International RBC Agreements

Agreements promoting international Responsible Business Conduct (international RBC) involve partnerships between businesses, trade associations, government, unions and NGOs. Together, these partners work to identify and prevent abuses like exploitation, animal suffering and environmental damage. Since 2016, the Dutch RBC Agreements have gained experience with implementing the due diligence expectations of the OECD Guidelines. Please check the websites of the individual agreements for practical tools and guidelines.

Cotton pickers in action. Illustration for the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile.

Why conclude IRBC agreements?

International business dealings may involve complex problems such as environmental pollution and child labour. By concluding agreements, businesses work with other stakeholders to tackle these problems.

Background

In 2014, the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) recommended concluding multistakeholder agreements in each relevant sector. By cooperating, stakeholders can concentrate their efforts to combat abuses.

OECD Guidelines

Watch a short video about the OECD Guidelines here. Together with the UNGPs, these form the framework for international RBC.

Agreements

All agreements

News

14 November 2023

Important results achieved in five years of cooperation in the Agreement for the Food Products Sector

The IRBC Agreement for the Food Products Sector has increased awareness of international responsible business conduct (IRBC) in the sector. This is evident from the final evaluation of the agreement that expired on June 30, 2023.

06 November 2023

Parties to the Agreement for the Metal Sector strengthen confidence in a productive fourth year

The parties to the IRBC Agreement for the Metal Sector can look back on a productive year. Trust between the parties was strengthened. This resulted in active new collaborations on themes such as health and safety in mines and the risks of child labor in metal recycling. In addition, thanks to training, companies' knowledge of international responsibility business conduct (IRBC) increased. All this can be read in the fourth annual report (2022-2023).

01 November 2023

Parkwind and TotalEnergies Renewables Netherlands new members IRBC Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector

The IRBC Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector is expanding with the companies Parkwind and TotalEnergies Renewables Netherlands as parties to the agreement. This brings the total number of companies, organisations and governments involved to 39.

News overview