The duty of vigilance is a legal obligation established in France by the law of March 27, 2017. It requires large companies with more than 5,000 employees (or 10,000 internationally) to develop, publish and implement a vigilance plan intended to prevent serious attacks:
This obligation is not limited to the company's direct activities. It also extends to its entire value chain, including its suppliers, subcontractors, and business partners, both in France and abroad.
To ensure compliance, companies must implement a robust system for collecting and monitoring information from their partners. This involves regularly requesting a set of documentary guarantees to verify suppliers' commitments and practices.
These documents make it possible to assess the maturity of partners on ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues and to detect potential areas of non-compliance or risk.
These elements are essential to ensure that your suppliers' activities do not pose major risks to the environment or fundamental rights.
While perceived as a regulatory constraint, the duty of care can also become a competitive advantage. By increasing transparency and traceability, companies can:
The duty of care is no longer an option; it's a legal and moral obligation. Companies that proactively comply with it will not only strengthen their resilience but also their legitimacy in a rapidly changing world. Acting today means building an ethical, sustainable, and responsible value chain for tomorrow.
