Human Rights Due Diligence & CSDDD Readiness
A global e-commerce titan and a major construction firm (multi‑client engagement) needed robust human rights due diligence to comply with new EU laws.
In response to the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and existing UK/France vigilance laws, we developed proprietary frameworks and training programs. Our team created a comprehensive risk-mapping matrix (country and commodity level) to spot forced-labor and environmental hazards across their value chains. We then built a governance-driven Vigilance Plan distinguishing protocols for direct vs. indirect suppliers, and defined a strict escalation/remediation workflow for violations (including legal offboarding clauses).
Client: Global E-commerce Titan
Location: France, United Kingdom
Duration: 6 Months
Focus: Human Rights Due Diligence, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Risk Management, Law of Vigilance
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The client required immediate and robust systems to mitigate labor and environmental risks across its complex value chains in Europe. Their entities in France and in the UK needed a defensible diligence framework to comply with the French Duty of Vigilance Law and the UK Modern Slavery Act, while preparing for the reach of the upcoming EU CSDDD.
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Risk mapping methodology: Developed a proprietary risk matrix assessing country-level and commodity-level risks (e.g., forced labor, modern slavery) across the entire value chain.
Vigilance plan construction: Designed the governance framework and operational procedures for the "Vigilance Plan," establishing distinct protocols for Tier 1 (Direct) and Tier 2+ (Indirect) suppliers.
Corrective action protocols: Defined the "Escalation Matrix" for non-compliant suppliers, including remediation steps and contract termination clauses to ensure legal defensibility.
Capacity building: Delivered specialized workshops to Procurement and Legal leadership, providing guidance on governance building and embedding Human Rights criteria into strategic sourcing decisions.
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Litigation defense: Created a documented "Audit Trail" of due diligence actions (checklists, reports), providing the Legal department with the necessary evidence to defend against potential civil liability.
Regulatory compliance: Achieved full alignment with the UK Modern Slavery Act and pre-emptive CSDDD readiness, greatly reducing risk of fines or sanctions.
Reputation management: Proactively remediated high-risk supplier issues before any public exposure, safeguarding brand equity and customer trust.