Our Selection Criteria

Our Selection Criteria

At The Sustainable Superstore we take the selection of our products very seriously. Every item on our platform is carefully chosen based on strict sustainability criteria and ethical standards. I, Esmée, founder of The Sustainable Superstore, have an MSc in Sustainable Entrepreneurship, which strengthens my dedication to sustainability and responsible entrepreneurship. With this expertise, I strive to offer only the most sustainable and ethical products on The Sustainable Superstore. Sustainability is a broad and complex concept, but at The Sustainable Superstore, respect for people, animals and the environment are central to everything we do.

There are many different components of sustainability. We briefly summarize what we value and what we believe our impact partners should commit to:

• Impact First : Partners focus their business operations on maximizing social and environmental impact. Profit is not an end in itself, but a means to drive positive change. Every company must commit to creating value in social and environmental areas, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  ● Fair working conditions and short supply chain : We only work with companies that demonstrably apply fair and safe working conditions. This means: no child or forced labor, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
  ● Transparency : We expect full transparency across the entire supply chain. This includes the origin of raw materials, production processes, and working conditions. Partners must actively report on their progress and impact, and this information must be easily accessible to consumers.
  ● Sustainable energy and resource management : Our partners’ production processes must be energy-efficient and use renewable energy sources as much as possible. Water-saving techniques must also be applied where appropriate, and companies must take responsibility for minimizing their carbon emissions.
  ● Local and small-scale : Where possible, we prefer local production, as this reduces the ecological footprint and supports the local economy.
  ● Diversity and Inclusion : Partners promote diversity and inclusion in their business operations, providing equal opportunities for all.
  ● Circular production : Partners should strive to apply the full R-ladder. This starts with Refuse – avoiding unnecessary products and packaging. Then Reduce – minimizing resource use and waste. Reuse – reusing products and materials as much as possible. Repair – products should be easy to repair to extend their lifespan. Recycle – materials should be fully recyclable at the end of their lifecycle. Finally, Repurpose – repurposing materials for a new function when reuse or recycling is not possible. Services such as repairs or take-back services are encouraged to extend the lifespan of products.
  ● Animal welfare and Vegan : Products should be vegan as much as possible. Where not possible, animal-friendly production methods without animal suffering should be used.
  ● Responsible sourcing : Partners must ensure the use of sustainable, ethically sourced raw materials. This includes avoiding conflict resources and ensuring that materials are sourced in a way that does not harm people, the environment or local communities. Raw materials should preferably be renewable, recycled, biodegradable or circular, and free of harmful chemicals. Transparency about the origin of raw materials is essential.
  ● Continuous improvement : Partners must be willing to continually evaluate and improve their impact. This may mean reporting annually on their sustainability progress and actively seeking innovative ways to further improve the sustainability of their operations.
  ● Certifications : Although not mandatory, certifications such as EU Ecolabel, Cradle to Cradle, Fairtrade, GOTS, or B Corp are encouraged as a bonus for ensuring sustainability.