With RSCI initiative, VDA wins German Award for sustainability projects in the supply chain category

The VDA-founded Responsible Supply Chain Initiative (RSCI) e. V. wins the "German Awards for Sustainability Projects 2022" in the Supply Chain category. The prize is awarded jointly by the news channel ntv, the DUP UNTERNEHMER magazine and the German Institute for Service Quality. Patron of the award is Brigitte Zypries, former federal minister.

"We are delighted that our initiative has been awarded the German Sustainability Prize and would like to thank all the founding members involved for their good development work. The RSCI will continue to develop, grow and in the future be an increasingly important tool for fulfilling corporate due diligence within the automotive industry", explains Frank Rehder, Chairman of the RSCI.

"The award is an acknowledgement of this important future project and at the same time motivation and mandate to further establish and expand the RSCI as an important component in fulfilling corporate due diligence and legal requirements. I would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and I am happy to be part of this outstanding project," states VDA Managing Director Andreas Rade.

"Companies have a responsibility towards the environment and people - all over the world. In order to ensure more environmental and occupational safety and to promote sustainability, the RSCI e. V. is of central importance. We are sure that the association will soon welcome many more members," says Rade.

The focus of the association's work is the review and further development of the sustainability of companies in their supply chains by means of on-site assessments and corresponding follow-up. With a specially developed program targeted on this, effort, costs and ultimately the results can be shared, thus avoiding multiple audits. This way it offers added value for the client and the audited company. The aim is to create basic transparency about working conditions, which is why corresponding tests are also carried out directly at the production site. The program promotes supplier development and contributes to the further development and continuous improvement of sustainability.

The program further supports companies in implementing the requirements of customers, legislators and stakeholders and thus also contributes to the implementation of companies' human rights due diligence.

The jointly developed content and processes are implemented with an experienced program provider from the field of social auditing. The operational phase is currently underway, in which the founding members carry out the first risk-based pilot audits. More information can be found here.