Corporate duty of vigilance on sustainability law

The nature of the due diligence obligations must be assessed in a way that is proportional to the company's leverage towards its business partners. Big corporations have the financial and logistical means to map risks and exercise leverage over their business partners throughout their entire value chain, and should therefore be held to an obligation of result. On the other hand, small companies lack the financial means to generate positive change through their value chain, and should therefore only be held to an obligation of means.

• All companies would be covered under the proposal, regardless of employees number and annual turnover.

• Where multiple companies have contributed to an adverse impact, they shall be jointly and severally responsible for damages