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"Implementing diverse regulatory requirements for sustainable supply chains effectively and efficiently", April 2026
In recent years, several legal standards have been adopted in the EU that oblige companies to exercise greater human rights and environmental due diligence, as well as increase transparency regarding their own operations and supply chains. These legal standards include, for example, the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), the EU Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the EU Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Battery Regulation (EUBR)...
An integrated approach to the implementation of the various legal norms can help companies avoid duplication of work and use scarce human and financial resources in a targeted manner, with as little ‘bureaucracy’ as possible and with a view towards impact. A focus on key due diligence elements helps companies establish relevant processes and systems, even against a backdrop of political uncertainty. This also applies to (smaller) companies that are indirectly affected by relevant legal standards through their customers.
This paper thus offers a structure for an integrated approach to support companies of all sizes in the context of new legislative developments. The objective is to make a practical contribution to reducing their administrative burden as well as to the establishment of effective processes.
The relevant norms include
German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG)
EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
EU Taxonomy Regulation (EU Taxonomy)
EU Forced Labour Regulation (EUFLR)
EU Battery Regulation (EUBR)
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (EU Conflict Minerals Reg)
EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
EU Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo)
EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
Part of the following timelines
Updates on the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR)
"A one-year delay is likely to cause the emission of 16.8 million tonnes of CO2, an amount that would require more than twice the number of trees in Belgium to absorb", the statement says.
The EU Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement to postpone and amend the EU Deforestation Regulation and mandating an early 2026 review of the law’s 'administrative impact' even before it will come into force.
The European Parliament, with support from conservatives and far-right groups, voted to delay the EUDR’s implementation by another year, despite opposition from civil society and major food companies.
EU member states have agreed on their negotiating position on proposed changes to the deforestation law, seeking a one-year delay and additional changes to the provisions of the EU Deforestation Regulation.
EU countries remain deadlocked over proposed changes to the bloc’s deforestation rules, with divisions over delaying implementation and adding a review clause.
The European Commission published a proposal to only delay the EU anti-deforestation regulation by one year for small companies, while keeping the original 31 December 2025 start date for all other companies.
Ahead of COP 30, around 30 global investors managing $3 trillion in assets have urged countries to stop deforestations and emphasised the need for policies that deliver legal, regulatory, and financial certainty to help protect the forests and safeguard economic stability.
"We deeply regret that a technical IT issue risks jeopardising the EUDR’s core objectives and entry into force, three months before the implementation deadline for companies," the undersigning companies and organisations write.
There is widespread frustration with the EU Commission’s decision to delay the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for the second time in a year, due to 'IT issues'.
Companies and trade associations urge EU policymakers to uphold the Deforestation Regulation’s ambition and timeline, warning that reopening the legislative process would create damaging uncertainty, delay climate action, and penalise responsible businesses.
Eleven EU member states—including Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Finland, and others – have asked the European Commission to further delay and soften the EU’s deforestation-free products law.
The EU has eased reporting requirements under its anti-deforestation law by allowing companies to submit annual due diligence statements instead of for each shipment, prompting criticism from campaigners who warn it could weaken enforcement.
Finnish companies face varying levels of preparedness for EU sustainability regulations, with a key challenge including regulatory uncertainty created by the EU, a new study finds.
The EU Parliament approved a one-year delay for companies to comply with the deforestation regulation, now set to apply from December 2025 for large operators and June 2026 for small businesses.
The new guide by Forest Peoples Programme outlines how indigenous and forest peoples can use the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive to address corporate-linked human rights violations and environmental harm.
The EU Parliament has sent the EUDR back to the committee for interinstitutional trilogue negotiations to grant companies an additional year for implementation.
Nestlé, Ferrero, Unilever and Mars have joined calls by other food and drink manufacturers in opposing the European Union’s delay to deforestation laws.
The Cocoa Coalition, comprising companies and civil society organizations, supports the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and urges swift adoption of the delayed implementation without reopening negotiations, while also calling for support to smallholder farmers for compliance.
Friends of the Earth Europe and 225 organizations urge the EU to reject a proposal delaying the EU Deforestation Regulation, emphasising its importance in combating deforestation and supporting human rights.
The EU's anti-deforestation regulation faces criticism for potentially allowing major deforestation contributors to avoid being classified as "high risk," which could weaken the regulation's effectiveness.
The article argues that the EU's anti-deforestation law should prioritize input from frontline communities, as governments in Malaysia and Indonesia are undermining Indigenous rights and providing unreliable forest data.
New analysis by Earthsight reveals European consumers have been buying beef and leather from firms linked to illegalities in the Brazilian Amazon uncovered by the Environmental Investigation Agency. According to Earthsight this serves as a reminder that without the EU Deforestation Regulation, European consumption will continue to drive deforestation and rights abuses overseas.
The companies consider it important that the European Union adopts a robust law that minimises the risk of conversion and degradation of natural ecosystems (alongside deforestation and the degradation of natural forests) as well as human rights violations, associated with commodities and products placed on the EU market.
A delegation of indigenous, human rights, and environmental organisations published a statement urging the European Commission to include independent civil society groups in ongoing key talks with Malaysia and Indonesia over its anti-deforestation rules.
Companies – and the EU Competent Authorities that have the responsibility of implementing the law - now have 18 months to prepare before the law comes into action, at the end of 2024.
EU legislators reached political agreement in the early hours of Tuesday, 6 December, to pass a new law to ensure products on the EU market are not linked to the destruction or degradation of forests. WWF and Greenpeace welcome the law as breakthrough but also point to some of its weaknesses.
While the law is a historic first, it fails to include strong provisions to protect the land rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who time and time again have proven to be the best guardians of the forests, says NGO Fern.
Negotiations between the Commission, Parliament and Council are set to finalise next week. One crucial provision of the draft law currently being targeted by certain EU member states, is the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
A delegation of MEPs will now take the Parliament's position to negotiations with the EU Member States, who agreed a range of changes in the EU Council in June to weaken key elements of the proposed law.
