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A participatory process is a sequence of participatory activities (e.g. first filling out a survey, then making proposals, discussing them in face-to-face or virtual meetings, and finally prioritizing them) with the aim of defining and making a decision on a specific topic.
Examples of participatory processes are: a process of electing committee members (where candidatures are first presented, then debated and finally a candidacy is chosen), participatory budgets (where proposals are made, valued economically and voted on with the money available), a strategic planning process, the collaborative drafting of a regulation or norm, the design of an urban space or the production of a public policy plan.
5 - Hold companies accountable
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About this process
Make companies accountable for the exploitation of workers and the environment
Brands operate without fear of regulation. They hide behind opaque supply chains and push risks onto suppliers while claiming a disproportionate share of the profits. Suppliers in turn push these risks onto workers and the environment. Meanwhile, workers have few avenues for redress. Transparent value chains, effective and accessible grievance mechanisms and responsible purchasing practices are part of keeping corporations accountable.
Yet, companies cannot be relied upon to change the way they operate voluntarily. Mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence, which centres the involvement of workers and access to remedy is an opportunity to prevent and redress harm done to workers and their communities, both by the climate crisis and by the transition to a low-carbon industry that protects and restores nature. Another opportunity are worker-driven legally binding and internationally enforceable agreements negotiated between unions and brands like the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry. These agreements include a key role for trade unions and are enforceable in a court of law.
What does corporate accountability mean to you?
Use this space to discuss this question.
Due dilligence laws
I was thinking whether we could make this section stronger by explicitly addressing how power asymmetries between brands and suppliers are maintained through purchasing practices? Specifically, how can due diligence laws ensure that accountability doesn’t stop at “transparency,” but actually redistr…
If you could take a fashion brand or manufacturer to court for workers' rights violations, what would you charge them with?
Companies try to shield themselves from taking responsibility for their workers. If you had the chance, what would you charge these corporate giants with? What would be most impactful?
Related processes
Reference: CCC-PART-2025-04-11