Interdisciplinary Research in Business, Human Rights and Sustainability

This PDW aims to advance understanding of sustainability due diligence (SDD) within the broader field of business and human rights (BHR). Hosted by Copenhagen Business School’s (CBS) interdisciplinary BHR community, it builds on prior BHR-focused PDWs at the AOM and offers a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars from law, policy, and management. The session is timely, as AOM convenes in Europe for the first time, highlighting the European Union’s (EU) pioneering role in mandatory SDD legislation, particularly through the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The CSDDD transforms international soft law into binding requirements for companies to identify, address, and remediate societal harms. This legislation stands as the most comprehensive example of its kind, influencing global regulatory trends and raising critical questions about implementation. However, tensions between legal compliance and managerial practices in operationalizing these obligations remain underexplored. The workshop will feature lightning talks by experts on key topics, including governance implications, meaningful stakeholder engagement, the intersection of corporate sustainability reporting and human rights impact assessments, and emerging good practices in SDD. A moderated discussion will follow, fostering collaborative exploration of these issues across disciplines and regions. In the second part, research development roundtables will allow participants to present ideas, receive feedback, and engage with mentors. This format encourages interdisciplinary exchange and aims to generate innovative research on aligning BHR practices with the ambitious goals of the CSDDD, while addressing critical tensions and fostering practical pathways for sustainable business transformation.