Measures would oblige banks to conduct due diligence to prevent the financing of deforestation, boost protections for indigenous communities, and add rubber and leather to the list of imported products that would be screened for deforestation links.
The Council adopted its negotiating position (general approach) on a proposal to limit the consumption of products contributing to deforestation or forest degradation.
Almost all plantations linked to deforestation are currently owned by just three multinational companies, which together have made deals worth billions of euros with European banks.
Indonesian civil society groups call for the EU proposal to be strengthened by including SMEs, a complaint mechanism, and by considering the impact on small holders, indigenous groups and communities
Lessons from the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation show that Member States’ Competent Authorities often fail to meaningfully implement and enforce the law in practice, argues Earthsight
Some EU member states want more time to implement the upcoming anti-deforestation law, which includes due-diligence obligations, citing concerns about the administrative burden that SMEs might face.
The undersigned organisations, welcome the European Commission’s proposal for a new EU regulation on deforestation-free products. It is now up to the European Parliament and Member States to preserve and improve the essential elements of the Commission’s proposal and deliver a strong and ambitious law.
Civil society organisations and representatives of Indigenous communities all over the world call on the EU to require businesses to respect land rights in anti-deforestation rules
Cameroonian activists rallied in front of the EU delegation in Yaoundé to demand the block to cease support for rubber linked to deforestation, and to call for an ambitious EU legislation on forest commodities
The fate of the proposals on (i) minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market and (ii) sustainable corporate governance is now unclear, raising concerns among civil society.
The organisations call on the EU to ensure that its upcoming legislative measures are effective and fully uphold their rights as set out in international law, and in line with the EU’s own commitments.
In its analysis, Frank Bold argues that the revised ESRS retain key principles, including double materiality and fair presentation, while weakening disclosure requirements on greenhouse gas emissions, microplastics and human rights.
The European Sustainability Reporting Standards are one of the few tools that allow EU citizens to keep an eye on the real actions of large companies and their impacts on communities and the planet. Weakening them now would open the door to greenwashing and take away the transparency people deserve, warn 29 signatories in a joint statement.
While the stated aim of the Omnibus I package is simplification, the Danish Institute for Human Rights warns that the current proposals risk dismantling key elements of CSDDD & CSRD.
Ahead of the scheduled vote during the Plenary session on Thursday 13 November, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) and over 138 EU and non-EU civil society organisations from 27 different countries are urging the major pro-European political groups to come together and secure a responsible, ambitious, and workable agreement on Omnibus I.
Amid fierce discussions over the Omnibus package, a new report by Frank Bold provides evidence that the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is already driving meaningful change in practice.
Most of the undersigned professors are from EU Member States and other European countries, expressing their deep concern with the current direction of the EU Omnibus process.
470 civil society, trade union, and public interest groups warn EU leaders that the Commission’s current "simplification efforts" are dismantling protections for people, workers, democracy, and the environment. They demand stronger—not weaker—laws and enforcement to safeguard rights, justice, and the planet.
In a letter to the members of the EP, the ECB warned that proposed changes to the CSRD and CSDDD under the Omnibus proposal risk undermining the ability to assess climate-related financial risks and called for amendments that balance proportionality with preserving robust sustainability reporting.
Frank Bold found that the revised ESRS presented by EFRAG has succeeded in simplifying the EU sustainability reporting standards into a manageable but still effective framework for the EU’s climate goals. However, rollbacks of the legislation (as part of the Omnibus negotiations) or further cuts in the standards would seriously undermine the EU's credibility and risk compromising these foundational goals.
Companies, CSOs and research institutes publish position paper on the future of sustainability reporting, calling for targeted revisions to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining regulatory stability, materiality, and alignment with global standards to support a resilient, competitive and sustainable economy.
The letter warns that the EU’s Omnibus I package risks dismantling core sustainability regulations and urges the EU to uphold its environmental and social commitments to maintain credibility, market certainty, and progress toward a just, resilient economy.
"Dozens of legal scholars and economists have issued stark warnings over attempts by the European Commission to weaken corporate accountability laws, saying the action will wreck corporate accountability commitments, slash human rights and environmental protections, and lead to higher costs for companies and society."
31 legal scholars published a letter, arguing the the European Union's plans to cut back sustainability reporting rules could expose European companies to more climate change-related lawsuits.
According to a survey by Coolset, most companies see ESG reporting as a strategic advantage rather than just a compliance task. Despite regulatory changes, 90% plan to continue reporting. Stakeholder pressure remains strong, with 85% of businesses stating that ESG transparency is still important to investors, customers, and partners.
The paper concludes that the EU has created a nexus of legal provisions which taken together limit the possibility of greenwashing and provide for severe sanctions for environmental, social and governance (ESG) misrepresentations. Hence, it is important that the simplification and streamlining initiated by the European Commission preserves the elements in the sustainable finance framework that prevent greenwashing.
Experts from ShareAction, WWF European Policy Office, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice, the World Benchmarking Alliance and Frank Bold shared their views on the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal during a webinar co-organised by these organisations.
WWF argues in their press release that the Commission’s Omnibus proposal undermines key EU sustainability laws, threatening the Green Deal and creating regulatory uncertainty.
CSRD is key to improving access to ESG data, according to the EU banking regulator. The lack of data standardisation and comparability could present challenges to banks.
Kalpona Akter, a labour activist from Bangladesh, criticises the EU's upcoming Omnibus proposal, labelling it as corporate-driven deregulation that weakens the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. She argues that the proposal favours big businesses over workers' rights and jeopardises hard-won protections in global supply chains.
In their analysis, SOMO found that the financial cost of complying with the CSDDD – as estimated by the European Commission – would represent only 0.13 per cent of the average shareholder payouts made in 2023.
In their statement, ECCJ argues that the leaked draft Omnibus proposal severely weakens the EU’s corporate sustainability framework and firmly reject the proposal.
The EU Commission's proposed reforms to sustainability reporting and due diligence are being criticised as deregulation that weakens climate and human rights protections, reduces corporate accountability, and limits investors' access to reliable sustainability data.
