Following the lead of the United Nations, many countries, including Germany, have expanded the demands made on companies in recent years, especially with regard to the impact of corporate activities on sustainable development and along the entire global value chain. In addition, customers, investors, non-governmental organisations and not least company employees seek comprehensive insights into companies, their global business activities and their effects on people and nature...

These developments heighten the demand that companies should take responsibility for their compliance with globally recognised human rights, labour, social, environmental and anti-corruption standards – both within and beyond the boundaries of their own business – and to provide transparency in this respect. This demand expressly includes upstream process steps...

This requires examining their entire value chain very closely, in particular their own supply chain, with the involvement of their suppliers and employees. This Guide is aimed especially at medium-sized companies. It gives an overview of the most important foundations, enables them to launch the process and provides instructions for setting up and expanding sustainable supply chain management step by step...