France: major social impact of agri-food imports (study) Frame of reference/standards A study published by NGOs and a think tank has shone a spotlight on the social and environmental consequences in the countries producing 13 products imported by France, including coffee, cocoa, soybeans, tomatoes and bananas. The authors believe that the European Green Deal standards could remedy this, provided they are not watered down too much by the omnibus package.
Exclusif How Sanofi approached its first CSRD report Frame of reference/standards While Brussels is working to significantly lighten the burden for companies under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), with the omnibus package published on 26 February, organisations in the first wave have still been required to publish their first report under this framework since the beginning of the year. The pharmaceutical group Sanofi is one of the first French companies to have done so. Its environmental, social and governance (ESG) director Laurent Lhopitallier reveals to mind RH how the company went about it.
France: Carrefour taken to court for possible breach of due diligence requirements Frame of reference/standards The NGOs Bloom and Foodwatch, specialising in fishing and food respectively, announced on 17 March that they were taking the food retail group Carrefour to court,…
Technologies Companies commit to responsible AI in the workplace Frame of reference/standards During the AI Action Summit in Paris on 10 and 11 February, several dozen companies agreed on six objectives aimed at ensuring trust in the application of AI.…
Interview Nils Pedersen (UN Global Compact): “Voluntary CSR commitments are a way to stand outand make progress” Frame of reference/standards On 26 September, the Global Compact unveiled a survey of 1,500 companies on their implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Nils Pedersen, a general delegate of the Global Compact, spoke to mind RH about the areas for improvement to ensure that these goals are at the heart of firms' strategy, the impact of the CSRD and the approach taken by the organisation's French network (2,200 member companies). On the social front, decent pay is emerging as a major issue in terms of companies' commitment.
Ghislain Boyer (KPMG): “Human Resources Departments are put under pressure by CSRD process” Frame of reference/standards Faced with the imminent arrival of the social and environmental reporting directive (CSRD), the retail sector will be particularly affected. The increasing complexity of business models and supply chains makes ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting 'unmanageable,' according to Ghislain Boyer, Director at the ESG Center of Excellence at KPMG, interviewed by mind Retail.
Corporate due diligence (part 1/2): six years on since French due diligence legislation came into force and essential fundamentals remain wanting Frame of reference/standards With the first wave of due diligence related lawsuits now appearing in the courts, mind RH has attempted to gauge just how much the 2017 landmark due diligence legislation has really changed the situation for the major corporate groups that come within the legislation’s scope. While almost all the relevant companies now comply with the mandatory publication of a vigilance plan, the real impact of the law remains limited for several reasons ranging from minimal compliance levels, to restricted appropriation (primarily just the CSR teams), and again to a paucity of jurisprudence.
The ILO revises its Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises Frame of reference/standards Although International organizations don’t compete in the human rights arena, the ILO was lagging somewhat behind others, even in terms of its trademark interest of promoting decent work. This Tripartite Declaration concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy is the ILO’s key corporate instrument and yet came in second behind the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises as regards CSR standards. On 17 March however the ILO Governing Body adopted the revised Declaration, which now addresses the challenges of supply chains and consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights now also provides guidance on ‘due diligence’ processes. With the revision the ILO is seeking to promote what is a unique instrument in terms of international scope with the aim of becoming a primary tool that corporates will mobilize as part of their sustainable development policies.
The OECD publishes due diligence guidance for responsible supply chains in the garment and footwear sector Frame of reference/standards In line with the trend for greater demands as regards multinational responsibility, the OECD has over recent years increased the number of its guides, which are discussed between governments, unions and NGOs, to effect corporate socially responsible behavior, with the idea being to provide businesses with appropriate tools. The goal is to assist multinational companies by way of practical and technical support so they can succeed in their due diligence obligations. The OECD guides cater to the extractive industries (mining, oil, gas), conflict minerals, supply chains in the agriculture industry and the apparel industry. A guide is currently being drafted for the finance industry.
105th ILO international labor conference sets out a roadmap to guarantee decent work in global supply chains Frame of reference/standards The ILO international conference was held from 30 May to 10 June. One of the key topics increasingly gaining prominence was the issue of decent work in global supply chains and this conference marked the first time that the subject received ILO debate. Conclusions adopted on 09 June recognize the need to channel resources for efforts to be made on the issue. Workers’ representatives hope these efforts will lead to a new international standard.