The letter from 14 companies and industry associations, including Nestlé, Ferrero, MARS, Primark and Ingka Group | IKEA, says: "Investment and competitiveness are founded on policy certainty and legal predictability. The announcement that the European Commission will bring forward an “omnibus” initiative that could include revisiting existing legislation risks undermining both of these."
Some major companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and Signify oppose the European Commission's plan to weaken newly introduced green regulations, arguing that it threatens sustainability efforts, legal certainty, and a level playing field.
Seven sustainability initiatives – including amfori and the Fair Labor Association – call on EU policymakers to ensure that the core elements of the EU sustainability due diligence and reporting framework remain aligned with internationally recognised standards.
Dutch businesses urge the EU to uphold and implement the CSRD, CSDDD, and Taxonomy as planned, emphasising the need for legal certainty, a level playing field, and the benefits of strong sustainability regulations.
CSOs argue that the EU must reject calls for corporate-driven deregulation and uphold sustainability laws to protect people, the planet, and small businesses from exploitation.
Frank Bold's analysis examines the positions on the Omnibus proposal, specifically the CSRD and CSDDD, from certain ministries and authorities in Germany and France.
150+ civil society stakeholders have requested in a joint letter that the European Commission does not create further confusion and uncertainty through re-opening agreed legislative texts. The letter also criticises the way in which the Omnibus process has proceeded.
Finnish CSOs and companies urge the European Commission to avoid renegotiating agreed sustainability due diligence rules, emphasising the need for certainty, timely transposition, and clear guidance.
240 European researchers, mainly economists, have issued an open letter warning of the dangers of the ‘Omnibus’ initiative being prepared by the European Commission.
Investors with a combined €6.6 trillion in assets under management have urged the European Commission to “preserve the integrity and ambition” of the EU’s sustainable finance framework.
In their commentary, Heidi Hautala and the Resource Centre's Director Phil Bloomer argue that Europe must resist deregulation pressures and maintain strong ESG standards to uphold public trust, protect rights, and ensure legal certainty for businesses.
Signatories request President von der Leyen and Commissioner Dombrovskis to "respect the principles of democratic decision-making enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, which are so important to the credibility, mandate and public trust in the EU institutions."
Alexander Burr, ESG policy lead at Legal and General Investment Management, told Bloomberg that rolling back the rules “could risk our ability to understand ESG or sustainability-related risks.” The statement has also been covered by other outlets including Forbes and FT SustainableViews.
The European Commission is convening a roundtable with major corporations, particularly from the financial and energy sectors, and civil society groups to discuss revisions to the upcoming Omnibus proposal.
The European Commission announced plans to streamline business regulations to boost innovation. CSOs have criticised this Competitiveness Compass, arguing that it steers Europe in the wrong direction.
Transition plans should be “a single, comprehensive strategic planning process that covers all regulatory requirements stemming from applicable legislation” such as the corporate sustainability reporting directive and corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD), EBA's new guidelines state.
Ten European National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) expressed concerns in an open letter that the EU’s Omnibus proposal could undermine progress on corporate sustainability and create uncertainty for companies.
CSOs criticise France’s push for an indefinite delay of EU legislation, including CSRD and CSDDD, warning it could undermine social and environmental justice despite the country’s prior support for the legislation.
In light of the European Commission's announcement of an 'Omnibus Simplification Package’ , a group of business and human rights experts from legal practice, consulting, academia and the business world have expressed their grave concerns regarding the approch in a letter to the Commission.
In light of the discussions around an ‘Omnibus’ law, companies like Nestlé, Mars, Mondelez, Ferrero, Hershey and Tony’s Chocolonely, as well as other chocolate sector actors, urge the European Commission to not modify any elements of the CSDDD, nor to reopen it for renegotiation by the co-legislators, but to focus on guidance and support for its implementation.
170 civil society groups, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists have published a joint statement "saying no" to the 'Omnibus' proposal announced by EU Commission President von der Leyen to amend three key legislative pillars of the European Green Deal: the CSDDD, the CSRD and Taxonomy Regulation
The due diligence approach allows human rights and environmental risks to be assessed in a contextualized manner. Behind what is criticized as a “bureaucratic” approach, there is therefore far-reaching trust in companies, the authors argue.
Some of France’s largest companies, including Amundi SA and Electricite de France SA, have signed a letter to European policymakers urging them to ensure the bloc sticks with its current timetable for implementing ESG reporting rules.
90+ organisations urge EU leaders to protect the sustainability reporting framework, promoting smart implementation and providing the legal certainty companies need to thrive.
The 2024 Danish Institute for Human Rights benchmark assesses the human rights policies and due diligence practices of 30 major Danish companies, measuring their alignment with global standards and contributing to discussions on responsible business conduct and the impact of upcoming EU regulations.
In their new report, frank bold shows key findings from an assessment of 100 companies’ reports in preparation for the implementation of the EU Sustainability Reporting Standards, good practice examples and recommendations to businesses, auditors and policymakers.
UNICEF’s new guidance briefs assist companies reporting under the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) by offering insights on how to integrate children’s rights into assessments, disclosures, and reporting requirements, especially in areas such as child labor, community impacts, and protections for children as consumers.
Standardised sustainability disclosures under the CSRD are crucial for the EU's economic resilience and global leadership in sustainability, write Julia Otten and Susanna Arus of Frank Bold in Sustainable Views. Policymakers should maintain a strategic vision, focusing on long-term resilience rather than short-term expediency.
The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures against 17 EU member states for failing to meet the July 6, 2024 deadline to fully implement the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) into national law.
The agreement among EU co-legislators needs to be formally voted by the Council and EU Parliament, but is expected to be in place before the EU elections this year.
However, MEPs ensured that the Commission will strive to publish sector-specific sustainability reporting standards in eight areas as soon as they are ready before the deadline.
It of critical importance to address challenges and uncertainties currently faced by companies, as well as to ensure meaningful sustainability disclosures, the statement says.
A majority of 359 Members of the Parliament voted against a motion to reject the ESRS and its replacement with an emptied and diluted piece of legislation.
