Responsible business conduct isn’t some big mystery, but it does require structure, commitment and consistency. The OECD’s six-step framework offers a clear roadmap to help companies turn good intentions into real action.
This quick guide sums it up in six simple steps: Say it. Find it. Fix it. Check it. Share it. Own it. Each step builds on the last, helping you move from policy to practice, and from words to impact.
Step 1: Say it – make your engagement official
Before you rush into action, put your good intentions in writing. That means a clear policy that says “we respect people and the planet, and here’s how”.
Then make sure your supplier code of conduct, contracts, and internal procedures actually match what you’re promising. Use the big frameworks (OECD Guidelines, UNGPs, ILO Conventions, Paris Agreement) to align your policies and commitments.
The goal: everyone in your company should know what “responsible business” means for your business.
Step 2: Find it – spot and prioritize your biggest risks
Understanding where risks may occur is the foundation for responsible decision-making. Start by mapping your operations and value chain: who’s involved, where materials come from, and where potential harm to people or the environment could occur. Consider both social and environmental dimensions such as impacts on workers, communities, land, water, and emissions.
Once you have the full picture, assess and prioritize the risks. Focus your attention on the most severe impacts and those you can realistically influence.
Step 3: Fix it – turn insight into action
Now it’s time to move from words to action. Use what you’ve learned about your risks to prevent, reduce, or stop negative impacts. Do basic due diligence on new suppliers before signing any contracts, and keep checking in on the ones you already work with. Make sure they’ve understood and committed to your code of conduct, and that they actually live up to it.
Internal guidance should clarify how to handle problems when they arise: who decides what, when to step in, when to escalate, and when to end a business relationship.
Step 4: Check it – follow up and keep improving
Due diligence isn’t something you do once and tick off a list – it’s an ongoing process. Keep track of how your actions are working and whether they actually make a difference.
Set up routines for regular check-ins, audits, or sample testing of supplier assessments. Don’t just look at individual assessments, also ask whether your policies, targets, and guidance still make sense and deliver results. Use what you learn to improve over time.
Step 5: Share it – talk about what you’re doing, and why it matters
Communicating your efforts to manage impacts builds trust with customers, employees, investors and communities alike. Make sure to communicate clearly, both internally and externally, how you identify and manage risks, what actions you’re taking, and how it’s going. Your sustainability report is a good place to share this information, but you can also use your website, supplier briefings, or stakeholder meetings.
Step 6: Own it – take responsibility when things go wrong
Even the best systems can fail, what truly matters is how you respond. If people or the environment have been harmed, take responsibility and make it right. That could mean compensation, an apology, or concrete corrective action. Make sure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, and that the process is flexible enough to respond to different types of harm. Responsible business isn’t about getting everything right from day one, it’s about learning, adjusting and getting better step by step.
Start simple. But start now.
Due diligence is not paperwork. It is strategy. The OECD’s six steps are a discipline for better decisions, a cycle of learning, prioritisation, and continuous improvement that sharpens both your sustainability performance and your competitive edge.
At 2050, we guide companies through the entire process: from identifying where the greatest risks and impacts are, to designing the governance, routines, and tools that make responsible business conduct work in real operations, not just on paper. We help you see the full picture: from raw materials and production to logistics, use, and end-of-life.
Whether you need support with a single step or want to build a comprehensive process for risk management and accountability, we can help you move forward. The aim is simple: focus on what matters most, when it matters – and turn responsibility into measurable, lasting business value.
Feel free to reach out to one of our experts!
Leila El-Sherif Wollheim
Senior Consultant at 2050
Lina Wing
Consultant at 2050