Trade for Development Centre is a programme of Enabel, the Belgian development agency.

News and publications

Relaxed sustainable shopping? Check out the Harvest Club

Welcome to the Harvest Club, in the heart of Leuven. Stefanie Vereecken selects a wide range of clothing, home décor, accessories and beauty and care products for her sociable concept store. All from suppliers with their heart in the right place, just like Stefanie. Want to take a look inside?

Read more »

Europe targeting CSR legislation

The EU wants to launch a legal framework for corporate due diligence with regard to human rights and the environment by 2021. “I see more and more support, also from companies. They are the ones asking for more certainty, to create a level playing field”, said European Commissioner Didier Reynders at a debate on the topic of CSR in company supply chains on the 29th of September.

Read more »

KOAKAKA report: quality coffee from Rwanda

Koakaka is a coffee cooperative from Rwanda that produces top quality coffee. Despite this, the cooperative – like many in the region – faced many challenges: demanding buyers, small profit margins and a lack of market knowledge.

In 2016 Koakaka was selected for a coaching module in marketing and in business management of TDC. This gave them all the tools to strengthen their position on the international market. Successfully!

Read more »

Fair trade: an important tool for ecological and social transition

Coronavirus, climate change, exploding inequality, destruction of biodiversity…the increasing number of crises is forcing us to face facts: we need to take a different approach to trade. We must accelerate the ecological and solidarity-based transition our society needs. And fair trade is the trump card to help achieve this.

Read more »

Imported deforestation: global trade’s long-denied collateral damage

Deforestation is not the result of market demand for timber alone. Many farm commodities and products traded daily on global markets are contributing to deforestation in a less obvious way. As the demand for these products increases, new arable land is required for soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, and other commodity crops. There is little action to resolve this issue as public authorities remain passive and private companies are lured by profit, but things are finally starting to move…

Read more »

Kalani: household linen that is organic and fair trade

Kalani’s household linen is both organic and fair trade. It is one of the few textile brands in the world that knows exactly where the cotton for its household linen comes from. Founder Bruno Van Steenberghe talks about his commitment to farmers in India, about his concern for the environment, and the health of his customers.

Read more »

Consumption of Fairtrade products: Belgians can still do better

Last May, Fairtrade Belgium announced a historic increase in the sales of fair trade products in Belgium: + 41% in 2019. An excellent result, bringing annual average consumption of fair trade per Belgian at 19.2 euros. Last May, Fairtrade Belgium announced a historic increase in the sales of fair trade products in Belgium: + 41% in 2019. An excellent result, bringing annual average consumption of fair trade per Belgian at 19.2 euros.

Read more »

Coaching TDC: Necaayo

Necaayo operates since 2009 in Guiré, in Western Côte d’Ivoire. The cocoa cooperative has 1410 members and puts more than 3500 tonnes of cococa on

Read more »

Relaxed sustainable shopping? Check out the Harvest Club

Welcome to the Harvest Club, in the heart of Leuven. Stefanie Vereecken selects a wide range of clothing, home décor, accessories and beauty and care products for her sociable concept store. All from suppliers with their heart in the right place, just like Stefanie. Want to take a look inside?

Read more »

Europe targeting CSR legislation

The EU wants to launch a legal framework for corporate due diligence with regard to human rights and the environment by 2021. “I see more and more support, also from companies. They are the ones asking for more certainty, to create a level playing field”, said European Commissioner Didier Reynders at a debate on the topic of CSR in company supply chains on the 29th of September.

Read more »

KOAKAKA report: quality coffee from Rwanda

Koakaka is a coffee cooperative from Rwanda that produces top quality coffee. Despite this, the cooperative – like many in the region – faced many challenges: demanding buyers, small profit margins and a lack of market knowledge.

In 2016 Koakaka was selected for a coaching module in marketing and in business management of TDC. This gave them all the tools to strengthen their position on the international market. Successfully!

Read more »

Fair trade: an important tool for ecological and social transition

Coronavirus, climate change, exploding inequality, destruction of biodiversity…the increasing number of crises is forcing us to face facts: we need to take a different approach to trade. We must accelerate the ecological and solidarity-based transition our society needs. And fair trade is the trump card to help achieve this.

Read more »

Imported deforestation: global trade’s long-denied collateral damage

Deforestation is not the result of market demand for timber alone. Many farm commodities and products traded daily on global markets are contributing to deforestation in a less obvious way. As the demand for these products increases, new arable land is required for soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, and other commodity crops. There is little action to resolve this issue as public authorities remain passive and private companies are lured by profit, but things are finally starting to move…

Read more »

Kalani: household linen that is organic and fair trade

Kalani’s household linen is both organic and fair trade. It is one of the few textile brands in the world that knows exactly where the cotton for its household linen comes from. Founder Bruno Van Steenberghe talks about his commitment to farmers in India, about his concern for the environment, and the health of his customers.

Read more »

Consumption of Fairtrade products: Belgians can still do better

Last May, Fairtrade Belgium announced a historic increase in the sales of fair trade products in Belgium: + 41% in 2019. An excellent result, bringing annual average consumption of fair trade per Belgian at 19.2 euros. Last May, Fairtrade Belgium announced a historic increase in the sales of fair trade products in Belgium: + 41% in 2019. An excellent result, bringing annual average consumption of fair trade per Belgian at 19.2 euros.

Read more »

Coaching TDC: Necaayo

Necaayo operates since 2009 in Guiré, in Western Côte d’Ivoire. The cocoa cooperative has 1410 members and puts more than 3500 tonnes of cococa on

Read more »

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