Shaping sustainability and responsibility in supply chains

Hello together!?

In this episode, we'll take you through our experience at the Fashion Changers Conference, our role at Performance Days, and a range of important discussions in the world of sustainability. Stay with us for a deep dive into the key topics and developments shaping our future.

Fashion Changers Conference

We attended the Fashion Changers Conference in Berlin on October 20, 2023, where a diverse group of fashion professionals gathered with a shared commitment to driving positive change in the industry, focusing on social justice and sustainability. Here are the standout points from this event: The Fashion Changers Conference 2023 was an inspiring whirlwind of networking, innovation, and thought-provoking discussions. It underscored the importance of authenticity in fashion communication, urged a reevaluation of conversations about the cotton industry, emphasized the urgent need for fair wages, and highlighted the significance of long-term partnerships and shared responsibility.The journey towards a more sustainable and just fashion industry is ongoing and challenging, but events like this conference highlight the progress being made. This offers hope to all fashion professionals striving to make a difference.

?? More information here.?

Performance Days 2023

We also were thrilled to be part of Performance Days.? We had the privilege of participating in the Sustainability Lounge and presented our very first industry fair poster with the support of some of our great partners – Deuter Sport GmbH, ORTOVOX, MONTREET, Sustify GmbH CARE, tex.tracer. A big thank you to Anna Rodewald from GreenroomVoice for this fantastic opportunity.

?? More information here.?

Online Event: Reporting?

German companies are increasingly prioritizing due diligence along their value chains due to regulatory developments and rising expectations from stakeholders. The seventh online seminar in the "Human Rights Due Diligence in Practice" series by the Business & Human Rights Helpdesk explores the topic of "reporting." Companies will learn how to assess the effectiveness of their due diligence processes and how to proceed with reporting. This event series is designed for companies, their representatives, associations, and initiatives.

?? When? On November 21, 2023 | 10:00 - 11:30 am CET

?? Register here.

?

Access to remedy: Joint industry efforts towards remedy

In 2023, the Social Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) and the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) are organizing a webinar series on access to remedy, crucial for upholding human rights and environmental compliance in businesses. The fourth webinar, "Joint Industry Efforts Towards Remedy," will take place on December 5, 2023, catering to ESG and sustainability managers of all-sized companies. It will cover international frameworks, external grievance mechanisms, and the advantages and challenges of collaborative approaches in addressing harm.

?? When? On December 05, 2023 | 10:00 - 11:30 am CET

?? Register here.

Habeck wants to relieve companies with supply chain law

?? Bundeswirtschaftsminister Robert Habeck's proposal to suspend reporting requirements for companies under the German Supply Chain Act has sparked a contentious debate, drawing both support and criticism. While the proposal is presented as an attempt to streamline bureaucratic processes and align with potential future EU regulations, it raises significant concerns about transparency, accountability, and the overall commitment to responsible business practices. Many NGO’s, such as the Initative Lieferkettengesetz, a coalition representing over 120 organizations including, strongly oppose Habeck's proposal. They argue that reporting requirements are not merely bureaucratic exercises but serve as fundamental pillars for enforcing human rights and environmental standards in business operations. The concern is that by suspending these reporting requirements, there might be a detrimental reduction in the overall commitment to responsible business practices, posing potential risks to the protection of human rights and the environment. While we acknowledge companies’ concerns about bureaucracy, in this particular context of Human Rights Due Diligence and sustainability, reporting company activities serves as a corrective measure. These reporting measures contribute to greater transparency and subsequently, if executed correctly, sustainability and justice within supply chains on the long run. Moreover, this ensures a level playing field for all companies involved, demonstrating that ethical standards are upheld consistently throughout the industry. That's how companies collectively can pave the way for a more just and responsible business environment and that is why suspending reporting requirements is indeed a big step back.

?? Read the sources here: TextilWirtschaft | Zeit | Femnet (all german).

?? ?LkSG and Whistleblower Protection Act - a shared complaint procedure? ??? The video "LkSG and Whistleblower Protection Act - a shared complaint procedure?" discusses the requirement of both the Whistleblower Protection Act and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act to establish a complaint procedure. The central question is whether companies should utilize a shared channel for complaints or set up separate procedures. The video is presented by Holger Hembach, a human rights lawyer.?

?? Watch the video here (german).