Germany is seeking to exempt thousands of Mittelstand companies from EU green reporting rules, in a move officials say risks “gutting” the bloc’s efforts to hold companies accountable for their impact on the environment.
Frank Bold calls on the Commission not to disregard the political agreement reached in 2022 on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
These Standards provide more detail on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive adopted last year, while also updating them to align with new international climate reporting standards issued in June.
Eurosif welcomes the standards covering all Environmental, Social and Governance topics. Concerns remain over making all disclosures subject to materiality assessment.
The endorsed statement was developed jointly by the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif), the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the PRI and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
On 9 June, the European Commission published for public consultation a draft Delegated Act on the first set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards.
Publication by the Danish Institute for Human Rights: "How do the pieces fit in the puzzle? Making sense of EU regulatory initiatives related to business and human rights"
Sustainability reporting experts and NGOs welcome the adoption of the EU sustainability reporting standards (ESRS) by EFRAG submitted this week to the European Commission. Whilst the ambition of the ESRS remains limited in several areas, they represent a major improvement for companies as well as for users of sustainability information and address the biggest problems in quality and reliability of corporate reporting.
The European Commission will now consult EU bodies and Member States on the draft standards,
before adopting the final standards as delegated acts in June 2023, followed by a scrutiny period by the European Parliament and Council.
MEPs voted today (November 10) to confirm the agreement reached earlier this summer to strengthen companies’ obligations to disclose information on their sustainability risks and impacts, and adopt mandatory EU standards covering ESG matters
The letter, signed by 37 organisations, calls on the European Commission to uphold the legal mandate agreed in the CSRD to develop and adopt an ambitious framework to improve and standardise corporate disclosure on sustainability matters
On Tuesday 21 June, the trilogue negotiations between the European Commission, Parliament and Council concluded with an agreement for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive proposal will move to the final stage of the legislative process and enter trilogue negotiations between the EU Commission, European Parliament and the Council.
NGOs together with investors and asset managers call members of the European Parliament to broaden the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to ensure that all listed SMEs, as well as non-listed SMEs operating in high-risk sectors, are adequately incorporated in the legal framework.
The 12 signatories of this statement - who represent key users of corporate sustainability information - call on EU policymakers to promptly agree on the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive reform and support accompanying EU standards
Frank Bold's report calls on EU to strengthen Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive to effectively address barriers to supervision and enforcement of disclosure obligations introduced by EU NFRD
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has signed an open letter alongside Wikirate, OAR and Clean Clothes Campaign, urging EU members of Parliament and the EU Commission to adopt and incorporate open data principles into the proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
The authors argue that respect for human rights is not just an ESG factor, but a global standard of expected conduct for all companies, including institutional investors.
The proposal presents several major improvements which are essential to help companies focus and report on meaningful information and channel finance to activities and projects needed to meet the objectives of the European Green Deal. However, it falls short on several important points, which significantly limit its desired impact.
The recommendations can successfully guide the EU standard-setting process, and significantly advance the quality of corporate sustainability transparency, says the Alliance for Corporate Transparency.
The reports set out recommendations to the European Commission for the elaboration of possible EU sustainability reporting standards and for possible changes to EFRAG's governance and funding if it were to become the EU sustainability reporting standard setter.
To contribute to a meaningful EU process for the standardisation of reporting requirements in favour of comparable, concise and relevant disclosure, the members of the Alliance for Corporate Transparency have combined their expertise and aligned on key priorities for reform of the EU NFR Directive and development of possible future standards.
ECCHR and Anti-Slavery International published an analysis of the EU Forced Labour Regulation, including an assessment and recommendations to support its implementation and enforcement.
The European Union has adopted the Forced Labor Regulation, which bans the sale of products made with forced labour. Hélène de Rengervé of Human Rights Watch argues that effective enforcement will require significantly increased capacity from the European Commission and EU member states.
The Council has adopted a regulation prohibiting products in the Union market that are made using forced labour. The text forbids the placing and making available on the Union market, or the export from the Union market, of any product made using forced labour.
The European Parliament has given its final approval to a new regulation enabling the EU to prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labour (EP press release).
Lawmakers in the EU today voted in favour of a far-reaching law to ban products made with forced labour from the single market – a move welcomed by workers around the world (press release by Anti-Slavery International).
The preliminary endorsement by member states of the Forced Labour Regulation ramps up pressure on wavering countries to also endorse CSDDD on Friday, reducing the political room to justify continued resistance to the law.
The undersigned Civil Society Organisations and Trade Unions call on the governments of EU Member States to support the agreed text, ensuring the legislation enters into force without delay.
The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional deal on the regulation prohibiting in the EU market products made with forced labour.
Including remediation and other appropriate measures in the EU Forced Labour Regulation would enhance the legislation’s effectiveness in eradicating forced labour from supply chains, the statement says.
A letter, on behalf 33 civil society organisations and trade unions, to outline key issues that should be considered during the upcoming trilogues in order to make the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation (FLR) a success.
On 26 January, the Council has adopted its position (negotiating mandate) on the regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market.
This letter outlines four core elements that must be included: an evidentiary regime adapted to forced labour, provisions on state-imposed forced labour, one-stop shop EU-wide complaints mechanism, remediation.
This paper analyses the plans of the European Union for a forced labour ban that would prohibit the placing of products made with forced labour on the common market as well as the export of such products. It addresses concerns and provides recommendations for effective legislation following a human rights-based approach.
This week, the Internal Market and International Trade committees adopted their position on keeping products made using forced labour out of the EU market, IMCO, INTA.
As the negotiations on the content of the legislation advance, the undersigned Civil Society Organisations, Coalitions and Trade Unions, put forward key elements to make the proposed regulation efficient, implementable and impactful
Members of the European Parliament are proposing to extend the scope of a draft EU regulation prohibiting forced labour products from the EU market to key services and to introduce remediation for victims.
17 EU and international civil society organisations have written to the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council calling for swift progress towards a Forced Labour Regulation which provides remediation to workers who have experienced forced labour.
