The Supply Chain Due Diligence Act has been in force since 1 January 2023. The law obliges companies with 3,000 or more employees in Germany to fulfill their human rights responsibilities and due diligence in their supply chains and, among others, to report on them publicly and transparently. Part of CWS’ basic understanding is that its business activities must always be guided by ethical principles.
The CWS Code of Conduct, for example, comprises a set of principles and values that express the convictions of CWS and our expectations towards our business partners. It applies to all our suppliers and other business partners and helps to verify that working conditions within the supply chain are checked regularly, that workers are respected and treated with dignity, and that our supply processes are environmentally sustainable. The CWS Code of Conduct is based on international standards, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ten principles of the UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the Core Convention of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the amfori BSCI Guidelines for Improving Social Standards in the Global Value Chain.
The CWS Code of Conduct serves to ensure compliance with corporate due diligence obligations in the supply chain. Business partners who accept the Code of Conduct are required to comply with the principles set out in this document and to fulfill their responsibilities to respect human rights within their area of influence. Any violation of the Code of Conduct must be reported and will be internally investigated. In order to jointly protect the values, CWS has established the CWS Compliance HelpLine. This hotline enables all internal and external stakeholders to report compliance violations and suspected misconduct, also anonymously, if so wished.
CWS promotes value-oriented and sustainable business: We are committed to integrity, fair conduct and compliance with legal obligations – along the entire supply chain.