Platform

German Supply
Chain Due Diligence
Act (LkSG)

On June 11, 2021, the German Parliament passed the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. For the first time, it creates a legal framework for due diligence and reporting obligations along the supply chain.

It requires the affected companies to implement a risk management system to check all direct suppliers for compliance with human rights standards, take preventive and corrective measures and publish an annual report.

Swiss ODDT

On January 1, 2022, the Ordinance on Due Diligence and Transparency in the Sectors of Minerals and Metals from Conflict Areas and Child Labour (ODDT) came into force in Switzerland. It requires Swiss companies to fulfil due diligence obligations regarding conflict minerals and metals and/or child labour in their supply chain and to report annually on the fulfilment of the due diligence obligations.

CSRD

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is the EU Commission’s proposal to strengthen the nature and extent of sustainability reporting in the EU over the next years.

The CSRD proposal significantly enhances the scope of the existing Non-Financial Reporting Directive and will affect approximately 50.000 companies in the EU. Furthermore, it introduces more detailed reporting requirements, and the requirement to report according to mandatory EU sustainability reporting standards.

Norwegian Transparency Act

The Norwegian Transparency Act came into force on July 1, 2022. Affected companies must carry out due diligence to identify actual or potential negative impact on human rights and working conditions in the supply chain and take measures accordingly.

The method and findings of the due diligence must be published in an annual statement.

Science-Based Targets

Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly-defined path to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

ILO Labour Standards

Since 1919, the International Labour Organization has developed and maintained a system of international labour standards aimed at promoting opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. They are an essential component in the international framework for ensuring that the growth of the global economy provides benefits for all.

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change that came into force on November 4, 2016. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal was approved in 2020 and encompasses a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the aim to reduce GHG emissions by 55% until 2023 and make the European Union climate neutral by 2050. The set of measures (“Fit for 55”) includes the revision and extension of existing EU regulations as well as the addition of new regulations and setting up of funds.

Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is a multilateral environmental agreement that aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes. It requires its Parties to ensure that such wastes are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

POPs Regulation

The POPs Regulation aims to protect human health and the environment with control measures that prohibit or severely restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and ensure the environmentally sound disposal of waste consisting of, or contaminated by POPs in the European Union.

Minamata Convention

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. It sets out a range of measures to control the supply and trade of mercury, including setting limitations on specific sources of mercury such as primary mining, and to control mercury-added products and manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used, as well as artisanal and small scale gold mining.

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.

OECD Guidelines

The OECD Guidelines set standards for responsible business conduct across a range of issues such as human rights, labour rights, the environment, information disclosure, and combating bribery. In May 2011, OECD members and adhering governments updated the Guidelines and introduced substantial new provisions in areas such as human rights, due diligence and supply chain responsibility.

UN Guiding Principles

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are a set of guidelines for states and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations. They form the basis for the National Action Plans for Business and Human Rights (NAPs) as adopted by several countries and are an important basis for the implementation of human rights due diligence in companies.

EU-Guideline 2014/95/EU

Directive 2014/95/EU shall enhance the consistency and comparability of non-financial information relating to environmental matters, social and employee-related matters, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery matters. This also includes supply and subcontracting chains.

GHG Protocol Standards

GHG Protocol establishes comprehensive global standardized frameworks to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains and mitigation actions. The GHG Protocol Standards provide requirements and guidance for companies and other organizations that want to assess the emissions impact of their operations, products and value chain.

FCPA

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), enacted in 1977, generally prohibits the payment of bribes to foreign officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA can apply to prohibited conduct anywhere in the world and extends to publicly traded companies and their officers, directors, employees, stockholders, and agents. Agents can include third party agents, consultants, distributors, joint-venture partners, and others.

UK Bribery Act

The UK Bribery Act contains provisions on offences involving bribery and related matters. It allows for the punishment of persons or companies connected to the UK, regardless of where the offence was committed.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

In partnership with state governments, tribal governments and other federal agencies, The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to assure compliance with the nation's environmental laws to help protect public health and the environment.

OFAC

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) (USA) administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.

OSHA

With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (USA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been created to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards.

HASAWA

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1974 (UK) is the primary instrument of legislation dealing with occupational health and safety. The Health and Safety Executive, together with local authorities (and other competent authorities), is responsible for implementing the Act and a number of other laws and statutory instruments relating to the working environment.

UK Modern Slavery Act

The UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) includes provisions on slavery, forced labour and human trafficking, as well as provisions to protect victims.

Dodd-Frank-Act Section 1502
(USA)

Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act (USA) requires US listed companies to disclose the use of conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) from the Democratic Republic of Congo or neighbouring countries in their products. With this regulation, the US government intends to prevent the financing of armed groups in parts of the DR Congo through raw materials extraction and trade.

United States Customs
and Border Protection
(CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has direct responsibility for enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness. By reducing costs for industry and enforcing trade laws against counterfeit, unsafe, and fraudulently entered goods, CBP is working to enable legitimate trade, contribute to American economic prosperity, and protect against risks to public health and safety.

EU Conflict Minerals Regulation

On January 1, 2022 the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation came into force. It requires EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (“3TG”) to comply with, and report on, supply chain due diligence obligations if the minerals originate (even potentially) from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The regulation is largely inspired by the US Dodd-Frank Act (2010).

EU Framework Decision on terrorism

Measures against offences of public provocation, recruitment and training for terrorism adopted in most EU countries. The decisions define terrorist offences as well as offences related to terrorist groups or offences related to terrorist activities and set out the rules for implementation in EU countries.

General Data
Protection Regulation
(GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation contains rules on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons.

UK Environmental Protection Act

The United Kingdom's Environmental Protection Act 1990 defines regulations for the better control of pollution that is the result of industrial or other processes.

Various National Data Protection Legislation

Various National Data Protection Legislations, e.g. UK Data Protection Act, it controls how personal information is used by organizations, businesses or the government. Everyone responsible for using data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’.

SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (USA) is an act to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws, and for other purposes.

ILO Conventions

International labor standards are legal instruments drawn up by the United Nations International Labor Organization's constituents (governments, employers and workers) and setting out basic principles and rights at work. They are either conventions, which are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states, or recommendations, which serve as non-binding guidelines.

UK Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015

Financial Anti-Terrorism Act