The 2021 introduction of the Farm to Fork Act into the U.S. legislative pipeline was, for many in the agri-food sector, a long-anticipated signal that supply chain traceability was about to become more than just a voluntary best practice. Though still a proposal at this stage, the Act’s underlying ambition—mandating comprehensive traceability for produce supplied […]
For all the talk about the transition to green energy, real progress is measured in projects on the ground—wind farms going up on rural hills, solar panels stretching across rooftops, new hydro stations along rivers that barely made the news. If you want to know how a country or region is moving toward renewables, you […]
Risk is the business of insurance. For centuries, underwriters have weighed the likelihood of loss—whether from fire, theft, accident, or natural disaster—to set premiums that are both fair to policyholders and financially sound for the insurer. The evolution of this process, particularly in an era of big data and complex supply chains, has made industry […]
The European Union’s Plastics Strategy, formally adopted in 2020, was ambitious from the outset. By setting out targets like the requirement for 30% recycled content in all PET bottles by 2030, the EU signaled that voluntary commitments were no longer sufficient. It was always going to be about moving the market, not merely nudging it. […]
Digital transformation is no longer just a buzzword. It’s reshaping the very structure of economies, affecting everything from GDP composition to the rhythms of everyday consumer life. Yet for all the rhetoric, measurement remains a challenge. Where does one locate “digitalization” in national statistics, and how can policymakers—or analysts—track its trajectory with any confidence? Here, […]
Japan’s efforts to manage electronic waste have always stood out for their structure and precision, but with the 2021 amendments to the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics and Electrical Appliances, a new phase began. The amendments, in effect from February 2021, made it unmistakably clear: manufacturers can no longer afford to look […]
In much of Latin America, the boundaries between formal and informal work are blurry at best. On paper, government statistics might present a tidy division, but anyone familiar with street life, microenterprise, or professional freelancing knows the reality is more tangled. For policymakers, researchers, and advocates, the question isn’t just how many people are working […]
Canada’s mining sector is no stranger to public scrutiny. But with the federal government’s 2021 ESG transparency guidelines now in effect as of 2022, metal producers face a fresh imperative: map and disclose their supply chains in far greater detail than before. These aren’t just nice-to-have disclosures anymore. They’re fast becoming the baseline for credible […]
The arrival of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) on January 1, 2022, marks a significant new chapter in the evolving relationship between corporate governance and supply chain risk management in the United States. For years, supply chain managers, compliance officers, and procurement professionals have struggled with the thorny challenge of identifying beneficial owners lurking behind […]
The adoption of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) in November 2021 represents a decisive step in redefining the responsibilities of online marketplaces, platforms, and intermediaries operating within the European Union. Set to take effect in February 2022, the DSA aims to create a safer digital environment by strengthening transparency obligations and clarifying liability for […]
If there’s a single lesson from the early months of the COVID-19 crisis, it’s that global trade can shudder to a halt almost overnight. The disruptions were felt everywhere, but the specifics—who was most exposed, which sectors rebounded fastest, and where the scars remain—are less obvious. This is where the disciplined use of ISIC codes […]
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA), enacted in December 2021, represents a significant shift in how the United States seeks to manage transparency risks tied to foreign corporate issuers. While the law’s immediate purpose is to protect investors by requiring foreign firms listed on U.S. exchanges to submit to audit inspections by the Public […]
Australia’s National Forest Industries Plan, introduced in October 2021, laid the foundation for one of the most ambitious timber traceability efforts seen in recent memory. The Plan’s provisions, calling for full digital tracking of timber origins by November 2022, reflect a growing recognition of the need to balance commercial forestry with sustainability and compliance imperatives. […]
The first round of compliance audits under the EU Regulation on Conflict Minerals, introduced at the start of 2021, has begun to reveal both the strengths and shortcomings of corporate due diligence efforts across sectors. Preliminary findings from late 2021 audits suggest that while many companies—particularly large electronics OEMs—have made meaningful strides in formalizing policies […]
If the phrase “work from home” felt almost quaint before 2020, it’s hard to imagine anyone thinking that now. During the first wave of lockdowns, telework went from experiment to necessity, often in the span of a week. And while the headlines were full of stories about Zoom meetings and digital nomads, the real shift—the […]
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law in early January of that year, introduced a suite of measures aimed at reshaping the strategic landscape for rare earth element supply chains in the United States. These provisions, perhaps overdue in the eyes of some policymakers, reflect growing concern in Washington over the nation’s longstanding […]