Kumi Newsletter – October 2024
As the nights get longer in Berlin, our work supporting the European Commission in developing the Implementation Guidelines for the EU Batteries Regulation is coming to an end.
Through this extensive process, including a recent consultation session including over 100 stakeholders from industry, government and civil society, we have delved into the technicalities of the Regulation as well as helped define how it should be implemented.
Our resident specialist, Alex Graf will be on the panel for our webinar on how to navigate and prepare for the EU Batteries Regulation due diligence obligations, which companies must implement by August 2025.
In this webinar, we will be alongside our partner Circulor, the leading supply chain traceability provider, to discuss in detail the management systems and due diligence actions that companies will need to undertake to identify, assess and respond appropriately to social and environmental risks in battery supply chains. Read more on this in our ‘Events’ section below.
Beyond batteries, the world of responsible due diligence and responsible sourcing continues to evolve but some issues remain stubbornly constant. Here, we’re thinking of the continued use of social compliance audits in sectors ranging from fashion to automotives to retail, which, time and time again have proven themselves to be ineffective in solving complex supply chain issues yet remain a key tool used by companies.
We believe audits can be used, but they should be used judiciously. Further, in high-risk contexts, their use should be relegated to the back foot until other risk assessment and management efforts should be used.
We also have an insight from Ethan, on what do when mining clashes with heritage. He has shared his insights on this fairly common phenomenon and how different interests can be reconciled when this occurs. In the first part of this series, he talks about identifying and assessing risks, to prevention, mitigation, and remediation. A key factor here, and in all efforts to be a responsible business, is stakeholder engagement which must begin even before actions occur.
Finally, we also have another must-read, from Mariana and Fiona, who have shared their knowledge on what it means to be female in the world of mine-site assessments. Despite efforts to increase female representation from companies and industry initiatives such as Women in Mining, women in the sector remain under-represented and this is exacerbated even more so upstream.
However, it’s not all bad though (and in fact a lot is good!), as they encourage change and ensure more women will join the sector (and men will change their behaviours!).
Luke Smitham
Senior Manager
Below the surface: female perspectives on responsible business in the mining industry
“Many reports and news stories about mining, particularly artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), tend to rightly focus on negative aspects like child labour, poor working conditions and accidents. However, my first experience at this site was quite different.”
Mining and heritage: reconciling interests
This second part of the insight series looks beyond the industry-level actions available to downstream buyers and explores how upstream supply chain actors can manage risks to heritage on the ground. Below are some risk identification and management approaches that mining companies can employ, depending on a project’s context and the phase of its mining life cycle.
The key developments this month: 1. Volkswagen’s Human Rights Volkswagen wanted to prove that its controversial factory in Xinjiang is free of forced labor. But the audit the company ordered to demonstrate that fact is full of methodological shortcomings and was performed by a dubious law firm. 2. Saudi Arabia: Migrant workers at Carrefour Migrant workers contracted to sites in Saudi Arabia franchised by French retail giant Carrefour were deceived by recruitment agents, made to work excessive hours, denied days off and cheated of their earnings, said Amnesty International. |
Date: Thursday 14th November 2024
Time: 3 PM – 4 PM (BST)
Join Kumi and Circulor for an essential webinar on how to navigate and prepare for the EU Batteries Regulation due diligence obligations, to which companies must implement by August 2025.
In this webinar, Kumi and Circulor, the leading supply chain traceability provider, will discuss in detail:
– Key concepts and principles of due diligence in battery supply chains,
– Scope and expectations set by the Batteries Regulation, especially for Economic Operators who will face the legal compliance obligations, and
– Practical implementation to ensure companies are working in adherence with the Regulation.
Gain unique, practical insights from the authors of the Due Diligence Implementation Guidelines and experienced due diligence and supply chain management professionals to help you prepare for the Batteries Regulation and build effective compliance and risk mitigation controls in your company.