IRBC Agreements

Agreements promoting International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC agreements) involve partnerships between businesses, government, unions and NGOs. Together, these partners work to prevent such abuses as exploitation, animal suffering and environmental damage.

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.

Man working at his sawing machines. Illustration for the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile.

Agreements overview

There are IRBC agreements in the garments and textile, banking, and gold sectors. Other agreements are being negotiated.

State of play

Brief overview of the state of play with all IRBC agreements.

Agreements

Garments and Textile

Banking

Gold sector

TruStone Initiative

Food Products sector

Insurance

Pension Funds

Metals sector

agreements

News

12 November 2019

Eight agreement-companies take extra step in transparency

Several companies participating in the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile have signed a Transparency Pledge. In doing so, companies commit to disclose the locations of their production sites, what type of garments are manufactured there, and how many people work at these sites.

Garments and Textile

08 November 2019

Fruitful discussions on responsible metals sourcing during LME-Week

Progress has been made with scaling up responsible sourcing efforts in the metals sector internationally. During the LME-week in London, the International Responsible Business Conduct Agreement for the Metals Sector engaged with a broad delegation of international stakeholders in de sector.

Metals sector

05 November 2019

Baseline Assessment by the Monitoring Committee of the Dutch Pension Funds Agreement on Responsible Investment

The Monitoring Committee of the Dutch Pension Funds Agreement on Responsible Investment has issued a report indicating the results of the baseline assessment, i.e. the state of affairs at the start of the Agreement. The Steering Committee has responded by publishing an ‘Appreciation’ addressing the recommendations set out in the report.

Pension funds

News overview