Environmental protection guards human rights! The global responsibility of German businesses. Donation project 2016

In the context of a project funded from its own resources, Oeko-Institut investigated how German companies fulfil their obligations to protect human rights also in areas outside Germany. A particular focus was on the nexus between environmental damage and human rights, since a variety of human rights violations result from damage to the environment, for example in cases when toxic substances find their way into potable water or when the excessive use of products is detrimental to human health. Within the framework of the project, three case studies relating to the major stages of the value chain were performed: the purchase, the use phase as well as the end-of-life phase. The project concluded with recommendations addressed to policy makers, companies and civil society.