'Sustainable contracting', 'conscious contracting', or 'socially responsible contracting': these terms all refer to making arrangements that go beyond just the legal side. This way of contracting focuses on (sustainable) cooperation between parties and provides a good opportunity to integrate sustainability ambitions into contracts.

The European Union (EU) Green Deal that seeks to ensure that Europe is climate-neutral by 2050, and the various EU laws and policies on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) urge entrepreneurs to think and act more sustainably. This leads, among other things, to a growing interest in more conscious entrepreneurship and ESG principles that also permeate all legal aspects of a company, including contracts.

This whitepaper gives you an insight into the developments and opportunities of sustainable and conscious contracting. What does sustainable contracting entail? Why does it matter? What tools do you use to apply and implement your sustainability ambitions in your own business?