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.

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

05 August 2022

Guidance to tackle child labour in the natural stone sector

The TruStone Initiative published a guidance to support companies in the natural stone sector to address child labour. Companies that want to learn about how to have a positive impact on children’s rights in their supply chains, will find valuable tips in this guidance. The manual is available to everyone.

29 July 2022

Parties to the Metals Agreement visit the A&M Group

How do you work together on due diligence in the metals sector? And what challenges and opportunities does this bring? During a working visit to the A&M Group (A&M Recycling and In2Waste Solutions), the parties to the Metals Agreement discussed this with each other.

20 July 2022

Webinar International Responsible Business Conduct in Renewable Energy Supply Chains

In the light of the climate emergency and increased geopolitical tensions, the energy transition becomes increasingly important. At the same time, the renewable energy value chain is associated with risks and impacts for people and the environment. The SER and the Danish Institute for Human Rights will organise a webinar about this topic on 7 September.

News overview