“The law depends on everyone going along with it”

Nicola Tanaskovic: Direction. Strengthening human rights, preventing child and forced labour and promoting fair trade – we have long been committed to this with concrete measures. Thanks to the LkSG, there is now also a legal requirement for this: it creates the same conditions for everyone because it lays down rules for the protection of people and the environment that all large companies must adhere to. This allows entire industries to develop sustainably.

Nicola Tanaskovic: From our many years of experience, we also know that in a globalised world with complex supply chains, companies unfortunately cannot develop the necessary leverage on their own. Only together with politicians, NGOs and businesses can we sustainably improve the working and living conditions of the people who work in our supply chains. We need industry-wide standards and practical solutions. It is essential to think beyond national borders in order to do justice to the international flow of goods.

Nicola Tanaskovic: As part of our policy statements, we make a public commitment to protecting human rights and environmental due diligence. At the same time, we set out our approaches to implementing the due diligence obligations in the policy statement and update the document annually. The same applies to all REWE Group subsidiaries that are independently subject to the LkSG.

In addition, we have set up a complaints system for REWE Group and its subsidiaries, which can be used to report information and complaints about potential violations of human rights and environmental obligations – anonymously if desired.

Nicola Tanaskovic: The implementation of our due diligence obligations in the Group and in the subsidiaries is coordinated by a central project team that works closely with various REWE Group departments. This is how we ensure a Group-wide strategy. Incoming complaints in accordance with LkSG criteria are processed and resolved by the coordination centre, the case managers and relevant specialist departments. I am very proud of my team and my colleagues at REWE Group, who have already achieved a lot together.

Nicola Tanaskovic: The discussion creates uncertainty for everyone involved and makes efficient resource planning more difficult. Due to REWE Group’s complex corporate structure, changes at short notice mean a lot of effort. However, we are in constant dialogue with the Public Affairs department and external experts in order to anticipate and evaluate changes.

We welcome the CSDDD in principle, but some questions remain unanswered, particularly at the interface with the CSRD. We expect that the CSDDD will only be transferred with the new government, which means that time will be lost for operational implementation.

Nicola Tanaskovic: Our employees are key players in protecting human rights and the environment in our supply chains and within the company. The law is only effective if all employees pay attention to compliance with human rights and environmental standards on a daily basis, whether for themselves, colleagues or suppliers. Everyone is trained in the Group-wide compliance training programme in order to make their contribution.
To summarise: Act in accordance with the Declaration of Principles, the Guiding Principles and Guidelines and the Code of Conduct of REWE Group. Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations and point this out to colleagues and business partners. Treat each other fairly and prevent discrimination. Report potential violations and encourage those affected to file a complaint.

Nicola Tanaskovic: The LkSG increases the requirements for our suppliers in terms of transparency and human rights issues, which presents both challenges and opportunities. In order to fulfil the legal requirements, we work closely with suppliers, even if not all of them are directly covered by the law.
Our annual risk analysis identifies and prioritises suppliers with increased risks. Based on these results and potential complaints, we develop measures that are implemented by the specialist departments, such as inviting high-risk suppliers to EcoVadis, a tool for evaluating suppliers according to various sustainability categories. These analyses and measures are reviewed and adjusted annually.

All suppliers of goods must sign the REWE Group Code of Conduct in order to guarantee human rights and environmental standards. We also offer specific LkSG training courses organised by the German Retail Association (HDE) to improve suppliers’ understanding of the legal requirements. Our aim is to strengthen long-term, sustainable supplier relationships and work together on sustainability issues.