?

Complaint in Germany against exploitation in South America.

?? Complaints of exploitation in South America have reached Germany due to the Supply Chain Act. ??In Costa Rica, a change in ownership led to dismissals, including union members. Didier Leitón of the Sitrap union filed complaints against Fyffes, a supplier of bananas to Aldi. The law obliges Aldi to conduct investigations and potentially suspend deliveries for improvements. In Ecuador, a complaint by the Astac union resulted in the revocation of Otisgraf's certification. Jorge Acosta plans to address labor issues on Ecuadorian plantations in Germany under the German Supply Chain Act with Oxfam's support.

?? Read the article here (german).

EU Supply Chain law

The recording of a webinar discussing the proposed EU directive on corporate due diligence in the supply chain, often referred to as the "EU Supply Chain Law," provides an overview of the various proposals within the directive and its potential impact on businesses. The speaker is Holger Hembach, a human rights lawyer.?

?? Watch the video here (german).

?

CS3D – are you ready? In the next two years, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) will become law in the EU. Companies should prepare for compliance now by identifying existing issues, adjusting resource-intensive projects, and viewing Due Diligence as an evolving system. Companies should take action because the majority of businesses are currently not adequately prepared for the CS3D.

?? Read the article here.?

?

Expected economic effects of the CSDDD Prior to the German Supply Chain Act, there were concerns that it might disadvantage the domestic economy. Now, with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) advancing, there are worries about its impact on the European economy. A study commissioned by the Vienna Chamber of Labor concluded:

• ?? The CSDDD is unlikely to significantly affect the European economy.
• ?? Other countries may adopt similar laws.
• ?? The CSDDD will strengthen workers' rights in the EU and the Global South.
• ?? Some EU companies may withdraw from certain countries, but ending human rights violations will have overall positive economic effects.

The author supports corporate human rights obligations and the CSDDD but acknowledges the challenge of predicting its precise impact due to numerous variables.

?? Read the article here.?

Unveiling Modern Slavery in Supply Chains: Anti-Slavery Day on 18.10?

We need to shed light on the growing hidden risk of modern slavery and forced labor in global supply chains. Recent estimates show a disturbing 25% increase in the number of individuals trapped in these conditions, affecting 27.6 million workers in the supply chains of our everyday goods. Encouragingly, the EU Parliament has taken a significant step by adopting a regulation that will ban products made using forced labor from entering the EU market. This joins a series of EU regulations aimed at addressing this issue. At atlat, we are committed to the cause, offering a digital complaint mechanism for reporting potential cases of forced labor.?

?? Read the article here.?

?

?? Chocolate on John Oliver John Oliver delves into the topics of chocolate, cocoa farming, and presents unsettling facts. He highlights a critical issue in the cocoa industry: the ineffectiveness of third-party auditors due to advance notice. While companies claim to invest in addressing child labor, their contributions are minimal in comparison to their annual sales. Recognizing that these companies are profit-driven and not charitable organizations, Oliver emphasizes the necessity for robust legislation that compels companies to take the right actions to eliminate child labor from the chocolate supply chain.

?? Watch the video here (german).

?

Switzerland Adopts International Standards for Sustainable Corporate Governance Switzerland is aligning its sustainable corporate governance laws with international standards, reducing the threshold for sustainability reporting to 250 employees by 2024. Companies will be required to report on environmental, human rights, and anti-corruption measures and can adhere to either EU or equivalent standards. Third-country regulations are under review, and due diligence obligations are being analyzed with results expected by the end of 2023. ?? Read the article here (german).

?

Open Letter: Protecting Indigenous Rights in EU Sustainability Directive An open letter from 21 organizations representing indigenous and tribal communities calls on the European Union (EU) to include the right to self-determination, to lands, territories, and resources, and the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The letter, endorsed by 50 human rights and environmental organizations, highlights concerns that the current version of the directive falls short in addressing the adverse impacts of businesses on human rights and the environment. Policymakers have an opportunity to revise the directive to align with EU commitments and international obligations.

?? Read the entire open letter here.

??? More information to hear?

EU Supply Chain Act: Everything you need to know In this episode, Marie and Anna Leitner from Global 2000 discuss the EU Supply Chain Act, its potential impact on climate protection and human rights, and Austria's role in the Council's vote.?

?? Listen here (german).