What are the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights — and why do they matter in 2025?

Image of flags in front of a United Nations building
“The business of business is responsibility.”

This oft-attributed motto from Milton Friedman now resonates differently. In today’s interconnected world, companies can't separate their operations from ethics. Staying compliant with laws like the Norwegian Transparency Act (åpenhetsloven) and CSDDD (The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive) requires embedding responsibility into every part of your supply chain.

The 2025 context — UNGPs at the heart of regulation

The UN Working Group on Business & Human Rights continues to promote the UNGPs (United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) around the world. Today, these principles are reflected in several binding laws:

Simply put: you can no longer pay lip service to human rights. In 2025, being compliant is non-negotiable.

Has the EU Omnibus package changed the relevance of UNGPs, and should you still care?

The short answer: Yes. The UN Guiding Principles remain the foundation, even as EU policymakers consider Omnibus simplification measures. Here's why:

While the Omnibus package may reduce regulatory requirements on paper, the UN Guiding Principles remain the global benchmark for responsible business conduct. Adhering fully to their approach remains the safest, and smartest, choice for building resilient supply chains, safeguarding reputation, and staying ahead of shifting rules.

The three pillars of the UN Guiding Principles (updated 2025)

The UNGPs remain structured around their original three pillars, each with real-world relevance today:

1. State obligation to protect human rights

Governments must create and enforce effective laws protecting human rights. The Transparency Act, with its unique right to request information, is a groundbreaking example, and the first fine has already been issued (NOK 450,000) for non-compliance.

2. Corporate responsibility to respect human rights

Companies must:

This pillar lies at the center of Transparency Act and CSDDD requirements, and is now expected from global suppliers.

3. Access to remedy

Both states and businesses must offer accessible ways for victims to raise grievances, including courts, mediation, or company-led channels. The effectiveness of these mechanisms is increasingly a focus of audits and enforcement.

What’s changed in 2025, the state of business & human rights regulation

Key developments this year include:

All signs point to increasing enforcement, deeper scrutiny, and tighter compliance expectations.

Why supply chain visibility matters now more than ever

Your ability to trace and map supply chain risks, from raw materials at Tier 3, to final distribution, is a compliance necessity.

Without a structured and risk-based approach to due diligence, businesses now risk:

How Factlines helps you operationalise UNGPs at scale

Factlines’ SRM and Chain Survey platform directly supports Pillar 2 in a compliant, efficient way:

No need for complex spreadsheets or expensive consultants, just a clear path to identify risk, act early, and prove compliance from year to year.

Take the next step, from principles to performance

If you’re seeking to align your business with the UNGPs and meet 2025 compliance demands, it's time to switch from awareness to action.

Book a demo or Request a free trial to see how Factlines can help you build a risk-aware, compliant, and resilient supply chain that meets global standard, and builds trust from inside-out.

Publisert:
November 2020
Sustainable supply chains

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