IPC International Inc.
09/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2024 08:14
IPC Webinar Unpacks EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive for Electronics Industry
By Diana Radovan, IPC Sustainability Policy Director
Last week, IPC, ITI, and the Anthesis Group partnered to host an informative one-hour webinar aimed to demystify the complexities of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) for the electronics manufacturing industry.
Event description
The event offered valuable insights into the legal obligations introduced by the directive, which requires manufacturers to ensure their global value chains respect human rights and adhere to environmental standards. Industry expertise, provided by three representatives from Anthesis, discussed the scope, applicability, and objectives of the CSDDD, providing guidance on how companies can implement good governance practices and mitigate risks. Attendees learned practical steps for conducting due diligence, ensuring compliance with the directive, and managing risks related to human rights, environmental impacts, and corporate governance. With the directive also empowering victims of corporate abuse to pursue legal action within EU Member States, the webinar emphasized the importance of proactive measures to protect businesses from potential litigation while advancing sustainability across the supply chain.
Poll results
The webinar included several poll questions to get an understanding of participants' needs and expectations. The poll revealed that half of the audience that attended the webinar wanted to get a general understanding of the CSDDD when asked: Q1 - What do you most hope to achieve from attending this webinar? The remaining half wanted to know what they needed to do for their company to comply with the CSDDD (one third of participants); whether their company was within the scope of the CSDDD; or what their customers or suppliers needed to know from them in order to comply.
In alignment with this result, 40% admitted to not knowing much about CSDDD when asked: Q2 - Does CSDDD apply to your organization? The remaining 60% were either not aware of whether the CSDDD applied to their organization, were aware that it may apply but did not know to what extent, were aware that it applied directly, or thought it may apply indirectly. Although many of these policies have their origin in Europe, their impact is a global one, as they will, sooner rather than later, influence your entire value chain. In short, your business will be impacted by these policies no matter where you operate. Therefore, it is crucial to understand their requirements in detail and IPC will continue to help you navigate this complex landscape.
When asked: Q3 - In addition to this knowledge share webinar, how can we support you in your CSDDD journey?, one third of poll participants requested the publication of written guidance of specific CSDDD compliance aspects (e.g. value chain mapping, impact assessment, etc.). Other possible answers were: more webinars, in-person peer networking events to share lessons learned, or all of these. Almost the entire remaining two thirds selected all of these.
Access to information and next steps
The webinar poll results and the Q&A session at the end revealed a strong need for continuous learning and dialogue across the industry on emerging and still new sustainability policies. One interesting, yet brief discussion (which IPC may follow up on through educational activities in 2025), focused on overlapping areas and differences between the CSDDD and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
With all of the above in mind, IPC will partner up with Anthesis and ITI for a webinar on the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and DPP (Digital Product Passport) on October 30. Register for the webinar.
If you have further questions on sustainability policy priorities for the electronics industry and upcoming IPC webinars, in-person networking opportunities, implementation guidelines, or white papers on such policies, get in touch with me at [email protected].