The Model Contract Clauses (MCCs) 2.0
The MCCs 2.0 are modular, editable, and adaptable model contract clauses designed for use across sectors. The clauses help companies implement human rights and environmental standards in their supply chains.
The Model Contract Clauses to Protect Workers in International Supply Chains (MCCs) 2.0 translate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct (OECD Guidance) into contractual obligations that can be included in supply contracts for the manufacturing and sale of goods. They are designed to be used across sectors. Because they are modular, businesses can choose which of the MCCs to adopt or adapt in their supply chain contracts. The RCP team can edit and modify the clauses to suit the needs of different stakeholders.
The MCCs were developed by a Working Group of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section, with generous support from the Laudes Foundation and pro bono counsel from Linklaters LLP. They were published in 2021 in The Business Lawyer Journal.
Legal Framework
Because they were prepared by a working group focused on the United States, MCCs 2.0 assume that buyers are located in the United States. However, a European Working Group is developing the European Model Clauses (EMCs) for Responsible and Sustainable Supply Chains, based on the MCCs 2.0. The EMCs Zero Draft for Consultation Version was published in July 2024, and the EMCs 1.0 are expected to be published in Fall 2025.
In general, the MCCs 2.0 do not state the human rights performance standards themselves. For the most part, substantive human rights standards and ethical purchasing practices are not contained in the MCCs 2.0 and are instead assumed to be specified in “Schedule P” and “Schedule Q” respectively. You can find an example of Schedule Q, aka, the Buyer Code, here.
Latest News
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August 25 — RCP announced a new collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Germany: a three-part webinar series on Responsible Procurement covering "Responsible Procurement and Shared Responsibility" (Oct 22), "Responsible Purchasing Practices" (Nov 11), and "Responsible Contracting" (Dec 2), with RCP Director Sarah Dadush speaking at the December session.
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August 12 — RCP submitted its response to the European Commission's public consultation on CSDDD implementation guidelines, calling for shared responsibility and human rights and environmental due diligence to be embedded in international supply contracts.
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July 22 — RCP launched its latest tool, the Responsible Contracts in the Cobalt Industry guidance, developed in collaboration with the Cobalt Institute.
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May 1 — RCP published a new analysis of the CSDDD and contracting in light of Omnibus I on the Oxford Business Law Blog: Moving Toward Shared Responsibility: How the EU’s CSDDD and Omnibus I Reimagine Contracting for Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence. Also available as a PDF.
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April 27 — RCP Director Sarah Dadush and Senior Advisor John Sherman co-authored an essay for Shift's series marking the 15th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), titled, From Social Norm to Legal Practice: Fifteen Years of Integrating the UNGPs into Business Law.
Events
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August 11 — RCP Lead European Legal Advisor Daniel Schönfelder joined "Making Sustainable Contracts Work in Practice," a WorldCC Foundation panel in the APAC Summit's virtual program, alongside Anne Ketola of Tampere University and Ro Coroneos of Praxis ESG, moderated by Gitika Makker of Nexdigm, discussing practical tools for embedding sustainability into contracts, including RCP's toolkit. Watch the recording.
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June 30 — RCP Director Sarah Dadush joined Observatoire de la Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises (ORSE) and PwC Société d'Avocats in Paris for the launch of ORSE's updated ESG regulations guide, discussing the shift from risk-transfer contracting to cooperation-based approaches reflected in the CSDDD.
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June 2 — RCP Director Sarah Dadush facilitated "Contracting for Sustainability," a workshop at the 2026 Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing, co-organized by NYU School of Law's Grunin Center and the Impact Investing Legal Working Group, drawing over 40 participants.
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May 19 — Senior Advisor Ben Rutledge spoke at the Sustainable Vanilla Initiative (SVI) General Assembly in Paris, joining industry members and value chain actors for a session on governance, procurement, and collective action in the vanilla sector.
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May 14 — Senior Advisor Ben Rutledge presented RCP's Responsible Contracting in Spice Supply Chains Guidance at the Sustainable Spices Initiative (SSI) General Assembly 2026 in Murcia, Spain, attended by nearly 100 delegates from around 50 organizations.
In Collaboration with
