Emmaus is a living and working community that houses 6 to 7 people in an old building on the Prinsegracht in The Hague. Their work mainly consists of collecting and selling leftover wealth. With the profits from this sale, they provide for their own livelihood and are independent of government subsidies. Every member of the community receives board, lodging and pocket money. The group is varied. In addition to the permanent residents, they live with people who need temporary shelter.
Why sustainable?
As a second-hand shop, Emmaus enables the customers to lower their impact on the planet. They give products a second life, which results in a reduction of waste and carbon emissions. Furthermore, in partnership with several other organizations, Emmaus opens its doors for short periods on a regular basis to women who have been victim of human trafficking. Through grassroots initiatives the Emmaus organization fights for:
True climate justice, which means fair access to natural resources and people having sovereignty over resources to ensure that they are not privatized.
Civil and penal liability for states and other stakeholders who cause pollution, degradation, or rights violations.
Food sovereignty and agro-ecology, which respect the right to healthy and culturally-appropriate food, produced using sustainable methods.
No Poverty: Emmaus provides shelter and housing for the penniless and fights human trafficking.
Responsible Consumption and Production: The product is recycled (repaired, donated, sold). This reduces waste and provides an alternative to fast fashion.
