Fairtrade position on mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence

This paper sets out the Fairtrade position on the key elements needed in any regulation on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD). The position is grounded in Fairtrade ’s close collaboration with agricultural actors, from farmers and farm workers to retailers and governments.
Fairtrade has long championed voluntary measures to mitigate harms in supply chains. However, voluntary action has proven insufficient: environmental degradation and human rights abuses remain widespread in global supply chains.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and OECD Guidelines provide a global consensus on corporate responsibilities, but binding laws are needed to ensure all companies meet these norms. 
Well-designed HREDD regulation can benefit all actors in supply chains by establishing consistent rules for responsible business conduct.