“Sustainability is in the DNA of this family business. The driving force at Royal Lemkes is not the maximisation of profit but the desire to make a difference by focusing on themes such as ‘planet and people’.” Cees van der Meij Owner of Royal Lemkes In other words, we want to create a positive impact with our products and services. To help achieve this, Royal Lemkes has introduced six sustainability themes. However, we can only have an impact by working together with all stakeholders and links in the chain, including breeders, plant suppliers, customers, NGOs and the government. The complex horticultural chain requires cooperation at local, national and international levels. Royal Lemkes is therefore a partner in several ventures: “Ensuring good working conditions throughout the entire chain is an important mission. It’s not only retailers that demand this but also the public sector and civil society organisations. Our ultimate goal is achieving transparency throughout the entire chain, so we can then be sure that the products we trade in are produced in a socially responsible manner.” Elise Wieringa Quality Assurance and Sustainability Manager, Royal Lemkes 43
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