This year’s respACT CEO talk on November 7, 2024 was dedicated to the European Supply Chain Directive in Austria. High-ranking decision-makers discussed how companies can and should overcome the associated challenges: from legal compliance to a comprehensive rethinking towards a values-oriented business.
Am 7. November lud respACT for the CEO talk on the topic of “The CSDDD in Austria”. Austrian Cooperative Association (ÖGV). Decision-makers from business and science came together and discussed what sustainable business could look like along the value chain. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) of the EU presents companies with various challenges as it requires increased due diligence along the entire value chain. In Austria, this particularly affects companies that distribute their added value across multiple levels and operate in global supply chains.
Peter GiffingerCEO at Saint-Gobain in Austria and respACT President, emphasized in advance:
“While Saint-Gobain’s initiatives relating to supply chain issues were until recently mostly based on voluntary action, the CSDDD is subject to a binding legal framework. The large, international companies will have to cope with the associated bureaucratic requirements, and in this context the question of how SMEs respond to national regulations is exciting can implement.”
In the subsequent keynote speech by Stephanie Nitsch The head of the research center for environmental law at the University of Vienna outlined the value chain as a regulatory object and emphasized: “The CSDDD aims to uphold human rights and protect the environment along global value chains. It is accompanied by other legal acts that are intended to promote equally sustainable and value-oriented business. Recording the interaction of these legal acts is a central task for business practice, civil society and science.”
Under the direction of Gabriela Maria Straka (Board member and regional coordinator for Upper Austria, respACT) discussed Stephanie Nitsch, Miriam Wilhelm (Professor of Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Vienna University of Economics and Business), Andreas Ludwig (Member of the Board, Management Trust Holding AG), Thomas Buck (Managing Director & Managing Director Operations, Kelly Ges.mbH) and Marc Guido Höhne (Managing Director within the DELTA Group; ÖGNI executive board member; AREAMA advisory board) discussed key questions with the audience about the implementation of the CSDDD in Austria.
Thomas Buck summed up the tenor of the event: “Creating value, but ecologically and socially oriented”.
“The companies that see CSDDD not as a threat but as an investment in the future will be ahead of the others”
Miriam Wilhelm also predicted.
Marc Guido Höhne emphasized: “It is solely the mindset and values of each individual (company) that decides. The CS3D and all its formalisms strive for sustainable value chains, but are far from a guarantee.”
The respACT event inspired a change of perspective in business – towards more responsibility and sustainability in global supply chains. Daniela Knieling, Managing Director of respACT, emphasizes: “Sustainable business is becoming a central challenge for companies. A comprehensive rethink is necessary to bring about real, lasting change.”
About the format
The CEO-Talk is part of the respACT #ThinkTank activities with the aim of encouraging managers to exchange ideas with experts from business, science and politics. The event on November 7th, 2024 was organized through a cooperation with the BMAW supported and by the Volksbank sponsored as a premium partner.
About respACT
respACT – Austrian business council for sustainable development is Austria’s leading corporate platform on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development. The association supports its more than 450 member companies in achieving ecological and social goals economically and independently.