The EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition (EUSSCC) is a new informal alliance bringing together companies, civil society organisations and multistakeholder initiatives to engage with EU policy-makers to help deliver sustainability in agricultural and timber commodity supply chains, especially those characterised by significant production by smallholder farmers. The coalition provides a platform for organisations seeking to engage with EU policy developments and legislation that help to make agricultural and commodity value chains sustainable from a human rights and environmental perspective.

The Coalition’s ultimate aim is to achieve sustainable agricultural and timber commodity supply chains, especially in sectors characterised by significant production by smallholder farmers, that allow farmers and workers to enjoy living incomes and in which human rights abuses, and deforestation and other forms of environmental degradation, are prevented and addressed. To achieve this aim, we argue for meaningful change in the sector, with a focus on the design and implementation of ambitious and effective EU legislation and policy and other EU-focused activities, such as partnerships with producing countries, through the coordination of active and transparent advocacy efforts by Coalition members, including direct contacts, private and public meetings, and public statements.

The Coalition provides an informal forum in which members agree to:

• Explore areas of alignment between members on achieving fully sustainable agri-food supply chains, especially where they relate to existing or proposed European legislation.
• Engage in an open and fact-based exchange of views with EU decision-makers and others on topics related to the policy conditions for creating fully sustainable agri-food supply chains, as described above
• Develop joint messaging and positioning and, accordingly, engage in joint advocacy activities towards EU decision-makers and key stakeholders.

The topics to be discussed are agreed by Coalition members periodically, at least once a year. Each member agrees to the procedures which govern the Coalition, including endorsing the core statement of the Coalition’s purpose and principles, which will be reviewed at least annually. The Coalition may form sub-groups to discuss issues specific to individual commodity production and supply chains.