and economy. With more knowledge, experience and energy we look forward to work with you in the coming 25 years.

Warm regards from CREM,

(from left to right) Frits Steenhuisen (director), Victor de Lange (director) and Wijnand Broer (deputy director)

CREM BVSpuistraat 104d1012 VA AmsterdamThe Netherlands+31 (0)20-6274969www.crem.nl

'The increased land conversion from cocoa and tea plantations into palm oil is endangering the environment due to agrochemical inputs, water scarcity, soil fertility and more.'Maria Epik Pranasari - Indonesia

'Social awareness of young generations is still low.'Son Nguyen Ngoc - Vietnam

'There is currently not enough alertness by businesses with regards to preparing for climate change. 'Prae Piromya - Thailand

'I am proud of Nepal as a global leader in community-led forest protection and management - and community based development.' Govind Prasad Bhatt - Nepal

'Sustainable initiatives should be retained especially when their financial support ends' Rosalinda L. Fuentes - Philippines

'Our sustainable wood processing industry has been a success producing export-oriented wood products with good-quality employment'Mario Eduardo Valori Perez -Bolivia

'Extreme poverty has been significantly reduced in the past 25 years.'Yanina Kowszyk - Argentina

'Legislation has been a key compo-nent for sustainability as a guiding pillar for other initiatives.. such as the creation of the Ministry of Envi-ronment in the 90's'Luz Elena Heranndez - Colombia

'We reached a higher percentage of (now fragile) protected areas, the recovery of lost forests and the improvements in education and public health'Roger Forbes -Costa Rica

'South Africa has done well with renew-able energy programmes which have been implemented over the past 2-3 years' Lusanda Moletsane - South Africa

What has been accomplished? Which challenges are we facing?

'In the next 25 years sustainability of Tanzania is likely to be worse due to continued rural-urban development gap' Helima Mengele - Tanzania

'Population growth is the biggest challenge for India. Over popu-lation of mega cities is putting pressure on food, water and energy' Rajit Pal Singh - India

'IKEA's ground breaking work on social and environmental sustainability is paving the way for others to follow' Mattias Iweborg - Sweden

25 years of Global Sustainability

Consumers purchase decision is mainly based on price in Costa Rica Roger Forbes -Costa Rica

There is more awareness and most people are open to sustainability. It could help to communicate about it for instance through social mediaRosalinda L. Fuentes - Philippines

Changing the economic trend through open market national investments would encou-rage the young generation of consumers in buying the national products instead of imported goodsHelima Mengele -Tanzania

Nowadays consumers care more about their health and wellbeing. They tend to focus on value for money instead of cost savingSon Nguyen Ngoc - Vietnam

Responsible brands who produce their products and services with due care of the environment and the communities are becoming more popu-lar at a slow paceGovind Prasad Bhatt - Nepal

Besides more social mobilization by the NGOs and civil societies, most consumers are not behaving according to sustainable criteria yetYanina Kowszyk - Argentina

The usage of solar geysers has been increased. The government invested a lot to make sure they were installed in new houses Lusanda Moletsane - South Africa

Most people will prefer products or ser-vices at the lowest price disregarding the environmental impacts. Fortunately, youth populations are more engaged in awareness campaigns Mario Eduardo Valori Perez -Bolivia

Unlike in the west, consumers in India are very diverse. A small class of educated consumers care for sustainability. The other segments need more time and educationRajit Pal Singh - India

Sustainable consumer behavior is still incipient. There is still not enough legislation and social campaigns to make a real changeLuz Elena Heranndez - Colombia

Besides a few well educated urban commu-nities most Indonesian people lack informa-tion on sustainability issues and reasons to support sustainability initiatives Maria Epik Pranasari - Indonesia

Thai consumers want healthier food and products. The young generation also wants more eco-tourism, innovative working envi-ronments, and social entrepreneurshipPrae Piromya - Thailand

To what extent do consumers take into account sustainability issues in their purchase behaviour?

Trends in Consumer Behaviour

End consumers are becoming more aware. Today they expect companies to behave in a responsible way. At the same time only a few are willing to pay a premium to ensure that this is the case Mattias Iweborg - Sweden

‘Foreign social investment allows Latin America to increase the social impact in the area. Impact investing is a new topic that raises a lot of atten-tion.’ Yanina Kowszyk – Argentina

‘Foreign companies could seize business opportu-nities by investing in capacity and training for local employees and implementing environmentally sustainable practices.’Luz Elena Heranndez – Colombia

‘Conductive Nepal policies welcome foreign investment and technology transfers. With community participation and sustainability principles in each business venture, it would be beneficial for all.’ Govind Prasad Bhatt – Nepal

‘Foreign companies should communicate their sustainable business strategy and increase their stakeholder value in Thailand and globally.’Prae Piromya - Thailand

‘India is open to meaningful innovations of techni-cal know how on sustainable agriculture, water conservation and cost efficient Energy Sources.’ Rajit Pal Singh- India

