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This report presents the findings of a pilot study on ESG due diligence and transparency policies and practices among a sample of 25 companies in the extractive commodity trading sector. The 25 geographically dispersed companies have significant activities in the trade of oil, gas, metals or minerals sourced from third parties, and include traditional trading companies, international oil companies, and integrated companies (involved in both production and trading). The study covers publicly-listed and private companies and state-owned enterprises.

This publication is intended for businesses, especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). It aims to demonstrate the compelling business case for eco-innovation and how it can enable companies to carve out commercially interesting opportunities.

This report explains the ‘Value-Chain Approach’ methodology and shares findings from its application to three critical sectors: food, construction and textiles.

There is no solution to the growing climate and nature crisis the world faces without a solution to deforestation. Currently, two thirds of tropical deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion to produce commodities such as soy, palm oil, timber, and beef. Over the last decade leading companies, financial institutions and governments took on ambitious commitments to address deforestation in their supply chains and financing by 2020. But by the start of 2020 – the year the problem was to have been all but resolved – even the leaders have fallen well short of their targets, and tropical primary forest loss had increased by 44% since the signing of the landmark New York Declaration on Forests, announced by the Secretary General at the UN General Assembly in 2014.

This report explores how regional trade agreements (RTAs) can serve as a vehicle to reflect environmental objectives in chapters and articles dealing with technical barriers to trade and regulatory co-operation.