Which issues do companies in the food sector face when they start due diligence? How can parties within the agreement help companies to manage the risks in their international value chain? At the inspiration session of the IRBC Agreement for the Food Product sector on May 21 in Utrecht, practice played a central role.
Stakeholders in the metals sector are joining forces to advocate for and stimulate international responsible business conduct (IRBC) in the sector. Companies, industry associations, government, trade unions and civil society organisations will sign the ‘International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector: Delivering Responsible Metals Supply Chains Together’ on 23 May.
On 23 May, participants in the TruStone Initiative and the pilot projects on socially responsible procurement of natural stone met with Indian partners from the NGOs Arisa and Coalitie Stop Child Labour.
On May 9th, the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textiles, Solidaridad and Modint organized a workshop on sustainable materials for companies and other parties to the Agreement.
On Tuesday May 14th, the Dutch Senate adopted a child labour due diligence bill (initiatiefwetsvoorstel zorgplicht kinderarbeid). The bill asks companies to declare that they are taking the necessary steps to prevent child labour.
Parties in the Agreement in the insurance sector have jointly worked out a first case for international responsible investment (IMVO). During the session, a practical case study was conducted to discuss the positive impact that Dutch insurers can make in an international sector.
The Dutch and Flemish natural stone industry, the Dutch and Flemish governments, NGOs and trade unions have agreed to work together towards more responsible production and procurement of natural stone. The ‘IRBC TruStone Initiative’ came about after extensive discussions led by the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands.
Multiple clothing brands within the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile have signed a letter to the government of Cambodia to express their concerns regarding the labour and human rights situation in the garments and textile industry.
Representatives of parties and adhering banks to the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement recently visited Indonesia as a part of their efforts to map the palm oil value chain. The main purpose of this visit was to get workers on the plantations, trade unions and banks at one table to discuss with the direct stakeholders how the right information from plantations and mills could reach the banks in the most efficient way.
An assessment shows that 86% of brands participating in the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT) are well on the way to meeting the AGT targets. This is a conclusion of the annual report published by the parties to the AGT today. By gaining a clearer picture of conditions at a larger number of production sites and of the materials used by companies, and by analysing their own supply chain, companies took specific action in 2018 to change their operational management in a way that makes them better able to tackle abuses in their supply chain.
