Understanding Responsible Procurement and Shared Responsibility

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Every purchasing decision a company makes shapes whether the people in its supply chain can work safely and with dignity. Procurement covers everything a company does to plan and manage its supplier relationships and obtain the products and services it needs: sourcing, purchasing, ordering, and payment after delivery. Responsible procurement means carrying out these activities in a way that respects human rights and the environment.

Despite mounting evidence that buyers' procurement behavior directly affects suppliers' capacity to protect human rights, responsible procurement remains one of the most overlooked levers in human rights due diligence (HRDD). This webinar series closes that gap and gives companies practical tools to strengthen their responsible procurement practices.

This is the first session in a three-part series on Responsible Procurement.

Topic Focus: 

The first webinar in the Responsible Procurement series introduces the legal obligations behind responsible purchasing. It outlines the relevant EU legal requirements and international standards, then closes by defining the shared responsibilities of buyers and suppliers in advancing HREDD. Participants will leave with a working understanding of the legal requirements on responsible procurement and how they apply to their own work.

Guiding Questions: 

• What is the role of responsible purchasing in HREDD and why is it important?
• What is the role of responsible purchasing in contributing to / jointly causing adverse impacts?
• What are the legal requirements and relevant international standards for responsible procurement in Europe (CSDDD, UTP Directive, OECD Guidance…)?
• What are the responsibilities of buyers and suppliers? What are shared responsibilities?
• How should buyers and suppliers share costs?
• What are the Do’s and Don’ts? 

Target audience: 

Procurement, Sustainable Procurement, Departments in charge of HREDD implementation 

Speaker: Michaela Streibelt, European Legal Advisor, RCP 

This webinar is organised in collaboration with the Responsible Contracting Project (RCP). 

Further Webinars in the series:  

Understanding Responsible Purchasing Practices 

Understanding Responsible Contracting