Equipping businesses in Turkiye for the future of due diligence

The problem 

As international and national regulations on human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) continue to evolve, many businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—struggle to keep pace.

Companies in sectors like automotive and textile-garment face growing expectations to assess risks, engage stakeholders, and report transparently. Yet, the practical tools and know-how to implement these standards are often missing.

In Türkiye, the need to align with global due diligence expectations is particularly urgent. With strong trade and investment ties to the European Union, Turkish companies are directly impacted by incoming legislation such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Recent changes under the EU Omnibus Directive have adjusted timelines, thresholds, and certain compliance requirements, giving companies more time to prepare while highlighting the importance of proactive capacity building.

At the national level, Türkiye is taking important steps through its Green Deal Action Plan, efforts to strengthen employment and labour standards, and the introduction of the Turkish Sustainability Reporting Standards (TSRS), which aim to bring local reporting practices in line with global frameworks like the ISSB and GRI.

The impact

Through this programme, around 450 professionals were equipped with the tools to embed HREDD principles into their operations and supply chains.

If you’re a Turkish company interested in accessing the training materials, you can register here.

For tailored guidance and to learn more about how we support HREDD strategy and implementation in your organisation, contact us.

Naz Akyol-Caglar
Consultant | Head of Marketing & Communications

naz@loening.org

Our approach

To help support this alignment, Löning – Human Rights & Responsible Business, in partnership with Genderscope, designed and delivered a comprehensive HREDD training programme for the Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH) Türkiye.

RBH Türkiye is a multi-stakeholder initiative aiming to strengthen the implementation of HREDD in Türkiye by providing capacity building, networking, and advisory services. With a focus on the automotive and textile-garment sectors, RBH Türkiye supports Turkish companies in understanding and meeting new due diligence expectations through training programmes, awareness-raising events, and one-on-one support.

Our training programme consisted of six interactive online modules designed to build practical knowledge and skills. Topics included:

HREDD foundations: Key concepts, legal drivers (such as CSDDD, LkSG, CSRD), and the business case for corporate sustainability

Risk identification and mapping: Tools for analysing and prioritising risks in supply chains Preventive, mitigative and remediation measures: Designing inclusive strategies to address salient risks in supply chains

Grievance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement: Building effective, rights-compatible systems with special attention to gender-based discrimination and labour rights violations in the workplace and in supply chains.

Reporting and communications: Transparent communication in line with CSRD, TSRS, and international standards

Carbon management and green transformation: Understanding climate legislation (including CBAM, EUDR, EU ETS, Eco Design Directive, SBTi, TSRS) and emissions strategies relevant for SMEs

Each session featured real-world case studies, interactive group work, and sector-specific examples relevant to the Turkish context. Activities ranged from stakeholder mapping and risk assessment to scenario-based role plays and peer-to-peer learning.