About Ethical Trade Denmark

Global trade binds us together across borders. And trade creates opportunities to develop our society and fulfill our dreams. But trade is also full of dilemmas and negative consequences: climate disasters, deforestation, pollution, child labour and underpaid women working in production.

Ethical Trade Denmark is the Danish multi-stakeholder platform for responsible and sustainable trade.

We bring together private and public partners who want to make a difference in a movement for ethical trade.

As a community, we seek to support a collective movement towards common ethical principles. The more of us that come together, the greater the impact.

Member-based and nationwide

We are a member-based, national organisation with the non-profit objective of promoting ethical trade. Our members include companies, business and trade organisations, the trade union movement, civil society organisations, public institutions and foundations.

Cooperation, action and knowledge

We strengthen cooperation, action and knowledge about corporate responsibility and sustainability in global value chains, respecting human rights, environment and climate.host the knowledge centre for sustainable value chains, the academy for ethical trade, member networks and a number of multi-stakeholder partnerships and alliances.

Creating action together

We are a multi-stakeholder platform and our membership includes more than 100 small, medium and large companies across sectors, trade unions, trade organisations, civil society organisations, public institutions and foundations. Together, we strengthen knowledge, collaboration and the bargaining power to take action in favour of more responsible and sustainable value chains.

Neutral meeting place for all parties

We initiate conversations about the challenges and dilemmas in global trade and how to create more responsible and sustainable value chains. We do this in a trusting space, where we share knowledge and ideas and strengthen constructive cooperation rather than simply pointing out the problems.

History

Ethical Trade Denmark was established in 2008 as a memberorganisation for the business community, the trade union movement and civil society organisations to strengthen knowledge, action and collaboration with regard to responsible and sustainable global trade.

Since 2008, we have continously worked to promote knowledge and understanding of ethics and responsibility as an integrated part of running a business.

Ethical Trade Denmark builds on the Danish tradition of dialogue and collaboration across a range of interests. We believe that when we create a confidential, trusting space, we can enhance constructive collaboration, rather than just simply pointing out the problem.

With core values such as cooperation, openness and knowledge-sharing, the organisation has worked for 15 years to promote responsible business practices not only among its members but also more broadly in society through increased knowledge of how procurement and global value chains impact the environment and people.

Ethical Trade Denmark has sister organisations in the UK (1998), Norway (2000) and Sweden (2019).

Our commitment

Ethical Trade Denmark works for a growing movement for ethical trade for the benefit of the planet. Members commit to 13 principles of Ethical Trade. The principles are based on recognised, international guidelines and legislation:

Mission

Our mission is to create knowledge and solutions and mobilise business, organisations and public institutions for more responsibility and sustainability in global value chains.
Map

Vision

Our vision is that trade must be responsible and promote social, economic and environmentally sustainable development for all.

Strategi

We strengthen cooperation, knowledge and action for more responsible global trade across private and public organisations.
See 2021-2023 strategy

Ethical Trade 2022

We take the temperature of our members’ work with ethical and sustainable trade year after year.
See Ethical Trade 2023 - Report
See Ethical Trade 2022 - Report

Annual Report 2021

Every year Ethical Trade Denmark compiles an overview of our initiatives from the previous year.
See Annual Report 2022
See Annual Report 2021

The multi-stakeholder perspective helps us to take note of how things are defined beyond our own four walls.

Christian Rask-Jepsen, Category Manager, Dry Goods & Non-Food, Rema1000

We have many exciting and challenging dialogues precisely because we are a multi-stakeholder initiative.

Jens Christian Roth, Senior Manager, Responsible Business Partners Programme, Ørsted

Our publications

Read Ethical Trade Denmark’s most recent publications here