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Global sustainability models are failing. Theyve been designed to showcase ethical trade and environmental responsibility, but they fundamentally misunderstand how global supply chains operateespecially the critical, unseen work at the beginning of essential value chains such as critical minerals.For decades, these models have burdened African merchants, miners, and farmersthe backbone of global industries from cocoa to lithiumwhile corporations further along the chain claim the benefits. The systems celebrate end products, like sleek electric vehicles (EVs) or iPhones, while ignoring the heavy lifting at the start of the work, where its most difficult.This imbalance in sustainability frameworks doesnt just sideline African businesses. It undermines the entire premise of accountability that we want to engender amongst commercial supply chain stakeholders.The unfair burden on the start of the supply chainThe reality of global supply chains is simple: The earliest stages, where raw materials are extracted and processed, require the most effort. African farmers, miners, and merchants are at the very heart of these early stages. Theyre the ones putting in the hardest workextracting resources, growing crops, and preparing raw materials that fuel industries around the world. But despite their essential role, theyre stuck carrying the heaviest burden. Strict regulations and sustainability requirements often hit them the hardest, even though they have the fewest resources to meet these demands.Take cocoa farmers in Africa, for instance. Many are already working on tight margins, struggling to make enough to feed their families. Then along comes the European Unions Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which demands proof that their cocoa isnt linked to deforestation. While the goal is noble, the execution has left these farmers scrambling to provide documentation theyve never needed before. For many, the cost of compliance is just too high, and failing to meet the standards means losing access to international buyers.Its not just farmers. In the mining sector, lithiumthe critical ingredient for EV batteriesis dug up under tough, often dangerous conditions. The raw material is shipped overseas for refining and manufacturing, where the final product becomes a celebrated symbol of sustainability. But little thought is given to the people who made that product possible in the first place.But instead of recognizing the environmental and social costs borne by African miners, global narratives around green batteries conveniently ignore this reality. The hard work is erased, and the end producta shiny new electric vehiclebecomes the hero of the story.Why these models dont workThe deeper issue is that global sustainability models were never designed with supply chain realities in mind. They were built to make sense on paper, not in practice. Heres why they fail:They ignore the realities of extractionThe first stages of the supply chainextraction and initial processingare treated as a liability, not a foundation. These stages are overregulated, under-supported, and painted as inherently dirty, while the later stages enjoy the benefits of cleaner reputations and fewer demands.They push costs downstreamCompliance costs are overwhelmingly placed on the smallest and least resourced players. Farmers, artisanal miners, and small merchants are expected to shoulder the expense of meeting global benchmarks, while corporations further up the chain avoid their fair share of responsibility.They celebrate the end, not the beginningBy the time raw materials are turned into recognizable productslike the chocolate bars we enjoy or the batteries that power electric vehiclestheyre celebrated as symbols of innovation and progress. But the reality behind those products is far less glamorous. The hard work, long hours, and sacrifices made at the start of the supply chain are often ignored. At best, theyre reduced to a footnote; at worst, theyre treated as inconvenient details in the story of sustainability.Rebalance the equationIf sustainability is going to workfor people and the planetwe need to rethink these frameworks entirely. That means starting from the ground up, ensuring fairness across every step of the supply chain. Heres where the change needs to happen:Stop pushing the costs on producersSustainability cant come at the expense of the people doing the hardest work. Corporations that depend on African resources need to take responsibility for compliance costs. For example, chocolate companies that rely on African cocoa should be actively investing in the farmers and cooperatives that keep their supply chains running. Its not just a moral obligationits a business necessity.Put money into local solutionsThe earliest stages of the supply chain need better support. This means governments, corporations, and international institutions must work together to invest in systems that help producers succeed. From building cooperatives for artisanal miners to funding training programs for sustainable farming, these investments would ease the pressure on producers while ensuring global standards can actually be met.Measure what really mattersCurrent sustainability metrics focus too much on quick wins and shiny results. But real progress happens when we focus on achievable, incremental improvements. Instead of setting impossible benchmarks, we need to create standards that reflect the realities of resource extraction and reward meaningful change.Work together to share the loadNo single entity can fix this alone. Public-private partnerships are key to amplifying sustainability efforts without placing all the costs on producers. Companies that actively work with merchants to address issues like traceability and compliance have already shown that fair, sustainable practices are possibleespecially when governments step in to support these efforts.A fairer vision for sustainabilitySustainability should not mean shifting the burden onto the communities that sustain the worlds supply chains. African merchants, farmers, and miners are not just resource providersthey are the backbone of industries that drive global progress. They deserve recognition, support, and a fair share of the benefits.Global sustainability models need to changeurgently. If they dont, theyll keep fueling inequality while claiming to promote progress.Its time to stop pretending that these systems are working, because theyre not. We need to build frameworks that reflect the real-world challenges of supply chains, ones that are fair, practical, and genuinely sustainablefor everyone involved.Anu Adedoyin Adasolumis CEO of Sabi.
