Seen in picture: Giant scales of justice presented during campaign launch at climate movements congregation.
In 2021, The Economy for the Common Good (ECG) joined other committed NGOs and trade unions to mobilise hundreds of thousands of people to respond to the EU’s consultation on a draft Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The proposal was put forward in early 2022. Nevertheless, instead of becoming a model and a game-changer for corporate, social and environmental sustainability, these expectations weren’t met. The proposed legal framework risks not having a real impact when put into practice.
Some EU member states have adopted or are devising their own laws on due diligence, but most countries are behind on relevant legislation. This goes to show how crucial a tool the EU-wide legislation truly is. Only when put in place, will there be clear and common rules holding companies accountable and making them answer for irresponsible exploitation of people and environment in their value chains.
In its commitment to effect positive change, ECG has joined Justice is Everybody’s Business: a large number of civil society and trade union organisations from around Europe and beyond. All these organisations support a collaborative campaign based on a shared truth: people power is crucial for meaningful change. This initiative demands a due diligence law that:
- Makes companies respect human rights, the environment and the climate.
- Puts strict obligations on companies to prevent and end harm.
- Holds parent companies responsible in court for harm that happens anywhere in their supply chain.
- Guarantees collective bargaining by trade unions and gives workers’ representatives a real say in due diligence, every step of the way.
- Tackles the climate crisis by making companies slash emissions throughout their value chains.
- Protects the planet by holding companies accountable for all possible harms to the environment.
- Applies due diligence requirements to all business relationships along their value chains.
- Empowers people harmed by bad business practices, trade unions, and civil society to get justice in EU courts.
- Consults everyone affected by business activities, and obtains consent when needed.
- Gives enforcement agencies the power to thoroughly investigate and sanction companies.
