Business, Human Rights and the Environment

Guests: Nicolas Bueno & Anina Dalbert

Host: Claire Bright

Coordination and editing: Gabriel Araújo

Date: June 2026

In April 2026, the Swiss Government published a counterproposal to the new Responsible Business Initiative, launched in January 2025. The proposal would introduce a Swiss mandatory due diligence framework broadly aligned with evolving EU requirements. It is now open to public consultation until the begining of July 2026.

In this episode, our Director, Claire Bright, speaks with Prof. Dr. Nicolas Bueno and Anina Dalbert of Public Eye to unpack the proposal’s key features, including the scope of companies covered, the reach of the due diligence obligations, and the enforcement mechanisms. They also discuss the role of a supervisory authority and, notably, the proposed civil liability regime.

Guests: Clara Gerard Rodriguez & Céline da Graça Pires

Host: Claire Bright

Coordination and editing: Claire Bright & Maria

Kaizeler

Date: May 2026

Summary:

What lessons can be drawn from the Yves Rocher case for the French Duty of Vigilance Law and, more broadly, for human rights due diligence?

In March 2026, the Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris delivered the long-awaited judgment in the Yves Rocher case, a landmark decision with significant implications for corporate accountability and human rights due diligence across global value chains. In this episode, our Director, Claire Bright, speaks with Clara Gerard Rodriguez, corporate accountability lawyer at the Paris Bar, and Céline da Graça Pires, BHR expert and Research Associate at NOVA BHRE, to unpack the case’s key lessons: from the characterization of the Duty of Vigilance Law as an overriding mandatory provision, to the role of risk mapping and the conditions for establishing civil liability, as well as the broader implications of the case.

Guests: Joan Carling & Monica Ndoen

Host: Malindi Assubuji

Coordination and editing: Malindi Assubuji & Maria Kaizeler

Date: April 2026

Summary: In this episode we explore the role of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in the context of extractive industries operating on Indigenous territories. The discussion examines FPIC as both a process and a collective decision grounded in the right to self-determination, highlights the challenges companies face in implementation, and addresses the power imbalances between corporations, states, and Indigenous peoples. The discussion also reflects on the risks of “tick-box” approaches, the importance of culturally appropriate engagement, and the need for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure respect for Indigenous rights.

Guests: Clara Gonzales & Annabell Brüggemann

Host: Gabriel Araújo

Coordination and editing: Gabriel Araújo & Maria Kaizeler

Date: March 2026

How do you seek justice when you are severely affected by extreme climate events, when you have lost everything, yet have contributed little or nothing to global warming? This is the question we explore in this episode.

We look at the Pakistan Climate Cost Case and the Pari Island Case, two strategic litigation initiatives supported by ECCHR. Together with our guests, we discuss how companies may be held accountable for their contribution to climate change, the challenges of linking emissions to specific harms, and recent developments in how courts are addressing transnational climate damage. We also explore the role of climate science and, more broadly, how climate litigation can contribute to advancing climate justice and strengthening corporate accountability.

Guests: Eva Meunier & Clémence Calzaroni

Host: Claire Bright

Coordination and editing: Gabriel Araújo & Maria Kaizeler

Date: March 2026

Summary:

In this episode, we explore the findings of the 2025 Study on 'CSR in the Client-Supplier Relationship: Innovation and Resilience!', conducted by ORSE, PwC France and Maghreb, and Bpifrance. Together with Clémence Calzaroni and Eva Meunier from PwC France, our Director, Claire Bright explore how companies, and particularly SMEs, are integrating social and environmental considerations into their purchasing practices, and what this means in practice for suppliers. We also discuss how buyer–supplier relationships are evolving, the challenges companies face when implementing responsible procurement, and how regulatory frameworks, including the French Duty of Vigilance law, are shaping these developments.

Guests: Daniel Schönfelder & Rishi Singh

Coordination and editing: Malindi Assubuji and Maria Kaizeler

Date: February 2026

Summary:

This episode explores lessons learned from the implementation of Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) practices in India and Germany. It examines how regulatory frameworks and voluntary standards shape corporate behaviour, compares practical challenges across different legal and economic contexts, and reflects on what effective due diligence looks like in practice. The discussion highlights key obstacles companies face, the role of local stakeholders, and the broader implications for strengthening responsible business conduct globally.

Guests: Nicola Bonucci, Katarina Nedeljkovic & Tigran Karapetya

Host: Claire Bright

Coordination and editing: Malindi Assubuji and Maria Kaizeler

Date: February 2026

Summary: This episode explores the findings of the recent Council of Europe–commissioned study Human Rights and Competitiveness: Reframing the Business Case for Human Rights. It examines the distinction between positive and negative business cases, weighs the short-term costs against the long-term value of human rights due diligence, assesses the economic risks of inaction, and considers the impact of mandatory due diligence laws, as well as the Council of Europe’s role in fostering a more sustainable and competitive business environment.

Guests: Nicola Bonucci, Katarina Nedeljkovic & Tigran Karapetya

Host: Claire Bright

Coordination and edition: Malindi Assubuji and Maria Kaizeler

Date: February 2026

Summary: This episode explores the findings of the recent Council of Europe–commissioned study Human Rights and Competitiveness: Reframing the Business Case for Human Rights. It examines the distinction between positive and negative business cases, weighs the short-term costs against the long-term value of human rights due diligence, assesses the economic risks of inaction, and considers the impact of mandatory due diligence laws, as well as the Council of Europe’s role in fostering a more sustainable and competitive business environment.

Guests: Rebecca Burton & Jim Wormington

Host: Claire Bright and Malindi Assubuji

Coordination and editing: Malindi Assubuji and Maria Kaizeler

Recorded: December 2025

In this discussion, we explore what responsible mining really looks like on the ground and what it takes to get there. Rebecca Burton and Jim Wormington share insights on the realities companies face, the role of independent standards, and why credible third-party audits matter.

Topics include:

• ​What responsible mining looks like in practice
• ​ Key obstacles companies and the industry face
• ​IRMA’s approach to responsible mining
• ​How third-party audits benefit companies and the wider sector
• ​The possible impacts of mandatory due diligence laws
• ​What gives hope for the future of responsible mining

The episode features:

🔹 Claire Bright (Founder & Director, NOVA BHRE)

🔹 Olena Uvarova, Human Rights and Rule of Law Specialist, UNDP

🔹 Yann Wyss, Global Head, Social Impact & Human Rights, Nestlé

Together, they explore key insights from the recent UNDP study “Human Rights vs. Competitiveness – A False Dilemma?”, including:

✅ What “human rights performance” really means in practice

✅ Whether evidence of a link between human rights performance and financial results matters for companies ✅ Which financial indicators show correlation between human rights and financial performance

✅ How companies interpret these findings internally

✅ Whether strong human rights performance can still coexist with financial challenges due to HRDD investmentsThis discussion offers valuable perspectives for businesses, policymakers, and all those interested in responsible and competitive corporate practice.