Global Sustainability Network (GSN)’s Post

Ethical and Fair Trade Practices: Building a Better World for Everyone 🌍 In today's interconnected world, consumers are increasingly aware of the impact their purchasing decisions have on the environment, workers, and communities. Ethical and fair trade practices have emerged as vital components of a more equitable and sustainable global economy, empowering producers and ensuring that trade benefits everyone involved. What are Ethical and Fair Trade Practices? Ethical Trade focuses on ensuring that businesses operate with integrity and respect for human rights, labor standards, and the environment. This includes: Safe Working Conditions: Providing safe, healthy, and respectful working environments for all employees. Fair Wages: Ensuring workers receive fair compensation for their labor, above the minimum wage. No Exploitation: Eliminating child labor, forced labor, and exploitation in supply chains. Fair Trade goes a step further by creating a direct partnership between producers and consumers. #EthicalTrade #FairTrade #SustainableBusiness #SocialImpact #ResponsibleSourcing #EthicalBusiness #FairWages #EmpowerCommunities #SustainableDevelopment #HumanRights #SocialResponsibility #TradeJustice #EthicalConsumerism #WorkerRights #FairTradeProducts #SustainableEconomy #GlobalTrade #EthicalPractices #SupportLocal #ConsciousConsumer #SupplyChainTransparency #SustainableEthics #FairTradeCertification #EconomicEquity #InclusiveGrowth #CommunityEmpowerment #Sustainability #EthicalLiving #FairTradeMovement #SocialEquity

🚀HRDD News: the landmark Forced Labour Regulation was approved by most member states at #COREPER, for which the #EuropeanParliament's final adoption vote will come in April🚀 Though important elements (including remediation) were removed, this regulation represents an important feat by targeting products made with forced labor worldwide from entering the EU market. It specifically outlines: 📌Strengthened Due Diligence: Companies operating in the EU will be required to conduct thorough due diligence on their supply chains to identify and mitigate risks of forced labor. 📌 Disposal, Donation, and Recycling Guidance: Companies are encouraged to prioritize donation or recycling whenever possible, rather than disposal, to minimize waste and prevent potential exploitation of labor in waste management processes. Strict guidelines are set to ensure that any donated or recycled goods are handled ethically and do not inadvertently contribute to forced labor downstream. 📌Enforcement Mechanisms and Sanctions: Strict penalties will be imposed on businesses found in violation of the regulation. These sanctions may include hefty fines and potential bans from operating within the EU market. In cases of state-imposed forced labor, the EU will impose a case-by-case approach including a high-risk list to incentivize compliance and trade restrictions. Belgian Presidency of the Council of European Union #forcedlabour #humanrights #supplychaintransparency #eu

Is your company aware of the upcoming EU ban on products made with forced labour? These rules will apply to all market operators, irrespective of size or sector, and are therefore likely to have a huge impact on how products are manufactured in Europe and elsewhere. Read more about the new regime in our blog post 👉 https://hubs.li/Q02q5v5p0 #forcedlabour #ESG #humanrights #advokatfirmandelphi

No agreement has yet been reached at European level on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which is why a significantly watered-down proposal has been on the table from the Belgian presidency since last week: ✏ Scope of application: Companies with 1,000 employees and 300 million euros or more in annual turnover and no lower limits for risk sectors ✏  Supply chain: Downstream activities (e.g. dismantling, disposal, recycling) and indirect business relationships are to be cancelled, refocusing on direct relationships ✏ Climate: No obligation to promote the implementation of climate transition plans through financial incentives for top management ✏ Liability: allowing flexibility on final legal adoption This compromise has already been on the agenda last Friday but final vote of EU member states has been postponed to upcoming Wednesday, 13th March. As the Parliament and the Council already reached a provisional agreement on new rules that ban products made with forced labour from EU market it would be really incomprehensible if no conclusion can be arranged in regard of CSDDD. Reach out to COSH! article "Clothed in Slavery": https://lnkd.in/ebT5YKaA COSH! Conscious Shopping Made Easy has already signed the „SOS CSDDD“ statement initiated by Fairtrade Belgium to support the implementation of CSDDD and is waiting eagerly for the update. Although the requirements has been changed and Germany is still going on to refuse it we hope that it´ll come into place anyway! If you´re able to support any intiative for the CSDDD – pls do! #duediligence #CSDDD #sustainability #EUregulations #sustainablebusiness #humanrights #supplychain #transparency #forcedlabour #modernslavery #fairtradebelgium

