Human Rights Due Diligence

Our commitment to human rights

For RWE, respect for human rights is a fundamental component of responsible corporate management. It is our claim and goal that human rights are respected in all our group companies and supply chains.

RWE has therefore developed a systematic approach to respecting human rights and implemented the Human Rights Risk Management System (HRRMS).

The energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation. The transformation to CO₂ neutrality and the associated expansion of renewables entail many challenges, for example with regard to raw materials such as cobalt or lithium. To ensure the responsible procurement of raw materials, we also work with associations, organizations and competitors, where appropriate.

Energy Sector Dialogue (Branchendialog Energiewirtschaft)

RWE is a member of the Energy Sector Dialogue (Branchendialog Energiewirtschaft). This sector dialogue contributes significantly to the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and other European and international due diligence requirements. These sector dialogues are structured as participatory, multi-stakeholder processes.

The Energy Sector Dialogue is comprised of more than 20 members from companies, associations, trade unions, civil society organisations, initiatives, the German Institute for Human Rights and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection participate in the sector dialogue as observers.

The members of the industry dialogue collaborate to ensure that human rights are respected along global supply and value chains. They are guided by the objectives of the UN Guiding Principles. The overarching goal of the dialogues is to provide companies in the respective sectors with the support they need to implement due diligence requirements in an appropriate manner.
Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains
The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (German: Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG)) requires us to conduct effective human rights and environmental risk management. As part of this, we have published our policy statement on our human rights strategy.

In the Policy Statement on our Human Rights Strategy, we summarise our commitment to human rights. The Policy Statement forms the binding basis for the implementation of human rights standards at RWE and was adopted by the Executive Board of RWE AG. With it, we amend and concretise the requirements for compliance with human rights from our Code of Conduct.

Report on the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act 2023

Policy Statement on RWE’s Human Rights Strategy
UK Modern Slavery Act

In the UK, the UK Modern Slavery Act demands that we do everything to prevent any type of modern slavery occurring along our value chain. This includes but is not limited to forced labour and human trafficking. Our Group companies operating in the UK, RWE Supply & Trading GmbH and RWE Generation SE, issue an annual Declaration of Compliance relating to the UK Modern Slavery Act.

You can find an overview at:

Modern Slavery Act Statement
Dutch Coal Covenant

In 2014, RWE and other big energy utilities agreed with the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs on taking concrete steps to improve the coal supply chain. This was confirmed in the Dutch Coal Covenant, which was signed in 2014. With their signature, the parties committed to working together on issues related to human rights, health and safety and stakeholder management. The covenant integrates a strong commitment to the role and work of the Bettercoal initiative. Every year, the signing parties publish an action plan and a progress report. This progress report is central to the Coal Covenant’s annual stakeholder meeting held in December. It has been decided that 2019 will be the final year of the covenant.

German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) Supplier training

The purpose of the training is to provide a general overview on the subject of human rights, the legal requirements under LkSG, RWEs responsibilities and your obligation as a supplier.