Supply chain News and trends

The European Commission has unveiled its proposals to introduce mandatory due diligence legislation which would make companies responsible for human rights and environmental issues in their global supply chains.

The law would initially apply to larger companies within the European Union (EU) with more than 500 employees and a global net turnover of more than €150 million (US$169m), and those based outside the EU but which generate the same turnover threshold within the single market.

After two years, it would be extended to smaller companies - with at least 250 employees and a turnover of €40 million (US$45m) - in "high impact sectors" including textiles, as well as agriculture and mining.

Via EcoVadis

The European Commission’s Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy, unveiled in May 2020​, aims to engage all players along the supply chain – from, as the name suggests, farm-to-fork.

In an effort to improve human and planetary health, the Commission has set a host of actions directed at the agricultural sector. These include reduction targets for chemical and hazardous pesticides, and fertilisers, as well as improved animal welfare.

On the fork side of things, targets will be set to reduce food loss and waste, and plans are underway to bring in a mandatory and harmonised front-of-pack (FOP) labelling scheme.

Is this enough to ensure consumers are onboard with the strategy? Because as MEPs argued at a European Food Forum (EFF) event last week, much of the success of the F2F lies in consumers’ hands.

Via EcoVadis