How to Shift from a Due Diligence Approach to Impact
Multi-stakeholders’ collaboration could offer a decisive contribution to the upcoming European law on due diligence.
Join us at the plenary session “Environmental Protection & Human Rights in Supply Chain” on 29 October.
SUSTAINABILITY leaders FROM AFRICA, ASIA, AND EUROPE will outline how we can move forward towards more sustainable and inclusive value chains.
With an estimated population of 450 million people working in global supply chains, the numbers and the vulnerability of those facing reduced income or job loss are dramatically increasing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented situation is only adding to the already growing expectations faced by policymakers around the world to create mandatory environmental and human rights due diligence laws, such as the expected new legislation that will be tabled by the European Commission in early 2021.
The upcoming European due diligence legislation has the potential to improve the sustainability performance of companies and create beneficial social impacts for employees and communities in and around global supply chains. Requiring European companies to implement Human Right Due Diligence (HRDD) could have many benefits, including a level playing field across sectors, and improved corporate risk assessment and management.
However, the challenge is how to ensure the effective implementation of due diligence processes. How can a company make sure that its efforts have a real positive impact on the workers in the supply chain, the environment, local communities, and society at large?
From our experience, the answer lies in collective, coordinated action on the ground, aimed at scaling up sustainable solutions that meet the expectations of national, European, and International principles and norms. It is therefore the entire system that has to mobilise and not only the individual company: all stakeholders are called to tackle the issues at hand and to build back better.
To formulate an impactful due diligence law, we need to listen to the voices of all the parties involved, beyond Europe. Join us at the European SDG Summit 2020 for the plenary session “Environmental Protection & Human Rights in Supply Chains” on 29th October at 11:00-12:30 CET.
We will bring together an experienced and committed group of African, Asian and European leaders who will share their view of the challenges affecting supply chain due diligence and how we can move forward towards more sustainable and inclusive value chains:
Mr. Kain Mvanda
Tanzanian citizen working for the international NGO Rikolto, to create business opportunities in the agricultural sector, linking farmers to new sustainable business opportunities in wider local and international food value chains.
Mrs. Mariam Dao Gabala
Ivorian activist committed to the promotion of gender equality. She is currently the President of the Coalition of Female Leaders of Cote d’Ivoire and Chair of the International Advisory Board of the international NGO Solidaridad.
Dr. Johan van Zyl
President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe and CEO for Africa Region for Toyota Motor Corporation and Senior Managing Officer in global Toyota. Born in South Africa, he is a global leader in automotive industry with a passion for education and achieving social impact.
Mr. Sun Lihui
Director of the Development Department of the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemical Importers and Exporters (CCCMC), a key player of China CSR Coalition for Africa. He is leading the Chambers’ efforts on sustainable sourcing of raw materials, including cobalt mining and sustainable natural rubber sourcing.
Mr. Aidan Davy
Chief Operating Officer of the International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM), in charge of leading ICMM's work on the role of mining and metals in society. Prior to assuming the role of COO in 2015, Aidan led ICMM's work on social and economic development, investor engagement, sustainability reporting and independent assurance.
Their conversation will be moderate by Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder & Director of Levin-Sources. She founded the company in 2010 to deliver sustainability through better business and governance in the mineral sector.
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