The landscape of DD actors

In recent years, due diligence (DD) has increasingly become a priority on the EU policy agenda. It views due diligence as crucial to its economic and sustainability goals, where companies operating within its jurisdiction must show how they identify, prevent, and mitigate actual or potential environmental, human rights or governance risks within their own operations and that of their supply chains. Within its broader political strategy for economic resilience, sustainability, and global competitiveness, the EU views due diligence both as a tool and an outcome: a means to secure critical raw material supply for strategic industries, and an end in itself to foster responsible sourcing and reduce social and environmental harm globally (DiliCHANCE Grant Agreement, 2024).

Over the years of due diligence development in the EU, there have been deployed numerous instruments to cover the complexity of due diligence and responsible business conduct. However, companies often find the regulatory landscape fragmented and face difficulties understanding and navigating it. Thus, many EU companies struggle with due diligence implementation in adequate and cost-effective and impactful ways.