Launched: Preferred by Nature Due Diligence Toolkit to support responsible sourcing
Stakeholders worldwide can now access Preferred by Nature’s open-source Due Diligence Toolkit. Developed to support responsible sourcing for forestry and agriculture products, the toolkit helps organisations align with sustainability practices and regulatory requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Today, stakeholders face increasing pressure to adopt responsible sourcing practices to tackle critical challenges such as deforestation, climate change, biodiversity loss and human rights violations. At Preferred by Nature, we understand the complexities. That's why we created this Due Diligence Toolkit – to give businesses the practical tools they need to navigate these challenges and build truly responsible supply chains for forestry and agricultural products.
Shaping and strengthening the toolkit
The toolkit is built upon the Preferred by Nature Sustainability Framework, which integrates key sustainability principles across commodities and landscapes. This framework provides a clear roadmap for achieving the Preferred by Nature Certification through a risk-based approach.
Both the framework and toolkit are aligned with the EUDR’s due diligence requirements. With this new toolkit, the previous LegalSource Due Diligence Toolkit, based on the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), is now retired.
In November 2024, we engaged public stakeholders through an open invitation to provide feedback on the toolkit. This process gathered insights from industry professionals to ensure the toolkit reflects current industry needs and challenges. The newly launched version incorporates these contributions, providing a solid base for businesses while maintaining flexibility to adapt to evolving regulatory changes, particularly those seeking to align with the EUDR.
Key features
The Due Diligence Toolkit, consisting of guidance documents, templates and sample procedures, equips organisations with resources to assess, manage and mitigate sustainability risks throughout supply chains. It focuses on creating transparency, ensuring compliance and fostering continuous improvement in sustainability efforts.
For example, a chocolate manufacturer can use the supplier questionnaires to gather data on cocoa beans’ origin, assess the risk of child labour and map their supply chain to identify potential deforestation hotspots.
The toolkit focuses on five key areas:
- System set-up: Get started by establishing a responsible sourcing policy and documented procedures for due diligence within your organisation. These tools include templates for sourcing policies and due diligence procedures.
- Information & supply chains: Access resources for onboarding suppliers, gathering essential supply chain information, and ensuring traceability. Explore templates and guides for supplier questionnaires, information collection and supply chain mapping.
- Assessing risks: Learn how to assess sustainability-related risks in your supply chains, covering a range of social and environmental topics. Tools such as supply chain risk analysis templates and deforestation risk assessment guides will support your analysis.
- Responding to risks & impacts: Understand approaches to addressing identified risks, with tools to help you manage risks through supplier verification, document evaluation and the use of certification or other assurance systems.
- Transparency & reporting: Use these template tools for public reporting and product statements to communicate your due diligence efforts effectively.
The toolkit features 24 tools, available in Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as PDF formats for better accessibility. In line with our open-source principles, it is freely available to all interested organisations. Recognising that companies of different sizes and roles require tailored solutions, the toolkit offers flexibility. Whether you're a small business or a multinational corporation, the toolkit is designed to be adaptable to your specific needs and resources.
Maintaining relevance and supporting implementation
We’re committed to ensuring this toolkit remains a valuable and relevant resource. It will continue to evolve alongside our Sustainability Framework and adapt to the latest guidance and clarifications on the EUDR.
To help businesses effectively use the toolkit, we are hosting a series of webinars. These sessions will offer insights into its features and practical applications to help make it easier for businesses to integrate the tools into their daily operations. The first webinar was held on 21 January in English, with more sessions planned in the coming weeks.
Ready to get started? The comprehensive toolkit is now available for use. Regardless of where you are in your due diligence journey – whether you're just starting or looking to refine existing practices – this toolkit offers a structured approach to responsible sourcing. Explore its resources and begin building stronger due diligence systems here: Preferred by Nature Due Diligence Toolkit
We sincerely thank all experts who have contributed to the review process. Your inputs have played a pivotal role in shaping a toolkit that reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
Visit our EUDR webpage for more information on the regulation and how we can support you. You can also learn more about our Sustainability Framework here.
Seeking further support in your responsible sourcing and due diligence obligations? Get in touch with our Sustainability Advisory Services team.
Have a question? Contact us.
