In a significant development, the European Parliament Legal Committee, in collaboration with EU member states, has successfully negotiated a groundbreaking corporate sustainability law. This milestone was announced via a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The newly agreed-upon rules focus on introducing due diligence measures for companies, particularly addressing issues related to child labor and environmental damage within their supply chains. The directive mandates that major companies operating within the European Union must conduct thorough checks and take corrective actions if such concerns are identified.
Following intensive negotiations that commenced on Wednesday, representatives from EU states and the parliament, both holding equal influence over the draft law, reached a consensus on what is now termed the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). This directive is set to become compulsory for approximately 13,000 large companies headquartered in the EU.
The expansive reach of the CSDDD has stirred discussions not only within the EU but also beyond, notably in the United States. The directive encompasses around 4,000 companies conducting business within the EU but having headquarters elsewhere, sparking concerns and discussions among corporate circles.
Critics argue that the CSDDD adds to the reporting obligations of EU companies, which are already slated to comply with a separate set of environment, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures starting in 2024. Controversies also arose regarding whether companies should be obligated to disclose plans outlining their transition to a sustainable economy, along with the specifics and targets associated with such plans.
Law firm DLA Piper highlighted that even U.S. companies not directly falling under the directive’s scope may be implicated if they are part of the value chain of an EU business covered by the directive. This scenario could necessitate U.S. companies to assess their value chains and operations for potential adverse human rights and environmental impacts.
The new legislation marks a significant step toward corporate accountability and sustainability, albeit not without sparking discussions and concerns among various stakeholders.
