Against the background of global social and environmental challenges, fair and environmentally friendly products are increasingly demanded by consumers and governments in importing countries. There is a move away from voluntary sustainability initiatives towards mandatory legislation. Several European countries have passed human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) legislation in recent years. The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) has been formally adopted and entered into force in July 2024. This will lead to mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirements for companies all over Europe (for both European companies and non-European companies active in EU). The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) and its definition of due diligence processes form the basis for this legislation.  

 

With a significant number of suppliers to German and European companies, Türkiye is affected by the new due diligence legislation. It is expected that large companies and retailers subject to the recently introduced due diligence legislation in Germany and elsewhere will intensify their requirements for suppliers e.g., regarding risk analysis, supply chain transparency or grievance mechanisms. Producers that adopt the upcoming changes early will be prepared for future business interaction with German and European companies.  

 

In this respect, RBH Türkiye will strengthen the implementation of human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) in Türkiye through its services.

 

Financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented in collaboration between Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and Turkish Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), RBH Türkiye is established as a part RBH Network which seeks to build a common understanding of HREDD across countries and harmonize action. The RBH Network collaborates closely with the German Helpdesk on Business and Human Rights to build on its experience and broaden the network of the German Helpdesk to qualified organizations in producing countries. So far, the RBH are set up in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Serbia, Türkiye, Tunisia and Mexico and an expension is planned.