‘Scientific institutions could share their technology with local communities to improve livelihoods. I am not sure if that would apply for the private sector.‘ Lusanda Moletsane - South Africa

Opportunities for international businesses

‘More than what foreign companies can do, SMEs in Costa Rica need the support and incentives of the government to understand what CSR is and to be able to implement sustainability in their own companies.’ Roger Forbes- Costa Rica

‘Smallholders could still benefit from knowledge & skills on Good Agricultural Practices, business man-agement, etc. to increase productivy and a better product quality.’ Maria Epik Pranasari - Indonesia

‘Foreign companies may consider taking a bottom up approach to improve public participation for sustaining local investment initiatives.‘ Helima Mengele - Tanzania

‘Foreign investors and businesses could help the Philippines by sharing proven technology at an af-fordable price.’ Rosalie Lopez-Fuentes -Philippines

‘Foreign companies should start with setting up new working standards within their own staff and then with their suppliers/partners.’Son, Nguyen Ngoc – Vietnam

‘Knowledge management should become more widely accessed and shared. A shift towards im-pact investment and social responsible activities should be promoted more eagerly.‘Mario Eduardo Valori Pérez – Bolivia

How can foreign investors or companies positively contribute to sustainability in your country?

‘If foreign companies and investors require responsible and sustainable behaviour as a prerequisite for business/investments, the transformation towards a more sustain-ability development will speed up on policy level as in operations.’ Mattias Iweborg - Sweden

'Latin American leaders should be more and more committed to sustainability concerning the chal-lenges of inequities, biodiversity, social diversity and education. I hope a strong public incentive may be generated and more private and social initiatives.'

Yanina Kowszykwww.innovacional.com

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bolivia - Mario Eduardo Valori Pérez mvalori(at)hotmail.com

‘We could use a more sincere/trans-parent/unbiased discussion regarding sustainable development with participation of all sectors involved. While the government promotes with strong rhetoric to respect Mother Earth and its resources, there is a strong feeling that coca cultivation has expanded widely and without control and including some protective areas.’

La Paz, Bolivia

Colombia - Luz Elena Hernandez Ocampoluzeho(at)yahoo.es

‘Colombia should implement more sustainable spatial planning policies including the particularities of each region. On the short term I wish local communities are empowered to enforce that regional and local objectives of the government are achieved.’

Bogota - Colombia

Costa Rica - Roger Forbes www.cegesti.org

‘The vision of development in Costa Rica was only based on attracting investment and has often neglected local producers, espe-cially SMEs. I wish for a long term national strategy for sustainable development. This should include social and environmental criteria, the political will to fight against corruption and strengthening of the social system.’

San José - Costa Rica

India - Rajit Pal Singh www.reachpotential.in

‘Water is the crisis knocking at our doors. Any delay in attend-ing to it will be at our own peril.’

New Delhi, India

Indonesia - Maria Epik Pranasariwww.fair-biz.org

‘Indonesia could use more businesses supporting sustainability initiatives and a change of perception that sustainability is costly and reduce companies profit. Moreover, I hope there will be more public campaign to enhance public knowledge on these issues.’

Jakarta, Indonesia

‘We need more sustainable interventions aimed at economic, social and environ-mental empowerment. This could be accomplished through capacity building, development and industrialization and inter-national cooperation.’

Nepal - Govind Prasad Bhattgbhatta2005(at)yahoo.com

Kathmandu, Nepal

‘Sustainability awareness and implementation to begin with all the government organi-zations with corresponding “green police” enforcers to instill discipline among the people. The economic aspect will follow once sustainability becomes a way of life.’

Philippines -Rosalie Lopez-Fuentesrosalielopezfuentes(at)gmail.com

Cebu, Philippines

South Africa - Lusanda Moletsanelusandamo(at)webmail.co.za

‘The development of the biofuels industry is going very slow. The government has taken so long to specify the blending ratios. This industry has such great potential as it presents an opportunity for the development of degradable lands and community owned land.’

Johannesburg - South Africa

Sweden - Mattias Iweborgwww.enact.se

‘I would like to see a continued increased understanding and action among investors and other actors in the financial market of the link between sustainability and prosperity.’

Stockholm - Sweden

Tanzania - Helima Joel Mengelehelima.mengele02(at)gmail.com

‘The government could set new investment legislation and poli-cies as well as a favorable envi-ronment for foreign investments. Improve PPP by encouraging joint local–foreign capital invest-ments especially in the agricultur-al, mineral and oil sectors which are growing fast in Tanzania.’

Dar es Salaam - Tanzania

‘Large Thai companies should look inwards and hire the right people (staff and consultants/facilitators) to help with their sustainability strategy, implementation, and stakeholder engagement in all operations. Starting with top executives all the way down to staff on the ground.’

Thailand - Prae Piromya www.sasinsustainability.org

Bangkok, Thailand

‘People in general and compa-nies/SMEs in particular should become aware and undertake actions for sustainability. They first need to understand that sustainability is for their own benefits, not a nice-thing-to-have in life.’

Vietnam - Son Nguyen Ngoc www.syb.vn (under construction)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam