"Joint Statement on the EU Sustainability Due Diligence Framework"

amfori, Cascale, Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), ETI Norway, ETI Sweden, ETI Denmark, Fair Labor Association, Fair Wear, German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, Green Button, and Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), call on the European Commission to ensure a pragmatic implementation of the EU sustainability due diligence framework, in view of the current discussions on an ‘omnibus legislation’ to amend key regulations.

Our respective organisations already have years of experience supporting companies as they improve their supply chains through effective due diligence. We remain certain that the adopted directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) will bring scale to current due diligence efforts and support the practical implementation of international standards (such as the OECD Guidelines, the UNGPs, and ILO Conventions).

As the EU considers changes to CSDDD and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as part of the Omnibus discussions, we reiterate our full support for pragmatic implementation of the EU sustainability due diligence framework which will level the playing field across global supply chains.

Legal certainty is essential, not only for businesses to operate effectively within the EU market but also for our global trading partners to engage with EU businesses. This certainty also promotes greater opportunities for labour and environment stakeholders to effectively engage with companies on supply chain activities that impact them.

We therefore call on the Commission to ensure that its “bolder, simpler, faster” mission does not result in weakening the CSRD and CSDDD text regarding sustainability due diligence.