Drive Plus to Foster Closer Collaboration between Automotive Suppliers and OEMs
The consultation is part of Drive Plus partners’ efforts to bolster collaboration with Drive Sustainability’s OEMs to harmonize sustainability standards in the industry.
The SAQ is the industry standard to assess more than 55.000 suppliers worldwide and ensure sustainable environmental and human rights practices throughout the supply chain
In 2024, the 38 automotive suppliers and suppliers’ associations within the Drive Plus platform are intensifying their collaboration with Drive Sustainability’s 16 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Currently, Drive Plus partners are engaging in a feedback process for the revision of the Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), in preparation for the forthcoming adoption of its updated 6.0 version. The SAQ, currently used by over 55.537 suppliers worldwide, is a testament to the automotive industry’s proactive approach to addressing human rights and environmental concerns within complex supply chains. More than 114,000 SAQs have been completed to date.
Then, on 13th June, Drive Plus members will further shape their inputs at a dedicated workshop with Drive Sustainability partners and supporters.
Amidst the regulatory shift towards increasingly stringent standards in human rights and environmental due diligence - led by the European Commission with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and the Forced Labour, Battery, Deforestation, and Conflict Minerals Regulations – Drive Plus offers to automotive suppliers and supplier associations a platform to collaborate with Drive Sustainability OEMs for the improvement of the social, ethical, and environmental performance of automotive supply chains.
Despite the recent setback on the CS3D, after the European Council’s failure to adopt the directive, in 2024 Drive Plus partners will:
Align with the Drive Sustainability Partners - BMW Group, Daimler Truck, Ford, Geely, Honda, Jaguar-Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo - on their sustainability agenda and requirements, particularly regarding how sustainability performances and risks within the supply chain are assessed.
Share tools that measure and promote compliance with sustainability expectations, such as the Raw Materials Outlook online database and the Common Standards Recognition Framework.
Expand training opportunities to equip practitioners with comprehensive knowledge and foster a culture of sustainability and sustainability management skills across different teams. For instance, partners will deep-dive into upcoming regulatory requirements at dedicated Ateliers with Drive Sustainability partners, starting with the webinar on the European Deforestation Regulation, taking place online on 15 March.
In contrast to many other industries where compliance efforts are primarily dictated by external regulations, Drive Plus and Drive Sustainability exemplify the automotive industry's successful leadership in sustainability. Here, progress is fuelled by businesses' commitment to leveraging the knowledge and expertise of their entire ecosystem, enabling the implementation of effective compliance tools and processes. If you are an automotive supplier or a supplier association interested in joining forces with your peers to align and harmonize the sustainability standards and tools used across the industry, in collaboration with OEMs, you are invited to contact Filippo Spiezia.
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