We understand the beauty of efficient supply chains.
But we also know most products we use in our everyday lives are not produced sustainably. We introduce a ready-to-implement approach which allows every company to become fully sustainable at the source – while leaving your supply chain intact.
Tell me more about the Short Circuit Project
The Short Circuit Project is a service developed by Nature^Squared to support companies in making a positive impact on biodiversity, no matter how complex their supply chain. We do this by linking you directly to farmers who produce the volume of materials and ingredients that you need for your products and by paying them double the price to change their farming practices and to become fully sustainable.
We work through the principle of mass-balance. According to this principle, you have to look at a system as a whole (in our case the agricultural system). This means that even when you don’t know who farms the ingredients for your end products, you can still make a positive impact based on the volume you need. By working around the supply chain, we can transform agricultural production systems together. And best of all, we can start today.
The Short Circuit Project is a service developed by Nature^Squared to support companies in making a positive impact on biodiversity, no matter how complex their supply chain. We do this by linking you directly to farmers who produce the volume of materials and ingredients that you need for your products and by paying them double the price to change their farming practices and becoming fully sustainable.
We work through the principle of mass-balance. According to this principle, you have to look at a system as a whole (in our case the agricultural system). This means that even when you don’t know who farms the ingredients for your end products, you can still make a positive impact based on the volume you need. By working around the supply chain, we can transform agricultural production systems together. And best of all, we can start today.
Why should we take the Short Circuit Approach?
Biodiversity loss is one of the greatest challenges facing our planet Earth. And therefore also for all of us. One million species are at risk of extinction, a 2019 United Nations report warns. This will have serious consequences for us all. Many companies source their primary ingredients from agricultural landscapes that can only produce because of the existence of biodiversity and a stable climate.
But there are severe risks to these landscapes which are not adequately mitigated. Farmers are paid too little to produce in harmony with nature and certifications have not led to significant improvements that are so much needed.
Companies struggle to take action. Where to start if you’re embedded in long and nontransparent chains?
We have developed a solution that deals with these challenges, and luckily, this does not have to be difficult.
So what about healthy production landscapes?
How does it work?
The short Circuit Project makes it possible for every company to start making a positive impact now by:
- Keeping your supply chain intact and connecting you with a group of farmers that produces the volume of ingredients that you need for your end products.
- Paying farmers directly for making a positive impact on biodiversity and mitigating climate change. The starting point is to double the price that farmers receive. This creates a substantial financial incentive to produce truly sustainably.
In practice, this means that we will perform the following activities:
1. Identifying the volume you need and calculating the biodiversity premium that goes directly to farmers
2. Matching you with a network of farmers that produce the required volume
3. Developing a biodiversity action plan together with farmers, introducing on the ground sustainable interventions
4. Making smart payments, ensuring that the premium ends up at the right farmers
5. Ensuring monitoring and continuous improvement, making adjustments when needed
6. Reporting about the impact that you have made together with the farmers
Based on one simple insight:
Making a positive impact is actually quite cheap
The origin of many products can be traced back to the land. Here, at the start of the supply chain, is where the impact on biodiversity and the environment is the largest while the economic value is the lowest. This offers a huge opportunity! By focusing on the missing link- the farmer – we can make the highest impact on biodiversity restoration at the lowest cost.
Your results
- You can ensure that your products or services have a genuine positive impact on biodiversity, climate and the livelihoods of farmers.
- You can communicate about the impact being made on the ground to your consumers and stakeholders.
- You can differentiate your business based on your biodiversity efforts – solely 5% of businesses report about ecological boundaries and 0,258% align their products and operations to these limits.
- You are better placed to mitigate risks by practicing responsible stewardship – every year we wait longer, costs $1000 billion to restore the ecosystem.
- You can accelerate your efforts towards becoming a sustainable brand and strengthen your contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, SDG 10, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 15)
The three pillars of the Short Circuit Project
SCALABLE
Volume-based
Connecting companies with farmers who produce the volume of raw ingredients that you need for your products. The more your company produces, the more you help expand the source of biodiverse farming.
SIMPLE
Mass Balance
By cutting short the supply chain, we make real and immediate impact based on the volume you need. As with green energy, it is about the total flow that makes up a system which is why we go beyond individual chains. You ensure the financial flows, we do the rest.
AFFORDABLE
Low cost – high impact
By working volume-based and interfacing directly with farmers, we don’t have to map entire supply chains or implement expansive chain of custody systems. We keep costs low and spend the money on making positive impact straight away.
Join the Short Circuit Project
It is clear that our planet is under duress. The Short Circuit Project is an approach for any company that wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. The UN declared the years 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and The Short Circuit Project allows you to to step up your efforts and to become part of the solution. If you feel that you are not getting anywhere with current approaches, we can help you make a positive impact now: realizing your potential as an important change agent.
“Thanks to the short circuit method, we have an accessible way of making a positive impact in our supply chain. It enables us to give back to those that are fundamental to creating our products: the farmers” – Erik de Groot, founder Iron Roots
It is clear that our planet is under duress. The Short Circuit Project is an approach for any company that wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. The UN declared the years 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and The Short Circuit Project allows you to to step up your efforts and to become part of the solution. If you feel that you are not getting anywhere with current approaches, we can help you make a positive impact now: realizing your potential as an important change agent.
“Thanks to the short circuit method, we have an accessible way of making a positive impact in our supply chain. It enables us to give back to those that are fundamental to creating our products: the farmers” – Erik de Groot, founder Iron Roots
Easy to control and adjust the system!
Together with ChainPoint – the industry leader in software for sustainable supply chains – we are ready to unlock a tailor-made platform for clients that require high volumes and high flexibility.
Together we can secure and monitor all steps necessary in your supply chain and provide you with access to all the relevant data with just a click of your mouse.
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Iris Visser
Project coordinator
Daan Groot
Director
Joost Hoff
Business Sustainability Specialist
Wiebe Draijer
Farmers based organizations & certification expert, specialized in cocoa
Robin Boogaards
Sustainable entrepreneur – Tailored-by
Marije Bakker
Business management & operations
Joost Geuke
Sustainability expert – specialized in palm oil
Johan Zandbergen
Supply chain & software specialist
Jesper Feenstra
Regreening specialist
Alexandra Meijer
Business & communication specialist
Erik Groot
Sustainable entrepreneur – Iron Roots
Tom Kools
Project manager agroforesty & sustainability - Verstegen Spices & Sauces
ABOUT
The Short Circuit Project is an initiative of Nature^Squared (VOF De Natuurverdubbelaars).