The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) has announced the release of its ‘Practical Guide to Chemical Management Due Diligence in Supply Chains’, aimed at promoting best practices to protect workers’ health and the environment.
RBA is an international nonprofit comprised of electronics, retail, auto and toy companies committed to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities worldwide affected by global supply chains.
Chemicals play a crucial role in the production of numerous industrial, commercial, and consumer products, with their usage expected to rise. However, growing global awareness of potential social and environmental risks has increased the demand for industries to address and mitigate chemical management risks throughout their supply chains.
Implementing risk-based due diligence systems is a widely accepted approach to managing human rights and environmental risks, aligning with OECD standards. New legislation, such as the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), will require companies to establish and enforce risk-based due diligence systems across their supply chains to comply with legal and sustainability reporting requirements.
The RBA Guide offers a standardised risk-based due diligence framework for facilities managing chemical risks. Using the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct’s six-step process, the Guide aims to foster a shared understanding among businesses, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders regarding responsible chemical management.
Holly Evans, Senior Vice President, Environmental Policy and Legal Affairs, Responsible Business Alliance said, “Common due diligence approaches to responsible chemical management protect supply chain workers and the environment, support compliance with emerging legal requirements, foster adoption of best practices, and drive collective progress. We are pleased to offer this Guide as a public resource, to help advance the dialogue on these important issues.”
