Sustainable Economy
For a Fair and Sustainable Globalization
Sustainable business means that work is dignified, production is environmentally responsible, and profits are fairly distributed. Solidar Suisse fights worldwide against exploitation and inequality – and for a just transition to a sustainable economy.
The global economy is often built on unfair rules: millions of people work under precarious conditions, without social security, and for wages that do not provide a decent living. Women, young people, and migrants are particularly affected. At the same time, the climate crisis and digitalization deepen inequalities, leaving those already on the margins even further behind.
The experiences of the last decade have shown that the dominant logic of growth fuels exploitation and the global destruction of the environment. A truly sustainable economy requires binding international rules, respect for human rights and environmental standards, and a shift away from the compulsion to pursue endless growth. Switzerland, through consistent implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can make an important contribution to this transformation.
Solidar Suisse offers an alternative. We fight worldwide for decent work, social justice, and ecological responsibility – in factories, on plantations, in cities, and in communities. Our goal: an economy that is sustainable, fair, and inclusive.
Profit at the Expense of Workers’ Wellbeing
Today, powerful companies – many of which are headquartered in Switzerland – dominate global trade. At the same time, in the globalised economy, there are often dozens of subsidiaries and sub-contractors involved in the production of goods. The motto in the global supply chain is to strive for production to become ever faster and ever cheaper.
This ethos takes a major toll on workers in the Global South – workers who live near a factory that pollutes the local environment; who are forced to work endless overtime for meagre wages; who have no pension or health insurance; or who, due to extreme poverty, have to send their children to work on plantations or factories instead of sending them to school.
People search for recyclables at a waste dump in Kenya. © Reuters
Laws and Public Participation in Debate
In the meantime, a wide range of sustainably produced goods are available in Switzerland. An increasing number of globally active companies recognise sustainability as part of their business model. However, this is not enough to achieve a turning point.
Switzerland now offers a wide range of sustainably produced goods. And more and more globally active companies are recognizing sustainability as part of their business model. But this is not enough to bring about real change. Binding laws in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are needed. In addition, extreme inequality must be reduced – for example through targeted support for small businesses and cooperatives – to ensure fair access to credit, technologies, production resources, and markets.
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Many of the goods we consume in Switzerland are produced in violation of human rights and at the expense of the environment. Solidar Suisse is committed to:
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Responsible supply chains: Holding companies accountable for complying with labor and environmental standards.
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Awareness-raising in Switzerland: Campaigns highlight how consumption is linked to global injustice.
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Climate justice: Projects promote a socially just transition to sustainable economic models (“Just Transition”).
The climate crisis threatens the poorest most severely. We support projects for a climate-just transformation that leaves no one behind. Agriculture, energy, and industry must be reshaped to be both environmentally and socially sustainable.
Sustainable Public Procurement
Swiss municipalities alone procure goods worth CHF 16 billion annually; this means they have market power and act as a role model. Solidar Suisse is using a rating to investigate whether Swiss municipalities are behaving in a manner that is sustainable and shows solidarity. Consumers can also act – by looking for social and environmental labels when making purchases and asking critical questions about companies’ activities.
Selected Projects
With our projects, we contribute to the empowerment of workers in the global South. We support sustainable economy and advocate for responsible consumption in Switzerland.
Donate for a Sustainable Economy
With your donation you support sustainable business worldwide.