Investors shared a letter they submitted to the EU Commission and EU Parliament charged with the development of the EU’s Proposed Forced Labor Product Ban
Anti-Slavery International, the European Center for Constitutional Human Rights (ECCHR) and the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament commissioned research into a proposal on how an EU import ban should be designed to meaningfully address forced labour and keep workers at its heart
The statement calls on the European Parliament and EU Member States to improve the proposal where it is missing its purpose, whilst building on its key positive elements.
Though the proposal was broadly welcomed by both labor rights organizations and businesses, critics point to deficiencies — which might cut into its effectiveness.
EU lawmakers in the Parliament had called for such an instrument in June 2022, the Commission first announced plans for a new legislative instrument in February 2022.
On 9 June 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for an import ban on products produced with forced labour from entering the EU market. The Parliament's recommendations, intended to feed into the EU Commission's ongoing drafting of new EU rules on products created or transported by forced labour, have been welcomed by civil society. However, the future instrument must put victims first and be remedy-centered, says the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ).
The EU announces plans to promote decent work, and to prepare a new legislative instrument to ban products made by forced labour from entering the EU market
During the annual State of the EU speech, Ursula von der Leyen announced the block's intention to introduce a ban on the import of products made with forced labour
The Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) published a guidance document on due diligence to help EU companies to address the risk of forced labour in their operations
Consideration of import controls on forced labour products coincides with the forthcoming European Commission legislative proposal on Sustainable Corporate Governance. CSOs highlight key considerations relevant to the development and functioning of these two parallel policy processes.
Anti-Slavery International and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights’ position on import controls to address forced labour in supply chains
New report commissioned by the European Parliament analyses EU options for introducing an import ban on products related to severe human rights violations
The European Coalition for Corporate Justice and other CSOs, warn that although the European Commission has pledged to improve transparency and justify its use of fast-tracked procedures following maladministration findings by the EU Ombudswoman, it refuses to address what the CSOs see as fundamentally flawed practices that bypass impact assessments, limit consultations, and weaken environmental and climate safeguards.
As the Omnibus I has been adopted, the Institute urges pragmatic, stakeholder-driven implementation of the revised CSDDD and CSRD aligned with international standards.
"Under the banner of cutting 'red tape’, vital protections have been dismantled", writes ECCJ as the European Parliament – again with far-right backing – approves the Omnibus I package. A number of core elements to build on remain in place, despite the compromised process.
“The final text means corporate interests are being prioritized over the rights of workers, communities, and environmental protection”, says Helene de Rengervé of Human Rights Watch. She nevertheless urges communities, workers, and civil society partners to use what is left of the law to fight for justice for victims of corporate abuses worldwide.
"There is much to regret in the Omnibus process", writes Shift, while stressing that the political agreement's preservation of a risk-based rather than tier-1-focused approach to due diligence is a significant result.
The agreement "reflects short-sighted political decision-making, forced through with the far-right, at a time where the EU needs to stand firm and speed up the transition for its own strategic interests", said Julia Otten of Frank Bold. ECCJ noted it is the first major file pushed through via an EPP–far right alliance. After the political agreement was approved in Council and the European Parliament's legal affairs committee, it will now be subject to parliamentary plenary vote on 16 December 2025.
"The imminent trilogue decision can shape the sustainability of European business, with implications extending to the EU’s functioning as an open society and sovereign democracy and market", the letter says.
Leaked documents allegedly reveal how a secretive alliance of 11 large multinational enterprises has worked to tear down the EU’s flagship human rights and climate law, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The mostly US-based coalition, which calls itself the Competitiveness Roundtable, has targeted all EU institutions, governments in Europe’s capitals, as well as the Trump administration and other non-EU governments to serve its own interests.
Giving up on transparency, reliability and diligence is not simplification but self-harm, writes EU Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera in a piece for Financial Times.
Among other recommendations, ENNHRI calls on EU institutions to uphold the original civil liability provision to ensure coherence on the conditions of civil liability across the EU.
“There was a demand from the US to delete climate plans, and the climate plans have gone,” liberal MEP Pascal Canfin is quoted by FT. The article also covers the Resource Centre's outreach to 10 companies associated with the Evian CEO letter.
Civil society and others criticise EPP for aligning with far right to adopt Omnibus I position; they urge co-legislators to uphold key CSDDD and CSRD provisions in trilogues.
21 German companies like Otto, Aldi Süd, Tchibo & Ritter Sport have written to Chancellor Merz and Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil, implicitly referring to the Evian CEO letter by describing the proposed abolition of CSDDD as "counterproductive" and instead calling for "strong and reliable standards".
While the stated aim of the Omnibus I package is simplification, the Danish Institute for Human Rights warns that the current proposals risk dismantling key elements of CSDDD & CSRD.
The statement was launched and signed by the the Responsible Business Alliance, Amfori, DIGITALEUROPE, Euratex, EuroCommerce, the European Semiconductor Industry Association, the Global Electronics Association, the Japan Business Council in Europe and FoodDrinkEurope.
Ahead of the scheduled vote during the Plenary session on Thursday 13 November, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) and over 138 EU and non-EU civil society organisations from 27 different countries are urging the major pro-European political groups to come together and secure a responsible, ambitious, and workable agreement on Omnibus I.
The report says: "Some of these laws are now subject to revision. In such recast process, it is important that the essence of these laws is preserved so that the EU can deliver on the Green Deal in a way that advances a just transition that serves the EU internal market and its people."
Deutsche Bank, German state-owned bank KfW, insurance giant Allianz and French asset manager Amundi all confirmed to Tagesspiegel Background that they continue to support the EU supply chain law CSDDD.
Some signatories of a joint appeal by French and German business bosses to loosen merger rules and scrap environmental laws have already distanced themselves from the letter.
"What is a cornerstone of responsible business in Europe is being turned into a political bargaining chip", ClientEarth's Amandine Van den Berghe said.
The European Commission refused to confirm on Monday that its previous commitment to “simplify” EU legislation without “deregulating” remains intact, after Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the importance of “deregulation” to boost growth and private investment last week.
