Why a strong supply chain law is essential and how it can be effectively implemented.
Annabell Brüggemann
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR),
Brot für die Welt,
Misereor
Study
2025
Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) has only been in force for two years, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSDDD) for less than one – yet both are already at risk of being significantly watered down or even repealed. The new German government, for example, announced in its coalition agreement a plan to abolish the LkSG’s reporting requirements and limit sanctions to cases of “severe human rights violations.” With regard to the EU CSDDD, it claims to want to prevent “excessive regulation.” This study shows that the LkSG is already having some initial positive effects, yet also reveals shortcomings in both its implementation and the law itself. Rather than weakening the legislation, what is needed is more effective enforcement in the interest of affected rights holders, and an ambitious revision of the law in line with the EU CSDDD – without backsliding from the current LkSG. Achieving this will require, above all, political will on the part of the German government.
