Nordic Business Network supports EU legislation on mandatory human rights due diligence

27 January 2021

12 companies, all members of the Nordic Business Network for Human Rights, welcome EU efforts to establish mandatory human rights due diligence regulation and make joint call for its alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

12 companies demonstrate their support for human rights due diligence legislation at EU level in a joint statement released today. Signatory companies are Arla, BioMar, Danfoss, Inter IKEA Group, LEGO Group, Lundbeck, Neste, Norsk Hydro, Novo Nordisk, Statkraft, Vestas Wind Systems and Yara.

The companies are all members of the Nordic Business Network for human rights (NBNHR).

In this statement the companies share considerations for the design of such legislation based on their collective experience conducting human rights due diligence across the many sectors and geographies in which they operate.
The statement says:

“The Nordic Business Network for Human Rights supports EU-wide cross-sectoral mandatory human rights due diligence legislation applicable to all business enterprises located in the EU or selling products or services in the EU, regardless of their size, sector, operational context, ownership or structure. In our experience, there is a need to ensure human rights due diligence covers the entire value chain, not only the supply chain, as impacts can occur both upstream and downstream, in addition to direct operations. An inclusive scope will promote a level playing field and ensure that all actors in the value chain are responsible and accountable.”

The Danish Institute for Human Rights moderates the Nordic Business Network for Business and Human Rights and welcomes the companies’ joint call. Department director on Business and Human Rights, Elin Wrzoncki says:

“This statement from major Nordic companies is a much needed contribution to the current debate on an EU wide measure on human rights due diligence. Such a measure bears the potential to improve human rights in global value chains, including for workers and communities in poor countries. We recognise the leadership it takes to welcome such a legislative development and hope this input will inform the discussions and support the EU Commission and Parliament in developing an effective and impactful measure in support of human rights.”

Further information and examples of companies and investors in support of mandatory human rights due diligence is available via Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.