The analysis highlights a striking imbalance between companies' support for robust sustainability due diligence and some trade associations' lobbying to weaken or delay implementation.
Signatories include Allianz, Nordea, Union Investment, Ingka Group | IKEA, Aldi South Group, EDF, Decathlon, Nokia, H&M, ACCIONA, Vattenfall, Melitta Group & Nestlé.
Much of what is on the table does not deliver simplification but makes laws less efficient and effective, risking burdensome tick-box compliance with limited impact for sustainability and the protection of people’s rights, the authors write.
Not only is the original directive a vital tool for tackling human rights violations, particularly in the Global South, but also a driver of long-term economic welfare, the study finds.
Hundreds of marchers and supporters filled Brussels’ EU quarter yesterday after a 3-day, 60 km protest walk from Maastricht. The “Back to the Future” march brought together affected communities, trade unions, NGOs, and political leaders demanding an end to the EU’s deregulation wave, which they say puts workers, the environment and human rights at risk.
"The lack of MEPs in the room suggests some policymakers have made up their mind to listen only to a very specific group of big businesses and their lobbyists", writes Philippa Nuttall of FT Sustainable Views.
Most of the undersigned professors are from EU Member States and other European countries, expressing their deep concern with the current direction of the EU Omnibus process.
470 civil society, trade union, and public interest groups warn EU leaders that the Commission’s current "simplification efforts" are dismantling protections for people, workers, democracy, and the environment. They demand stronger—not weaker—laws and enforcement to safeguard rights, justice, and the planet.
The clause requires the European Commission to assess whether financial institutions should be legally obliged to identify and address their impacts on people and the planet.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has warned that the EU Council’s proposed amendments to the CSDDD would significantly weaken corporate accountability for human rights and environmental abuses.
This NOVA BHRE podcast episode, based on expert accounts from Norway and Germany, suggests a CSDDD focus on 'tier 1' may contradict Better Regulation Principles.
Human Rights Watch warns that EU member states are turning the supply chain law (CSDDD) into window dressing by backing a weakened position that guts protections for human rights and the environment.
In an open letter, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union are pushing back against proposed revisions to key EU sustainability laws, warning that the changes could undermine vital protections for workers. Policymakers in Europe must not weaken the CSRD and CSDDD. These laws must be strengthened to ensure the protection of workers and communities everywhere.
The Fair Trade Movement warns that the Council’s position on the CSDDD weakens key protections for smallholders and responsible businesses, undermines risk-based due diligence, and threatens the resilience and fairness of global supply chains.
The letter warns that the EU’s Omnibus I package risks dismantling core sustainability regulations and urges the EU to uphold its environmental and social commitments to maintain credibility, market certainty, and progress toward a just, resilient economy.
"Dozens of legal scholars and economists have issued stark warnings over attempts by the European Commission to weaken corporate accountability laws, saying the action will wreck corporate accountability commitments, slash human rights and environmental protections, and lead to higher costs for companies and society."
A new Swedwatch report shows that limited funding for worker and community driven due diligence approaches is undermining efforts to hold companies accountable to human rights and environmental standards. The report outlines how funders and donors can better invest in these approaches to meet the opportunity posed by new mandatory due diligence laws.
In this legal opinion, Prof. Geert Van Calster analyses how complex the legal landscape would become for companies if the Omnibus proposal were adopted. He concludes that the Omnibus proposal neither delivers on its declared overall aims of harmonisation nor simplification, but instead significantly increases divergence, complexity and uncertainty for companies by proposing to delete 29(1) and (7).
The PensionsEurope’s Position Paper on the EC’s omnibus simplification proposal warns that pension funds, as institutional investors, need data when choosing which companies to include in their portfolios. PensionsEurope is also voices concern with the removal of the civil liability regime in the CSDDD.
The EU Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the Commission’s alleged breach of Better Regulation Guidelines in preparing the Omnibus Simplification Package, following a complaint by 8 NGOs.
French civil society condemns President Macron's rejection of the EU corporate accountability directive, warning it endangers human rights, environmental protections, and global justice.
Economists urge the EU to implement the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Green Deal ambitiously and without delay, warning that weakening them would undermine human rights, environmental protection, and Europe's long-term economic resilience.
31 legal scholars published a letter, arguing the the European Union's plans to cut back sustainability reporting rules could expose European companies to more climate change-related lawsuits.
A survey conducted by the #WeAreEurope collective, in partnership with HEC Paris reveals that 61% of European companies favor the current CSRD, while 51% reject the Omnibus reform project, contradicting the dominant discourse on the impact of this regulation.
Proposed changes in the EU's Omnibus I package could significantly weaken key sustainability rules for insurers, undermining climate goals, financial stability, and transparency across the sector.
The OHCHR warns that the Omnibus Proposal risks undermining the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive by weakening alignment with international human rights standards, shifting responsibility away from companies, limiting value chain due diligence, and removing key civil liability provisions.
In their new research, SOMO finds that the European Commission's proposal to focus due diligence to direct (Tier 1) suppliers, excludes most companies in countries with high human rights risks that supply major European supermarkets.
Eight NGOs have filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman, accusing the European Commission of allegedly undermining democracy and environmental goals by rushing and weakening key EU sustainability laws through the opaque Omnibus proposal.
The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions expresses concerns about the EU's Omnibus proposal, highlighting its potential to limit the effectiveness of the CSDDD in promoting access to remedy for business-related human rights abuses, particularly in Africa, and urges the EU to uphold key provisions for broader stakeholder engagement, a risk-based due diligence approach, and civil liability mechanisms.
A team of legal experts has conducted a study on the complementarity between the UN binding treaty on business and human rights, currently under negotiation, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), adopted in July 2024. The study analyses how the two instruments can mutually reinforce each other.
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights warns that the European Commission’s Omnibus Simplification Package weakens corporate accountability by misaligning with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Experts highlight concerns over limited due diligence, lack of civil liability, and reduced stakeholder engagement.
Global trade unions and representatives of the German government will launch a new Human Rights Due Diligence Competence Centre to help trade unions use national and EU laws to protect workers’ rights across global supply chains.