It’s official - with 555 votes in favor, six against, and 45 abstentions. The new EU Forced Labor ban will be enforced on goods made outside the EU by forced labour and on products manufactured in the EU with parts made abroad by forced labour. https://lnkd.in/eSnbM66K. See our last comparison article https://lnkd.in/eP2E8yki if you are importing goods into the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU). Follow The Traceability Times https://lnkd.in/eaJF5qqw for regular policy maker updates on the regulatory lens of due diligence and traceability for imports. Connect with HAP for support in establishing best practice in your due diligence or traceability system or to be a cited contributor to our upcoming series on the use of Social Audits in regulatory due diligence. Please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6 ✅ Support greater Independence in Environmental & Human Rights Due Diligence Measurement Systems: https://lnkd.in/ehvfDhEc #esg #esgreporting #sustainability #sustainabilityreport #responsiblebusiness #ethics #climatecrisis #climate #bizhumanrights #forcedlabour #modernslavery #ethicalsourcing #SustainableBusiness #EthicalAuditing #OECDGuidance #oecd #supplychain #responsbilebusines #climate #climateaction #hrdd #csddd #cs3dy

It’s official - with 555 votes in favor, 6 against, and 45 abstentions. The new EU Forced Labor ban will be enforced on goods made outside the EU by forced labour and on products manufactured in the EU with parts made abroad by forced labour. https://lnkd.in/e3jMj26n. See our last comparison article https://lnkd.in/e6amgKRt if you are importing goods into the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU). Follow The Traceability Times https://lnkd.in/eW4mRaRE for regular policy maker updates on the regulatory lens of due diligence and traceability for imports. Connect with HAP for support in establishing best practice in your due diligence or traceability system or to be a cited contributor to our upcoming series on the use of Social Audits in regulatory due diligence. Please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6 ✅ Support greater Independence in Environmental & Human Rights Due Diligence Measurement Systems: https://lnkd.in/ehvfDhEc #esg #esgreporting #sustainability #sustainabilityreport #responsiblebusiness #ethics #climatecrisis #climate #bizhumanrights #forcedlabour #modernslavery #ethicalsourcing #SustainableBusiness #EthicalAuditing #OECDGuidance #oecd #supplychain #responsbilebusines #climate #climateaction #hrdd #csddd #cs3dy

The Global #supplychaindiplomacy Initiative is a concept tested #social #innovation which provides a cooperative structure to facilitate #peaceful solutions, for issues highlighted in the article, by focusing on trade. European Union

Our paper on "Greening Labour? The Role of the #SDGs in Fostering Sustainability Integration within #Trade Unions" is now fully published and open access. Check it out at: https://lnkd.in/g7uBkry6

Forced labor in Germany? I was surprised by what Federica Suess told me and really enjoyed talking to her about sustainable supply chain issues. She opened my eyes to more than one point in this area that I did not have this deep insight into before. Not only in the light of the CSDDD, these topics are gaining legal importance, but to be honest, human rights and caring about the workers in the value chain should be at the top of every company's agenda. https://lnkd.in/e7qR7DQC

Yesterday, the EU Parliament gave its final approval to a new regulation enabling the European Union to prohibit the sale, import and export of goods made using forced labour. https://loom.ly/KBssgy8 The approval came one day before the upcoming vote of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in the EU Parliament, which is expected to happen today. Both regulations are going to elevate the level playing field of the industry and protect workers around the world. Stronger Together can support your business to tackle forced labour in your own operations and supply chains, and to implement responsible recruitment and fair work practices. ⭐ Access our wide range of practical resources here (which are free to download, you need to create an account) ➡️ https://loom.ly/Fd9umrA ⭐ Book your place on one of our upcoming workshops ➡️ https://loom.ly/UE4-sS8 #euparliament #newregulations #protectworkers #forcedlabour #responsiblerecruitment