Human rights due diligence in the supply chain
Her work focuses on issues such as human rights, occupational safety and environmental protection – and on how to forge a link between Audi and its suppliers. Through her work, Sarah Schwellinger, an expert in human rights due diligence in the supply chain, influences the relationships between the entire Brand Group Progressive and its supplier companies. It is a job that requires courage, a vision and great sense of responsibility. How does the expert keep track of over 14,000 suppliers?
At 8:00 a.m., Sarah Schwellinger starts another day full of emails and telephone calls to various suppliers of the Audi Group whose issues need clarifying. Today, she answers questions such as “What sustainability requirements do I have to fulfill as a supplier to Audi?” or “How can I, as a supplier to Audi, help to ensure that my own suppliers respect human rights?”
Sarah Schwellinger devotes several mornings each week to this important groundwork. The expert takes the time to provide detailed answers to questions and other concerns.
“Due to the large number of suppliers and subcontractors, we have to deal with a very high level of complexity on a daily basis. That’s why we first address the areas where the risks are highest,” explains Sarah Schwellinger. A few years ago, Audi set up a dedicated organizational unit within the Procurement division to keep track of everything: Sustainability Supply Chain.
“As a department and as a company, we usually have indirect influence – sometimes even direct influence – on all people involved in the supply chain, their work, lives and families. We deal with this very responsibly and want to leave a positive impact,” says Sarah Schwellinger about her work. “When we discuss suppliers with our colleagues from Purchasing, I sit at the table on behalf of these people who can’t be present.”
Focus on human rights
In 2007, while studying politics, the Mannheim native completed an internship with an agency that advised the Hessian State Chancellery on sustainability. The work ignited a passion for the topic in her. Starting in 2010, Schwellinger went on to earn a master’s degree in sustainability science. “We covered everything, really, from microplastics in the oceans all the way to legal issues.” Human rights also played a major role in her studies, as they do now in her work for Audi.
For instance, she and her colleagues apply the Sustainability Rating (S-Rating), which was introduced in 2019. The internal S-Rating is a risk-based tool used to assess defined suppliers according to fixed criteria relating to human rights, occupational health and safety and environmental requirements. To verify these points, they inspect the human rights policy and the environmental management system for suppliers, for example, or interview employees during risk-based on-site checks. A positive S-Rating is generally a key prerequisite for establishing or continuing a business relationship, subject to the applicable Group internal requirements and processes. To help our suppliers, we regularly offer training courses and training materials,” explains Schwellinger.
“I think it’s good that we are part of procurement at Audi through our work. This means we can already take human rights into account when we select our suppliers.”
Sarah Schwellinger
It is 5:00 p.m. when Sarah Schwellinger closes her laptop. All mails have been answered and all questions clarified for today. What does Sarah Schwellinger like best about her job? “I like playing a part in identifying and reducing human rights risks in the supply chain, while not losing sight of the opportunity to make a positive impact along our supply chains,” she says.