News

On 14 December 2021, the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile and the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles organize a webinar on responsible purchasing practices in the garments and textile sector.

Are you interested in the topic of Human Rights Due Diligence in agri-food supply chains? Or working in this field for a company or NGO? Then the below webinars are of interest for you!

The steering committee of the Responsible Gold Agreement has decided that new signatories can join the Agreement until December 1, 2021.

Chairman Pieter van der Gaag contributed to an episode of the podcast series ‘Crazy Money’ by American author, comedian and podcaster Paul Ollinger.

Gooimeer, trader and supplier of steel sheet piles, has signed the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. By signing the agreement, the company wants to create more awareness among its own employees and in the industry.

Companies that participate in the international RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector have made progress in the second year despite COVID-19 restrictions. This can be read in the annual report 2020-2021 of the agreement. For example, more companies are making use of the due diligence tools and international RBC is increasingly being incorporated into policy and management systems. The agreement also welcomed five new participants last year.

Prof. dr. Tineke Lambooy is the new chairperson of the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. In the agreement, metal companies, NGOs, trade unions and the government work together to tackle and prevent abuses in the field of human rights and the environment in the metal chains.

The participants in the negotiations process for an international responsible business conduct (RBC) agreement for the renewable energy sector were present at the 2021 RenewableUK event in London. In a side-event organised with the Dutch Embassy in the United Kingdom, the theme of human rights and environmental impacts of renewable energy value chains was discussed with companies active in the sector.

Companies participating in the Responsible Gold Agreement have become more transparent about their supply chains. This has become evident in the 2020-2021 annual report on the agreement, the first in which all participating companies have reported on their activities. A significant number of companies have also disclosed the refiners from which they procure gold.

The Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) has advised the Dutch government on how to shape EU legislation on international Responsible Business Conduct (RBC). A European approach should focus on improving the conditions for people and the environment across supply chains. To have maximum impact on international supply chains outside the EU, the legislation should incentivise European cooperation at sector level.