Clause libraries and model clauses

Several projects and organisations provide free resources to help you draft, select or adapt sustainability clauses for contracts:

The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP) provides a free, open-source library of climate-aligned contract clauses accompanied by practical guides and playbooks designed to help embed climate considerations into commercial contracts.

The Responsible Contracting Project (RCP) offers a toolkit with model contract clauses, explainers, and tools aligned with the UNGPs and the OECD Guidelines. Resources cover different sectors and geographic locations. Examples of model contractual clauses include

The European Model Clauses (EMCs), drafted by the European Working Group composed primarily of European legal experts from practice and academia. The EMCs are designed to align with the CSDDD.
The Model Contract Clauses to Protect Workers in International Supply Chains (MCCs) 2.0 that were developed by a Working Group of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section. The model clauses are intended for buyers located in the United States.

WorldCC Foundation Sustainability Clause Library is a collaborative, open-source resource that brings together sustainability clauses from a range of initiatives and contributors. While the clauses vary in style and origin, the library promotes approaches that aim to be:

Plain: Written in direct, accessible language
Well-designed: Structured logically with clear formatting
Usable: Relevant to its purpose and easy to integrate
Relational: Framed with the right audience in mind

Some initiatives also provide model Codes of Conduct that organisations may reference in their contracts. Model sustainability requirements for use in public procurement criteria and tender specifications are also available:

The European Commission’s Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria offer ready-to-use environmental requirements for public tenders. They can be incorporated into tender specifications and carried through into contracts.

The European Commission is expected to publish guidance on model clauses supporting the implementation of the CSDDD. According to Article 18 and Recital 66 of the Directive, such guidance should facilitate a clear allocation of tasks between contracting parties and support ongoing cooperation.

Key take-aways (Module II) next page