Responsible Companies

Image courtesy of European Parliament

We develop and promote new business models and legal frameworks that better integrate societal interests into corporate purpose and governance to improve corporate sustainability, transparency and accountability.

We recognize the key role that corporations play in the current economy and its relevance in society, but we also see the struggles of the corporate sector to act sustainably, ethically and the shortcomings in their responses to fundamental challenges such as climate change and human rights

By working with businesses, leading scholars and NGOs, we strive to revise the corporation and its relationship with society. 

Changing the practice and the legal framework to integrate sustainability into reporting and corporate governance 

At the international level, we initiated the Purpose of the Corporation project, which aims to debate how to meaningfully and effectively integrate sustainability into corporate governance.

We lead the Alliance for Corporate Transparency initiative, bringing together 20 leading non-profit organizations dedicated to sustainability reporting and its reform at the EU level. Within the Alliance, we thoroughly analyzed sustainability data disclosed by 1000 large European companies to obtain objective data on the quality of reporting for practice and legislative changes.

As members of an expert committee established by the European Commission, we participated in creating the draft of the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive, and we are actively working with representatives of European institutions, civil society and progressive business on its revision - Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

We participate in the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) project, which, based on a mandate from the European Commission, is drafting the first European sustainability reporting standards that will be adopted together with the new legislation.

We have also prepared a comprehensive overview of what sustainability data companies and investors should report according to EU legislation (taxonomy of sustainable activities, SFRD and CSRD). We have published a series of detailed articles on sustainability reporting. 

Every week, we discuss the latest political, legal, and business developments in the field of ESG, business and human rights, and corporate reporting in our new podcast on responsible business – “Frankly Speaking”

Changing the rules on corporate liability for negative impacts

We chair the European Coalition for Corporate Justice - a coalition of 500 leading European NGOs with which we develop and promote a clear and meaningful framework for corporate responsibility for negative impacts on human rights and the environment based on UN and OECD standards. Its foundation is due diligence, which defines how companies should identify, prevent and minimize the impact of their businesses in supply chains with respect to their share and influence.

We also advocate for the removal of the law obstacles that prevent injured people from accessing courts.

Developing a legal framework for corporate responsibility, which is still voluntary, is crucial to address  major issues related to global supply chains, such as forced and child labor and illegal deforestation. Clear liability rules are also essential for fair competition and a level playing field for responsible companies that do not use risky supply chains.

We support B corporation

Since 2013, we have been developing an innovative business model that combines the best of business and the non-profit sector. Within the Frank Bold consortium, the legal services for companies are provided by Frank Bold Lawyers, whose values and established internal process guarantee that they will never defend corruption, cover-up crimes, legalize dirty money, participate in environmental damage or violation of human rights.

The B Corporation certification is a standard for responsible corporate governance that integrates public benefit with a successful business. We have been its holders since April 2016. In addition, a member of our team is also a member of the B Lab Europe advisory board, an organization that develops this certification.

Publications

PDF Fair Law: Legal Proposals to Improve Corporate Accountability for Environmental and Human Rights Abuses (0 KB)

PDF Principles & Pathways: Legal Opportunities to Improve Europe´s Corporate Accountability Framework (772.07 KB)

PDF Joint Amnesty International and ECCJ submission on the Green Paper on the Review of Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 (135.37 KB)

PDF The Human Rights Due Diligence Report (657.47 KB)

PDF Recommendations on Sustainable Finance (374.62 KB)

PDF NGO recommendations for the EU sustainable finance action plan (2.55 MB)

PDF Redefining directors’ duties in the EU to promote long-termism and sustainability (20.27 MB)

PDF NGO statement: EU Commission must take action to improve the reporting obligations of companies on sustainability issues (628.1 KB)

PDF One pager on companies sustainability disclosure: why it is crucial to review the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (294.38 KB)

PDF Summary of discussions: Development EU Non-financial reporting standards experts roundtable (107.72 KB)

PDF Guidance for corporate disclosure pursuant to the EU Non-Financial Reporting (1.77 MB)

PDF An analysis of the sustainability reports of 1000 companies pursuant to the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (31.6 MB)

PDF An analysis of the climate-related disclosures of 300 companies from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe pursuant to the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (22.98 MB)

PDF Sustainable corporate governance: policy recommendations (703.95 KB)

PDF Statement: Civil society organisations call on policymakers to define meaningful supply chain reporting requirements (371.15 KB)

PDF Sustainability reporting guidance (71.71 KB)

PDF Resumen coloquio _Cambios en la Directiva sobre el reporte de las empresas en cuestiones de sostenibilidad (285.85 KB)

PDF NGO policy briefing on Sustainable Corporate Governance (401.91 KB)

PDF Enforcement activities - Summary report EUKI Research 2020 (536.83 KB)

PDF Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: Analysis and recommendations on the EU Commission’s proposal (268.49 KB)

PDF Joint statement on sustainable corporate governance (206.52 KB)

PDF NGOs Open letter: Strong concerns about the delay in the publication of the Sustainable Corporate Governance initiative (280.52 KB)

PDF Webinar: Sustainable Corporate Governance Initiative - Due Diligence Principles and Practical Experience (9.29 MB)

PDF Summary of the webinar: “Sustainable Corporate Governance Initiative - Due Diligence Principles and Practical Experience” (99.62 KB)

PDF Joint letter: Investors, asset managers and civil society organisations call MEPs to broaden the scope of the EU CSRD (158.38 KB)

PDF Recommendations on Corporate Governance in the Draft EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (208.22 KB)

PDF Civil society statement on the proposed EU CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY DUE DILIGENCE DIRECTIVE (3.16 MB)

PDF Corporate due diligence in times of armed conflict (5.33 MB)

PDF Civil society statement on the International Sustainability Standards Board (526.43 KB)

PDF Policy recommendations on Article 15 “Combating climate change” of the proposed EU CSDDD (569.57 KB)

PDF Letter to McGuinness "In defence of EU standards for corporate sustainability reporting" (2.64 MB)

PDF Joint Statement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) (146.11 KB)

PDF Overview EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (132.15 KB)

PDF Draft EU Sustainability Reporting Standards briefing: FAQs and overview of disclosure requirements (213.09 KB)

PDF Letter to President von der Leyen: Preserving the integrity and the ambition of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (1.26 MB)

PDF What is needed for an effective Directive on Sustainability Due Diligence? (108.83 KB)