General

What is SourceUp?
SourceUp is a platform for collaboration in supply chain sustainability, at the landscape level. It connects buyers of commodities with coalitions of stakeholders in regions producing these commodities, to jointly improve sustainability along the supply chain.

For what products and commodities can I use SourceUp?
SourceUp can be used for sourcing any kind of product or commodity that is produced by a Compact. For now, these include major agricultural and forestry products such as palm oil, soy, tropical timber, beef and coffee. You can search for your product of interest through the search function. 

Who is behind SourceUp?
SourceUp is a collaboration of various partners involved in supply chain sustainability and landscape initiatives, and it is powered by IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative. See SourceUp Partners for more information.

Is the SourceUp platform fully developed?
We are continuously developing the SourceUp platform. At this stage, most of the basic functionalities are available on the live platform, but more features are under way.

How does SourceUp relate to certification?
SourceUp is a platform for credible local action on sustainability, at the landscape level. It helps to address issues that cannot be addressed at the individual farm or producer level only, and is therefore complementary to certification. At SourceUp, we believe that the platform will also help to make certification and other forms of supplier assurance and engagement more focused, localized and efficient.

Can I actually buy a product or commodity on SourceUp?
SourceUp helps Buyers to find regions where products and commodities originate. The SourceUp platform does at the moment not facilitate the actual buying-selling transactions and logistics. But by connecting to a Compact, you will be able to access information about key producers within that area. 

Compacts and Verified Sourcing Areas

What is a Compact?
A Compact is a local multi-stakeholder coalition in a sourcing region with an agreement to address sustainability challenges in a coordinated, timebound, and resource-committed manner within a jurisdiction. The main stakeholders are the local government, local civil society organisations, producer groups/cooperatives, and traders.

Who can develop a Compact?
Anyone who has a presence in the region can initiate a Compact. The first step is to convene stakeholders to jointly develop and govern the implementation of a Compact. You can find detailed guidance and requirements to develop a Compact in the SourceUp Compact Manual. Once the Compact has been approved by SourceUp, the Compact is listed as “under implementation” on the platform. 

What is a Verified Sourcing Area, and what is the difference with a Compact?
A Verified Sourcing Area is a Compact that has started reporting on all required indicators, and that has received a positive review from the Panel that the information that is being reported, is credible. 

Are all the products coming from a Verified Sourcing Area, sustainable for sure?
No, the Verified Sourcing Area status of a Compact does not mean that all products coming from that area are sustainable for sure. But it does mean that there is a high degree of certainty that conditions are or will be improving. This may take some time, especially in areas where the challenges are greater. SourceUp wants to help companies to source from those areas too, while making sure that sustainability is improving. 

Committed Buyers

How can I become a Committed Buyer?
You can become a Committed Buyer if your company is buying products from an area where there is a Compact, or you know that one of your suppliers is buying from that area. 

What are the advantages of becoming a Committed Buyer?
SourceUp offers many benefits to Committed Buyers. As a Committed Buyer, you will get a dashboard where you can monitor sustainability progress and action in your supply chain. You will receive updates from the Compacts and Verified Sourcing Areas that you are supporting. You are also able to showcase to your stakeholders, where you are sourcing from and what support you are putting in.

What are the engagement modes Anchor Partner, Sourcing Partner and Supporter?
Engagement Modes are a way to show how a Committed Buyer is supporting a Compact. A Buyer makes commitments of funding, in-kind resources, and sourcing to a specific Compact depending on the role it wants to play, the scale of impact it wants to achieve, and the availability of resources. The nature of commitment to a specific Compact may depend on whether the Buyer knows the exact sourcing area, have a local presence in the sourcing area, and the area’s strategic importance to their business. 

What does it cost to become a Committed Buyer?
The costs of becoming a Committed Buyer depend on the support that is being provided to a Compact. To become an Anchor Partner, you will need to agree with the Compact on the amount of support required. To become a Sourcing Partner, you will need to buy products that are preferentially sourced from that region, where the costs are included in the price of the product. To become a Supporter, you will need to support a Project according to your budget availability.

SourceUp organization

How is SourceUp organized?
SourceUp is not a separate organization, but a collaboration of various partners involved in supply chain sustainability. It is powered by IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative. See SourceUp Partners for more information.

How is SourceUp funded?
The development of SourceUp is currently being funded through IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, by various public donors - see SourceUp Partners. The development of Compacts and Projects is funded by various public donors and Committed Buyers, as listed on the pages of each Compact and Project.