Our experts share in-depth analyses and practical classifications on EUDR, CSRD, HinSchG, CSDDD and sustainability.
The obligations that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) imposes on your company depend primarily on your role in the supply chain. The operator submits a comprehensive due diligence statement, while downstream operators and traders essentially only document suppliers and customers. For large and medium-sized companies, this requirement takes effect on December 30, 2026. This article explains how to accurately determine your role, even in borderline cases such as private-label imports or customs brokerage.
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What does EmpCo stand for? The acronym refers to Directive (EU) 2024/825, which will become mandatory in Germany through the UWG as of September 27, 2026. It is more than just a stricter greenwashing directive: it includes new disclosure requirements, stricter standards for labels and certifications, and—for the first time—explicitly named prohibitions such as cherry-picking and planned obsolescence.
Hardly any EU regulation has been postponed as often as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). That is precisely what has become the problem. In many companies, the attitude has crept in that “there will just be another postponement.” Anyone who bases their preparations on this assumption runs a risk shortly before December 30, 2026, that can no longer be mitigated. This article debunks the five most dangerous misconceptions surrounding the 2026 EUDR postponement, in a level-headed, fact-based manner, and explains why sitting back and doing nothing would be the most costly mistake right now.
Starting December 30, 2026, companies must demonstrate that their wood, cocoa, coffee, and other products are deforestation-free. Most EUDR projects fail not because of the software, but because of the implementation process. This guide explains what EUDR software must be able to do, how to choose the right solution, and how to successfully implement it in five steps.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires precise geodata for every cultivated area. The real problem, however, doesn’t start with data collection, but with verification: Suppliers send coordinates as Excel lists, GPS exports, or shapefiles, with varying quality and often without any reference to the actual shipment. Anyone who checks hundreds or thousands of plots manually is bound to overlook errors that later block the due diligence declaration. In this article, we’ll show how lawcode’s EUDR software automatically imports and validates geodata, cross-checks it against deforestation data, and documents it for the due diligence declaration.
The Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) sustainably strengthens transparency and integrity in companies. It protects individuals who uncover wrongdoing or illegal practices in the course of their professional activities. A central element of whistleblower protection that is relevant for employers is the reversal of the burden of proof under Section 36 HinSchG. This regulation completely reverses the usual principle in employment law: In the event of a dispute, it is no longer the employee who has to prove that a disadvantage is attributable to their report; instead, the employer must prove that a personnel measure was in no way connected to the report. For companies, this means Seamless documentation, clean processes and a strict organizational separation between the reporting office and personnel decisions are now a legal requirement.
Centralized or decentralized reporting office? Implementing the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) in a way that conserves resources is a strategic challenge for corporate groups. The question of whether a centralized solution at the parent company is sufficient or whether each subsidiary must operate its own system often leads to legal uncertainty in practice. The reason for this is the sometimes contradictory signals between the requirements of the EU Commission and the pragmatic approach of the German legislator. This guide provides clarity. We examine the group privilege, assess the legal risks and offer practical solutions for structuring your whistleblowing system throughout the group in a legally secure, data protection-compliant and efficient manner.
The documentation requirements of the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) pose tangible questions for companies: What must actually be recorded, in what form and for how long can or should reports be kept? § Section 11 of the Whistleblower Protection Act provides clear answers to these questions. Those who know the requirements not only protect the identity of whistleblowers, but also avoid fines of up to 50,000 euros. This article summarizes the most important obligations in a practical way.
Buying a company, investing or entering into a partnership - such decisions harbor great opportunities, but also considerable risks. Due diligence is a structured look behind the scenes: it uncovers hidden risks, reveals potential and creates the basis for legally compliant decisions. In this article, you will find out what types there are, how the due diligence process works and how companies can not only minimize risks but also gain strategic advantages.
The obligation to set up an internal reporting office poses organizational challenges for many companies. Since the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) came into force, companies with 50 or more employees are legally obliged to do so. Those who ignore this obligation risk fines. This guide shows in seven structured steps how a legally compliant whistleblower system can be set up in a company, including all legal deadlines, requirements and strategic tips.
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