Nachhaltigkeitsstandards und Vertragsrecht

The author investigates how companies based in Germany can structure sustainability standards within international supply chains in a legally effective and enforceable manner. Recognizing that human rights and environmental standards increasingly shape global trade, the study examines the contractual instruments available to integrate and operationalize such requirements. It explores the interplay between voluntary commitments and binding legal frameworks - particularly the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act ( Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, LkSG), the EU Corporate Social Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and the Forced Labour Regulation (EUFLR) - against the backdrop of German contract law and the CISG. The analysis defines what constitutes an effective sustainability standard: one that can be enforced before courts or arbitral tribunals, clearly incorporated into the contract, and endowed with sufficient normative force. The study also addresses the position of sellers, who may face asymmetrical burdens, and identifies the contractual limits necessary to protect weaker parties. By combining legal analysis with practical implications, the work contributes both to scholarly discourse and to the broader pursuit of sustainable corporate governance.