On 16 June, Enact hosted a discussion on the role of civil society in corporate accountability and sustainability due diligence, bringing together perspectives from business and civil society.
The discussion featured Mathieu Vervynckt from Swedwatch, Emil Lindblad Kernell from Ericsson and Sandra Atler from Enact, and explored a question that is becoming increasingly relevant: what happens to due diligence when the organisations documenting worker experiences, community impacts and environmental harms face growing restrictions and reduced funding?
The session set out to explore:
→ how civil society contributes to visibility, accountability and meaningful due diligence
→ how companies can approach critical findings in their value chains
→ what may be lost when independent research and civic space come under pressure
Throughout the discussion it was made clear that many of the risks companies identify today are visible because someone has documented them. Research by civil society organisations, journalists, trade unions, community groups and other independent actors has helped build the collective understanding of where severe risks to people tend to occur, across sectors, geographies and value chains.
For companies, such findings can sometimes be perceived primarily through a reputational lens. Yet the discussion highlighted another perspective: independent research can also function as an early warning system, helping companies identify and understand issues that might otherwise remain invisible.
The conversation also reflected on the role of trust and dialogue. While scrutiny and public reporting remain important tools for accountability, there was broad recognition that meaningful change often requires information to move between different actors, including companies, civil society, investors and public authorities.
Why this matters now
One issue received particular attention: the growing pressure on civil society organisations working with business and human rights. Participants discussed how reduced funding and shrinking civic space risk limiting the availability of independent information from workers, communities and rights-holders.
At a time when expectations on corporate due diligence continue to increase, this raises an important question: how can companies identify and address impacts on people if fewer actors are able to document and communicate those impacts?
While no simple answer emerged, one takeaway was clear. Effective due diligence depends not only on company systems and processes, but also on the broader ecosystem of actors that help bring risks and impacts to light.
Watch the recording
The discussion does not end with the webinar. If you would like to continue the conversation, please feel free to reach out to us.