Supply Chain Act: 210,000 signatures handed over

More than 210,000 people have signed our petition for a strong supply chain law. Together, we are sending a clear message: children and the environment must not fall victim to the profit-driven logic of global supply chains.

The Supply Chain Act protects children worldwide from exploitation. It has been in effect in Germany since 2023, followed by the EU directive in 2024. However, the new German government plans to weaken the law, and at the EU level, interest groups are attempting to water down the EU directive.

On October 8th, together with the Supply Chain Act Initiative, we presented our petition "Save the Supply Chain Act" to Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. This sends a strong signal: children and the environment must not fall victim to the profit logic of global supply chains.

Why this is important

Exploitative child labor is present in many everyday products: food, cosmetics, clothing, electronics, and more. The EU Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD) obliges companies to take responsibility for their entire supply chain. It is a key instrument against exploitative child labor and environmental destruction and particularly protects the health of children in countries of the Global South.

outlook

The petition is closed, but our commitment continues. The draft law to amend the Supply Chain Act will be introduced to the Bundestag in the coming weeks. At the EU level, the so-called Omnibus Proposal, which proposes significant weakening of the EU Supply Chain Directive, is currently being discussed. A crucial vote by the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled for October 13.

Together with the Supply Chain Act initiative, numerous companies and scientists, we continue to put pressure on the government to create a strong German supply chain law that protects children and the environment.