According to a survey by Coolset, most companies see ESG reporting as a strategic advantage rather than just a compliance task. Despite regulatory changes, 90% plan to continue reporting. Stakeholder pressure remains strong, with 85% of businesses stating that ESG transparency is still important to investors, customers, and partners.
Seven sustainability initiatives – including amfori, Cascale, Ethical Trade Norway, ETI Sweden, Fair Labor Association, Fair Wear, and the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) - call on EU policymakers to ensure that the core elements of the EU sustainability due diligence and reporting framework remain aligned with internationally recognised standards, namely the UNGPs and OECD Guidelines, in light of the recently published Omnibus proposal to amend key regulations.
The paper concludes that the EU has created a nexus of legal provisions which taken together limit the possibility of greenwashing and provide for severe sanctions for environmental, social and governance (ESG) misrepresentations. Hence, it is important that the simplification and streamlining initiated by the European Commission preserves the elements in the sustainable finance framework that prevent greenwashing.
A US Senator has introduced the PROTECT USA Act, aiming to shield US companies, including tech giants and oil firms, from EU due diligence requirements, including the CSDDD.
Olena Uvarova argues in a BHRJ Blog that the Omnibus weakens EU sustainability governance and raises serious rule of law concerns. By prioritizing short-term competitiveness gains over long-term sustainability objectives, the EU risks undermining its credibility, harming the environment both within and beyond its borders, and compromising human rights.
In a joint statement, over 360 CSOs from 53 countries strongly criticise Omnibus proposal and urge the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to reject any amendments that weaken the CSDDD.
In a statement, small and medium-sized German enterprises (SMEs) call for an adjustment of the Supply Chain Act to align with the European regulations adopted in 2024, ensuring legal certainty, avoiding unnecessary burdens, and effectively implementing human rights and environmental protection.
Experts from ShareAction, WWF European Policy Office, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice, the World Benchmarking Alliance and Frank Bold shared their views on the European Commission’s Omnibus proposal during a webinar co-organised by these organisations.
In their initial reflection, Shift analyses that the European Commission’s Omnibus Simplification Proposal risks undermining effective risk-based sustainability due diligence and reporting by complicating company efforts, increasing burdens on SMEs, and weakening transparency despite international standards providing clear and practical guidance for meaningful action.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights is concerned about the Omnibus-proposal made by the European Commission, as the proposed changes risk undermining the ability of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to meaningfully address the challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and respect for human rights.
WWF argues in their press release that the Commission’s Omnibus proposal undermines key EU sustainability laws, threatening the Green Deal and creating regulatory uncertainty.
CSRD is key to improving access to ESG data, according to the EU banking regulator. The lack of data standardisation and comparability could present challenges to banks.
The UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, reiterated its support for a mandatory due diligence framework that aligns with international standards.
In their analysis, SOMO found that the financial cost of complying with the CSDDD – as estimated by the European Commission – would represent only 0.13 per cent of the average shareholder payouts made in 2023.
Kalpona Akter, a labour activist from Bangladesh, criticises the EU's upcoming Omnibus proposal, labelling it as corporate-driven deregulation that weakens the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. She argues that the proposal favours big businesses over workers' rights and jeopardises hard-won protections in global supply chains.
The letter from 14 companies and industry associations, including Nestlé, Ferrero, MARS, Primark and Ingka Group | IKEA, says: "Investment and competitiveness are founded on policy certainty and legal predictability. The announcement that the European Commission will bring forward an “omnibus” initiative that could include revisiting existing legislation risks undermining both of these."
In their statement, ECCJ argues that the leaked draft Omnibus proposal severely weakens the EU’s corporate sustainability framework and firmly reject the proposal.
Some major companies like Nestlé, Unilever, and Signify oppose the European Commission's plan to weaken newly introduced green regulations, arguing that it threatens sustainability efforts, legal certainty, and a level playing field.
The EU Commission's proposed reforms to sustainability reporting and due diligence are being criticised as deregulation that weakens climate and human rights protections, reduces corporate accountability, and limits investors' access to reliable sustainability data.
In a letter to the European Commission, the GRI urge the EU not to drop the principle of double materiality claiming it is essential for effective sustainability reporting, ensuring companies manage financial risks while also addressing their broader impacts on the environment, people, and the economy.
Global South organisations warn that the EU will fail workers and the environment globally if it weakens or delays the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), urging full implementation of the law to uphold human rights and environmental standards.
Seven sustainability initiatives – including amfori and the Fair Labor Association – call on EU policymakers to ensure that the core elements of the EU sustainability due diligence and reporting framework remain aligned with internationally recognised standards.
Human Level has published this briefing note for companies operating in the EU subject to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), highlighting the business risks associated with re-opening Level 1 of the directive.
In an open letter to the European Commission, legal scholars expressed concern that a potential reopening Article 22 CSDDD could weaken corporate climate obligations, increase litigation risks, and create regulatory fragmentation.
In a statement, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights encourages the EU not to reopen the CSDDD text, emphasising legal certainty, alignment with the UNGPs, and the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Dutch businesses urge the EU to uphold and implement the CSRD, CSDDD, and Taxonomy as planned, emphasising the need for legal certainty, a level playing field, and the benefits of strong sustainability regulations.
CSOs argue that the EU must reject calls for corporate-driven deregulation and uphold sustainability laws to protect people, the planet, and small businesses from exploitation.
Finnish CSOs and companies urge the European Commission to avoid renegotiating agreed sustainability due diligence rules, emphasising the need for certainty, timely transposition, and clear guidance.
Frank Bold's analysis examines the positions on the Omnibus proposal, specifically the CSRD and CSDDD, from certain ministries and authorities in Germany and France.
150+ civil society stakeholders have requested in a joint letter that the European Commission does not create further confusion and uncertainty through re-opening agreed legislative texts. The letter also criticises the way in which the Omnibus process has proceeded.
240 European researchers, mainly economists, have issued an open letter warning of the dangers of the ‘Omnibus’ initiative being prepared by the European Commission.
