I joined CSR Europe just before the 2024 OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, where Drive Sustainability co-hosted a roundtable on sustainability standards.
I was truly impressed to see the room crowded and more than 30 participants from the automotive battery supply chain — representing both upstream and downstream sectors — standing for an hour and a half. This strong turnout underscored the urgent need for OEMs, suppliers, and stakeholders to collaborate on sustainability throughout the entire supply chain.
So far, this year has been another fruitful one for Drive Sustainability. The increase in requests from automotive manufacturers eager to learn about our current and upcoming tools highlights the strength of our partnerships.
As regulations rapidly evolve, Drive Sustainability is staying ahead of the curve. The fast-approaching EU Batteries Regulation (EUBR), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the EU Regulation Forced Labour Free Products will all impact the automotive supply chain.
Consequently, one of the key focuses of the partnership for 2024 gravitated around the adaptation of the current SAQ 5.0 and the development of additional modules to our reputable compliance tool ensuring due diligence requirements are reflected enabling OEMs and suppliers to be compliant.
Furthermore, in the framework of the Drive Sustainability 2030 Responsible Sourcing Strategy, last April, Drive and Drive+ embarked on a mission to Indonesia, exploring new approaches for meaningful stakeholder and supplier engagement. By tackling environmental stewardship and human rights in practice, we aim to build a responsible supply chain that balances economic growth with social and environmental responsibility. In 2025, Drive Sustainability will continue working on Nickel in Indonesia as a priority activity.
As the automotive industry continues its growth and shift towards electric vehicles, Drive Sustainability remains committed to building resilient and sustainable supply chains. We are also focused on enhancing traceability and supply chain mapping while placing collaborative engagement at the heart of our mission.
Isabelle Paulin Jardel
Drive Sustainability Director
