German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains
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According to the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, companies of a certain size must fulfill obligations related to the review and compliance with human rights and environmental protection standards along the entire supply chain. The intention is to improve transparency along the supply chain and strengthen human rights and environmental protection while taking into account corporate interests. For all companies registered in Germany with a workforce greater than 3,000, the legislation enters into force on 1 January 2023. For companies with a workforce between 1,000 and 3,000, the law will apply as of 1 January 2024. SAMSON AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT started implementing the legal requirements imposed by the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains in good time so that all legal obligations arising from the law will be complied with as of 1 January 2023.
Human rights
Under the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, certain prohibitions apply relating to human rights:
- Child labor, forced labor, slavery
- Disregard for occupational health and safety
- Disregard for freedom of association
- Discrimination
- Withholding of adequate wages
- Unlawful eviction, unlawful taking of land, forests and waters
- hiring or use of private or public security forces if human rights are violated
Any other act or omission in breach of a protected legal position
Environmental protection
In addition to human rights, the law also stipulates due diligence obligations related to environmental protection. Environment-related prohibitions include:
- harmful pollution of soil, water and air as well as harmful noise emissions and excessive water consumption Production, use and treatment of mercury (cf. Minamata Convention on Mercury)
production and use of persistent organic pollutants (cf. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants) - production and use of persistent organic pollutants (cf. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants)
- non-environmentally sound handling, collection, storage and disposal of waste (cf. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants)
- export and import of hazardous waste (cf. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal)
- harmful pollution of soil, water and air as well as harmful noise emissions and excessive water consumption Production, use and treatment of mercury (cf. Minamata Convention on Mercury)
SAMSON is also responsible
If, despite all our efforts, you suspect that human rights and environmental protection standards are being violated in our supply chain, you can report this to us anonymously via the Whistleblower-Platform hat has been set up or by email melden.