CSDDD obligations begin applying from July 2028, and with potential fines reaching 5% of annual turnover for non-compliance (European Commission, 2024), the window to get ready is narrower than many companies realise. For smelters, refiners, chemical companies and manufacturers whose supply chains run through some of the world’s most opaque and high-risk mineral sourcing regions, meeting the directive’s requirements demands a level of visibility that most have not yet achieved. And in a sector where cobalt prices swung by 130% in 2025 (IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook, 2026) and supply security is climbing every board agenda, the pressure to comply is competing with pressures that pull in the opposite direction.
This session gets into the operational reality of what compliance actually looks like on the ground:
- How sustainability and due diligence teams are building the systems, processes and supplier relationships needed to meet CSDDD requirements in practice
- Where the real implementation gaps are and what it takes to close them across complex, multi-tier critical minerals supply chains
- Managing competing pressures: how companies are making sourcing decisions when due diligence, cost discipline and supply security point in different directions
- What good looks like: practical examples of due diligence programmes that are delivering results beyond compliance
What to expect from this type of session...
Main stage sessions, but not as you know them. Because we’re off-the-record, leading experts can speak candidly about their experience with what works, and what doesn’t. At least half the session is dedicated to audience insights and questions to ensure we tackle the big issues head on.
