Connecting farmers to international markets
DO-IT operates within a worldwide network of 180 suppliers from 20 countries. The 30 cooperatives DO-IT works with represent an estimated 10,000 small-scale farmers who receive fair payment for their produce. DO-IT visits the cooperatives and farmers once or twice a year.

Organic certification is the basis of DO-IT’s operations. This also ensures a 100% traceability of all products. 

DO-IT supports environmental and social awareness programmes in Thailand, Brazil and China. Examples include providing access to potable water, erosion prevention in rice fields, and improvement of workers’ health and safety conditions.

Transport and packaging  
DO-IT promotes water transport, both overseas and inland, to reduce CO2 emission. In 2018, approximately 60% of the 1,000 containers that entered Rotterdam harbour were transported by water to Nijmegen in the east of the Netherlands, and then brought to the DO-IT premises by truck. These figures are an estimate; the actual data will be monitored and reported in 2019.  

DO-IT aims to have all its packaging 100% bio-based and compostable, including paper, plastics, ink, glue and labels. Through its own packaging line, DO-IT packs one million bales of consumer items in biodegradable materials, of which 12% are compostable. 

DO-IT is in active dialogue with the industry to have develop an environmentally-friendly alternative. In 2018, it started the process to introduce a compostable wrapping for pastas and chips, in close cooperation with two industry suppliers. This will be implemented in 2019. 

In 2018, DO-IT reduced its CO₂ footprint by installing led lightning in its 21,000 m2 warehouse.

Sharing expertise and knowledge
DO-IT is a co-founder of the Bio Academy, which facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the field of organic agriculture and food in the Netherlands: from farmers, processors and retailers to consumers. 

In 2018, DO-IT sponsored a series of dialogues – titled ‘It’s the Food, my Friend!’ - about the future of agriculture and our food system from a global perspective. Among the topics discussed were climate change adaptation and the technological revolution in the food chain. Each session was well-attended with approximately 300 people from different backgrounds: farmers, students, bankers, traders, consultants and government representatives.  

In 2019, DO-IT will continue to trade exclusively organic products and accelerate the switch from plastic to compostable packaging.