International RBC Agreements

Agreements promoting international Responsible Business Conduct (international RBC) 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.

OECD Guidelines

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

Agreements

agreements

News

08 September 2021

Raak Metals Groep signs the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector

Raak Metals Groep, specialist in metal recycling, has signed the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. By signing this agreement, the company aims to contribute to the responsible collection and processing of scrap metals.

Textile industry - spinning machine in a textile factory

05 August 2021

Transparency tool for risk assessment in the garments and textile chain

Modint has taken the initiative within the Agreement on Sustainable Garment and Textile to capture all combined knowledge of businesses and experts in two tools for companies.

27 July 2021

Solar sector joins process for international RBC Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector

The solar sector has joined the process for the development of an international RBC Agreement for the Renewable Energy Sector. Holland Solar and Vereniging Eigen Huis are now official participants. Previously, the initiative primarily consisted of actors active in the wind energy industry.

News overview