The winning initiative, SustainEd EUr, builds on a pilot project that has been commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. SustainEd EUr translates its findings into multidisciplinary teaching for future lawyers, economists and policymakers. Prof. Veenstra worked alongside Professors Liesbeth Enneking and Martijn Scheltema of Erasmus School of Law, and Prof. Karen Maas of the Impact Centre Erasmus.
Prof. Veenstra: “This award reflects what happens when law, policy and business research come together. My role was to bring in the supply chain perspective on EU regulatory perspectives. But the combination of disciplines creates the real value in both the research and in education on this topic.”
Companies now face a growing set of EU rules on responsible business conduct, from deforestation-free supply chains for coffee, cocoa, soy and palm oil, to carbon pricing and sustainability reporting requirements. Because these laws differ in scope, terminology and structure, companies often implement them separately. This adds unnecessary cost and paperwork and encourages a tick-box mentality, even where genuine sustainability ambitions exist.
The SustainEd EUr pilot project found that the internationally recognised Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) six-step due diligence model can serve as a single, coherent framework for meeting obligations across the full range of EU sustainability legislation, regardless of an organisation's size, sector or position in the supply chain. Prof. Veenstra's contribution drew on his research into supply chains and logistics, helping to ensure the model reflects how companies actually operate across complex, international value chains.
From research to the classroom
SustainEd EUr aims to embed these findings directly into the teaching at Erasmus University. The initiative was developed with input from practice partners RBConnect, Future Up and foodFirst, whose engagement with companies, civil society organisations and trade unions helped to test the model against real-world conditions.
"Because science and practice were connected from the start, we could go beyond a theoretical approach," said Manon Wolfkamp, founder and director of RBConnect. "Input from companies, civil society organisations, trade unions and other experts allowed us to develop and test the university's academic knowledge in practice, resulting in a realistic, applicable approach with a solid scientific foundation."
The EUR Sustainability Award jury praised SustainEd EUr’s initiative of societal relevance, interdisciplinary approach and collaboration with external partners, and highlighted its potential for impact beyond academia. Judges were particularly struck by how the project combines the expertise of Erasmus School of Law, the Impact Centre Erasmus and RSM to address a pressing societal challenge through research, teaching and stakeholder engagement.
Prof. Veenstra commented, “We feel that the way we have been looking at EU regulation and implementation in practice is a very important knowledge skill for our students as well as for professionals. This prize will help us develop the materials to start teaching this inside and outside the university.”
The project partners have agreed to stay involved as the pilot's findings are developed into teaching material, and further organisations have since expressed their interest in also contributing. Euro 5,000 will support the educational design work needed to build this into future-proof teaching on EU sustainability legislation and its implementation by business.
About SustainEd EUr
SustainEd EUr brings together Erasmus School of Law, the Impact Centre Erasmus and Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University to translate research on European Union sustainability legislation into multidisciplinary teaching, developed with policy and business practice experts.
