Turning CSR principles into daily business practice in the Amsterdam Area

CSR in Amsterdam

For international companies in the Amsterdam Area, CSR is not simply a reporting requirement. It is a way of embedding social and environmental responsibility into procurement, hiring, workplace culture and community engagement. Amsterdam’s ecosystem offers a wide network of social enterprises, foundations and initiatives that make this transition tangible. Whether your company is developing a new CSR strategy or refining existing commitments, the region provides opportunities to connect sustainability reporting with measurable local impact.

Socially responsible procurement

Responsible purchasing is one of the most direct ways to embed CSR into operations. Amsterdam hosts several organisations that help companies align procurement with social impact goals:

• Buy Social connects buyers with verified social enterprises via its Social Impact Market, helping companies integrate social value into supply chains.
• Pantar supports inclusive employment by connecting businesses with workers who have physical, mental or psychological disabilities.

Aligning procurement with CSRD reporting strengthens transparency around supply chains, social inclusion and governance — particularly under ESRS social standards.

Creating a more sustainable office

A sustainable office strategy contributes directly to environmental disclosures under the CSRD, including energy use, circularity, and carbon footprint reduction.

Amsterdam-based initiatives include:

• C-creators, which accelerates circular construction and renovation projects.
• Green Business Club, which supports businesses in reducing emissions and improving resource efficiency through collaborative programmes.

These initiatives support Amsterdam’s ambition to become a fully circular region, reinforcing climate and circular economy disclosures required under CSRD.

Conscious hiring and inclusive employment

Inclusive hiring strengthens social performance indicators and contributes to long-term workforce resilience.

Organisations supporting inclusive labour participation include:

• UAF, which supports refugee students and professionals in accessing the Dutch labour market.
• Emma at Work, which connects young people with chronic physical conditions to meaningful employment.
• WSP Groot-Amsterdam, which links employers to diverse and underrepresented talent pools.

Such partnerships help businesses demonstrate measurable progress under workforce and community-related ESRS disclosures. More information here.

Sustainable mobility

Mobility policies influence Scope 3 emissions, employee wellbeing and broader environmental impact.

Amsterdam’s ecosystem offers scalable solutions:

• BYCS promotes corporate cycling programmes to reduce car dependency.
• Taxi Electric operates fully electric taxi services using sustainably sourced electricity.
• Leasing companies, including Swapfiets, provide circular bicycle subscription services for employees.

These initiatives align corporate mobility strategies with Amsterdam’s clean transport transition.

Social experiences and community engagement

CSR also extends to employee engagement and team-building. Amsterdam’s social enterprises provide opportunities that combine experience with impact:

• Ctaste employs visually impaired staff and offers dining in complete darkness.
• Plastic Whale Foundation organises canal clean-ups while transforming collected plastic into boats and office furniture.
• Rederij Lampedusa delivers canal tours led by guides sharing migration stories.
• Amsterdam Underground provides city tours led by guides with lived experience of homelessness or addiction recovery.

Such initiatives allow companies to integrate purpose into corporate culture while contributing to local impact. More information here.

Conscious shopping and social enterprise partnerships

Companies looking to align gifting, merchandise or design procurement with CSR objectives can collaborate with:

• CRE8, which trains disadvantaged young people in digital fabrication and crafts.
• Tiny Miracles, which combines design with poverty alleviation through global artisan partnerships.

These partnerships contribute to supply chain transparency and social value creation. More information here.

Strengthening the impact ecosystem

Amsterdam’s broader impact infrastructure supports corporations and startups seeking to embed CSR strategically:

• Impact Hub Amsterdam connects entrepreneurs, corporates and investors building sustainable solutions.
• Amsterdam Impact strengthens the impact entrepreneurship ecosystem across the metropolitan region.
• Amsterdam Economic Board drives innovation partnerships across business, knowledge institutions and government.
• B Lab Europe supports the B Corp movement, promoting purpose-driven governance models.

Read more about the CSRD here