Supply chain responsibility

What is supply chain responsibility?

Supply chain responsibility means assessing the impacts of your business activities across your value chain. These can include impacts on working conditions, human rights, and the climate and environment. This applies to your own company and but also to suppliers and other business partners.

It is not always easy to understand your entire value chain. For example, you may not always know where raw materials come from or the conditions in which products are made. By collecting information and asking questions, you can get a better understanding of your value chain.

Get started with due diligence

Due diligence means identifying the possible negative impacts your business activities may have on people and the environment. You then take measures to prevent or address these impacts. Understanding what happens in your value chain and how you can reduce risks is the basis for responsible business conduct. It helps you prevent negative impacts.

Find out how to get started with due diligence in 6 steps (in Dutch)

Assess your suppliers

Large organisations have developed methods to assess suppliers. Smaller companies usually have less time and money for this. Some initiatives make it easier for SMEs to better understand their suppliers.

One example is the Business Social Compliance Initiative (amfori BSCI). This European monitoring system helps companies assess working conditions in their supply chains and check whether agreed improvements are being made. It also encourages companies in the supply chain to follow the labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Work together in your value chain

Assessing your suppliers is not enough. If you have little influence over a supplier, work with other companies, industry associations, civil society organisations or local organisations. Together, discuss the risks with the supplier, agree on improvements and monitor the results.

Training and tools

Would you like to understand the risks in your value chain better? Would you like to know how your company is doing in terms of RBC? Use the training and tools from the RBC helpdesk.

View the training and tools page (in Dutch)

Questions about RBC?

Working with your suppliers and vendors will make it easier for you to appeal to their sense of responsibility. Promote RBC across the entire supply chain, not just within your business.

Contact the RBC helpdesk