The RCP Toolkit
The RCP Toolkit contains practical and versatile tools that companies can use to improve the human rights and environmental performance of their contracts and, by extension, their supply chains.
Model Contract Clauses
Sector-agnostic and sector-specific model contract clauses that can be readily selected, edited, adapted, and integrated into supply contracts.
Explainers & Implementation Guidance
Guidance on the how, what, and why of Responsible Contracting adapted for different stakeholders and supply chains.
Policy & Legal Briefs
RCP's analyses of legislative developments and relevant requirements with respect to commercial contracts, as well as legal opinions and analysis.
Amicus Brief (2024)
Smart Apparel (U.S.) Inc. v. Nordstrom, Inc.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Codes of Conduct & Responsible Purchasing Practices
Templates and guidance for developing codes of conduct that adopt a shared-responsibility approach for buyers and suppliers. These tools have been developed by RCP's partners and other like-minded organizations.
How to Use the Tools:
Step 1
The RCP Toolkit model clauses are designed to be used in conjunction with a “master agreement” or “framework agreement” under which individual purchase orders are issued. The master or framework agreement is assumed to include all commercial terms, including remedies, while the SMCs are devoted to human rights due diligence (HRDD)-related obligations and remedies.
Step 2
Rather than copying and pasting the model clauses into the contract, users should (1) select the clauses they want to include in the contract and (2) edit and adapt them to suit their needs and specific circumstances.
Step 3
The Codes of Conduct (CoCs) – the supplier code and the buyer code – can be added as schedules or appendices to the master agreement. When added to the master agreement, the CoCs become binding on the parties.
Step 4
While users can choose which clauses to include in their contracts, RCP strongly recommends including SMC 1 on Shared Responsibility to Carry Out Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence as that clause centers HRDD and ties in with many of the other SMCs. SMC 2 sets the HRDD stage and weaves a common HRDD thread across the clauses.
Step 5
Please refer to the Framing Memo for further instructions on how to incorporate the SCMs into contracts.
Step 6
RCP will also be providing some drafting guidance to guide users on how to select clauses, as well as on how to make decisions concerning the various wording options offered in the SMCs using square brackets ([…]/[…]).
Upcoming Events
Mar. 25, 2026 — RCP Director Sarah Dadush will participate in a WorldCC Foundation-hosted webinar “Contracts that Create Sustainable Outcomes: Advancing Responsible & Inclusive Contracting." The discussion is moderated by the WorldCC Foundation's Nikki Mackay and also features Anne Ketola (Tampere University; Jargonfree Project) and Becky Annison (The Chancery Lane Project). View details.
In Collaboration with
