Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations has formulated seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to create a better world for people and our planet by 2030. Van der Knaap Group understands that focusing on sustainable entrepreneurship is essential for the future and is actively committed to making a contribution. Our focus is currently on six objectives. These six objectives have been chosen based on, among others , our strategy and the material topics identified by our double materiality analysis. These are the most relevant topics in our sustainability report.



SDG 3: Good health and well-being
Our strategic pillar ‘passionate people’ describes our organisation’s commitment to the development and well-being of our people. We invest in a safe working environment that embeds health, knowledge development and job satisfaction. By devoting attention to vitality, training and healthy working conditions, we actively contribute to promoting well-being and sustainable employability.

We donate to charities, such as the Ronald Moerings Foundation, but also to various local sports clubs. In Sri Lanka, home to one of our production sites, we support the Mental Health Awareness programme.

Good health and well-being are of paramount importance at our production locations. The employees of some of our locations undergo periodic medical check-ups, all employees are provided with personal protective equipment and are offered extensive training and courses to create a safe and healthy working environment.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
Under the pillar ‘passionate people’, our priority is talent development, safety, knowledge transfer and job satisfaction. We encourage employees to continuously learn and invest in education, courses and training. We foster a sense of responsibility and ownership. This contributes to sustainable economic growth partnered with social responsibility.

We focus on employment opportunities in the (international) horticultural chain, social responsibility, good working conditions and the growth of a circular and sustainable economy. We strive to take the social impact of our activities into account. We make sure that socially acceptable workplace practices are developed, maintained and put into practice. International labour standards are an important part of this.

Core themes that we focus on include health and safety, labour conditions in the chain and workers’ rights. In concrete terms, this means, among other things, that child labour is not tolerated and that there is no discrimination. In addition, the organisation ensures that a safe workplace is provided, that there is no corruption and that employees are fairly remunerated.

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Innovation is one of the core pillars of our strategy (‘product development & innovation’). We develop new circular, environmentally friendly products and cultivation solutions that respond to changing customer needs, market demands, legislation and regulations and ecological challenges.

At ‘de Kas’ innovation centre, we apply research and innovation to work on a sustainable future for horticulture every day. By sharing our knowledge and expertise, we help accelerate the transition to a future-oriented horticultural sector.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
Developing circular and sustainable substrates is one of our core activities in line with our strategic pillar ‘operational excellence & smart supply chain’. We continuously optimise our processes to guarantee efficient, sustainable deliveries of high-quality growing media, circular fertilisers and cultivation solutions to customers all over the world. Through a local presence, strong partnerships and smart supply chain integration, we promote responsible business practices in the supply chain.

The circularity of our products is an important focus. We aim to incorporate the highest possible proportion of renewable raw materials in our mixtures in line with our investments in organic and circular growing systems and raw materials. These growing systems use residual flows to create new, valuable organic nutrient solutions. We also work on minimising our own waste and residual flows.

SDG 13: Climate action
This aligns with our strategic pillar ‘operational excellence & smart supply chain’. We continuously optimise our processes to guarantee efficient, sustainable deliveries of high-quality growing media, circular fertilisers and cultivation solutions to customers all over the world. Through a local presence, strong partnerships and smart supply chain integration, we promote responsible business practices in the supply chain.

We aim to reduce the climate impact of our business activities and build resilience to climate change. We are committed to reducing our company’s CO₂ emissions and emissions in the supply chain. In addition, increasing pressure on natural resources, including water, requires us to use our raw materials efficiently and in a future-proof manner.

We also contribute through projects such as Anagathaya Wawamu (Grow Your Future) in Sri Lanka. The goal of this project is to plant 500,000 coconut trees to help strengthen the local economy in rural areas and support the national food system. Participants receive information about how to care for the trees and can develop an additional source of income. Children actively participate in planting the trees as a way of raising environmental awareness among the youngest generation.

SDG 17: Partnership for the goals
Partnerships and international collaborations are firmly anchored in our strategy. The themes ‘product development & innovation’ and ’commercial excellence‘ drive efforts to collaborate in the supply chain to achieve sustainable solutions. Through a local presence, strong partnerships and smart supply chain integration, we boost the reliability and speed of our services and promote responsible business practices in the supply chain. We build long-term partnerships based on trust, accelerate joint growth and create sustainable value.

Van der Knaap works together with local partners at the production locations for coco and peat products. We consciously choose to collaborate on the basis of a full partnership and to build lasting relationships. We also work on maintaining lasting relationships within the supply chain, for example, with owners of plantations and peat bogs and suppliers, but also with our stakeholders. Working on achieving corporate social responsibility and sustainability goals is only possible if we work together.