Study on corporate enforcement – analysis of the first published vigilance plans (25 April 2018)

The French law on the duty of vigilance of companies-mothers and donor companies adopted on 27 March 2017 calls on the largest French companies to establish and implement a vigilance plan to identify and prevent the risks of serious human rights violations, the health and safety of persons and the environment. This plan must be made public in the annual company management reports.  The study focuses on the first plans published as of April 13, 2018 (about 60). Its purpose is to show the first trends in the application of the French law on the duty of vigilance by the companies concerned and to identify enforcement issues for companies, in order to support them in their efforts. It was done in collaboration with the company B&L Evolution, a contributor on the environmental side.

Complete updated study (September 2018)

 
Summary of results:
- Regulatory requirements understood and being integrated into companies
- Collaborative approaches coordinated by the CSR/SD Departments
- Porting at the highest level and associating with stakeholders to organize
- Processes started in 2017, of different maturity within companies
- Plan measures to be formalised based on maps carried out or initiated in 2017; risk management responses and monitoring measures in particular 
- A priority focus today on vendor management approaches
- Human and environmental rights approaches presented as controlled
- Advanced vigilance practices: precise identification of risks, integration into existing processes, targeted responses to identified challenges.
- Transparency and detailed reporting efforts by certain companies