Investors with a combined €6.6 trillion in assets under management have urged the European Commission to “preserve the integrity and ambition” of the EU’s sustainable finance framework.
In their commentary, Heidi Hautala and the Resource Centre's Director Phil Bloomer argue that Europe must resist deregulation pressures and maintain strong ESG standards to uphold public trust, protect rights, and ensure legal certainty for businesses.
Signatories request President von der Leyen and Commissioner Dombrovskis to "respect the principles of democratic decision-making enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, which are so important to the credibility, mandate and public trust in the EU institutions."
Alexander Burr, ESG policy lead at Legal and General Investment Management, told Bloomberg that rolling back the rules “could risk our ability to understand ESG or sustainability-related risks.” The statement has also been covered by other outlets including Forbes and FT SustainableViews.
The European Commission announced plans to streamline business regulations to boost innovation. CSOs have criticised this Competitiveness Compass, arguing that it steers Europe in the wrong direction.
The European Commission is convening a roundtable with major corporations, particularly from the financial and energy sectors, and civil society groups to discuss revisions to the upcoming Omnibus proposal.
Finnish companies face varying levels of preparedness for EU sustainability regulations, with a key challenge including regulatory uncertainty created by the EU, a new study finds.
Transition plans should be “a single, comprehensive strategic planning process that covers all regulatory requirements stemming from applicable legislation” such as the corporate sustainability reporting directive and corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD), EBA's new guidelines state.
Ten European National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) expressed concerns in an open letter that the EU’s Omnibus proposal could undermine progress on corporate sustainability and create uncertainty for companies.
CSOs criticise France’s push for an indefinite delay of EU legislation, including CSRD and CSDDD, warning it could undermine social and environmental justice despite the country’s prior support for the legislation.
In light of the European Commission's announcement of an 'Omnibus Simplification Package’ , a group of business and human rights experts from legal practice, consulting, academia and the business world have expressed their grave concerns regarding the approch in a letter to the Commission.
In light of the discussions around an ‘Omnibus’ law, companies like Nestlé, Mars, Mondelez, Ferrero, Hershey and Tony’s Chocolonely, as well as other chocolate sector actors, urge the European Commission to not modify any elements of the CSDDD, nor to reopen it for renegotiation by the co-legislators, but to focus on guidance and support for its implementation.
170 civil society groups, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists have published a joint statement "saying no" to the 'Omnibus' proposal announced by EU Commission President von der Leyen to amend three key legislative pillars of the European Green Deal: the CSDDD, the CSRD and Taxonomy Regulation
The due diligence approach allows human rights and environmental risks to be assessed in a contextualized manner. Behind what is criticized as a “bureaucratic” approach, there is therefore far-reaching trust in companies, the authors argue.
Some of France’s largest companies, including Amundi SA and Electricite de France SA, have signed a letter to European policymakers urging them to ensure the bloc sticks with its current timetable for implementing ESG reporting rules.
The paper explores how the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive could promote responsible business practices in Sub-Saharan Africa, with examples of the impact on three commodities– cotton, cocoa, and copper supply chains– and provides an action plan for African policymakers.
The 2024 Danish Institute for Human Rights benchmark assesses the human rights policies and due diligence practices of 30 major Danish companies, measuring their alignment with global standards and contributing to discussions on responsible business conduct and the impact of upcoming EU regulations.
A new report by the EIRIS Foundation, applying its Social LobbyMap methodology, examines and highlights the role of private sector influence in the exclusion of financial sector downstream value chain activities from the scope of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The ECCJ, in collaboration with 8 other CSOs, published a Transposition Guide for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). This essential guide provides key insights and recommendations for the upcoming transposition phase of this EU directive.
The ActionAid report highlights the need for a gender-responsive approach to the CSDDD, emphasizing the importance of addressing gender inequality, women’s rights, and protections for marginalized groups disproportionately affected by corporate abuses.
The report outlines recommendations for governments and companies to enhance corporate human rights performance through robust regulatory frameworks and collaborative efforts.
The study by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law provides reflections on changes in corporate practice resulting from the implementation of HREDD laws, namely the French DVL and German LkSG, and a comparative analysis of these legal models.
Trade unions are pushing for stronger human rights protections in the base metals sector, emphasising the role of HRDD frameworks and the CSDDD in improving worker conditions and holding companies accountable.
Anti-Slavery International's analysis of the EU CSDDD aims to empower civil society organisations to advocate for its effective implementation, address remaining gaps, and promote fair treatment of workers by businesses.
In its report, UNICEF provides its recommendations to the EU Institutions, EU Member States, and businesses on how to effectively implement the CSDDD for children’s rights.
The guide provides an in-depth analysis of the CS3D Directive, offering recommendations for its transposition into national laws to ensure strong environmental protection while encouraging alignment with international standards and supporting lawmakers, public authorities, and companies in understanding and implementing its provisions.
The particular format of the sector dialogues has had some positive results, but on balance the overall result for civil society is rather patchy – this is the conclusion NGOs participating in those sector dialogues present in a new background paper. Attempts by companies to depict their activities in sector dialogues as stakeholder engagement must be viewed in a critical light against the background of the CSDDD and the German Supply Chain Act.
Non-exhaustive examples showing how questions of effectiveness, current supply network/value chain complexity, and feasibility for companies have been addressed by the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The guide provides practical guidance on how to engage with policymakers through the transposition of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive to advocate for alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international business and human rights standards.
The new blog by BSR says that financial institutions should proactively align with the CSDDD by assessing management gaps, enhancing collaboration, mapping value chains, identifying stakeholders, and developing a roadmap based on international due diligence standards.
Swedwatch views the CSDDD as a positive, long-awaited step towards corporate accountability but urges the Swedish government to strengthen the law during transposition, particularly by addressing gaps in company scope, downstream due diligence, and enforcement.
More than 100 large companies, SMEs and networks including Maersk, Aldi Süd Holding, Cisco, Nokia, H&M Group, Scania and Ritter Sport have united to endorse the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) again at the stage of final formal confirmation.