Read the final statement published 3 June 2021: English
Read the follow up statement published 19 July 2022: English
On 21 October 2019, West Virginians for Sustainable Development submitted a specific instance to the Danish NCP alleging that Rockwool International A/S, a Danish multinational manufacturer of mineral wool products, did not observe the General Policies (Chapter II), Human Rights (Chapter IV), and Environment (Chapter VI) provisions of the Guidelines concerning risks related to the planning and construction of a mineral wool manufacturing facility in West Virginia, USA to the environment and public health. Specifically, the submission alleged improper involvement in local political activities, failing to engage with relevant stakeholders, and failing to provide sufficient transparency and public notice regarding project plans.
On 1 November 2019, the initial assessment was completed and the case was officially accepted on 5 December 2019 and the NCP moved to provide its good offices. Rockwool declined the invitation to enter mediation, prompting the NCP to examine the case.
On 3 June 2021 the case was concluded. The NCP determined that Rockwool had not observed the OECD Guidelines by failing to carry out risk-based due diligence in the initial phase of the manufacturing facility project. Furthermore, the NCP found that Rockwool did not sufficiently observe the OECD Guidelines’ expectations to provide meaningful opportunities for the relevant stakeholders to express their views during the planning and decision-making process of the manufacturing facility project. The following recommendations were issued:
- That Rockwool reviews its decision-making processes to ensure systematic integration of risk-based due diligence in accordance with the OECD Guidelines
- That Rockwool reviews its “Community Engagement Manual” regularly and ensures that it is adjusted as needed and implemented to accommodate the circumstances and context of specific projects.
- That Rockwool communicates publicly about its due diligence processes.
On 19 July 2022, the NCP published a follow up statement, noting the extensive work that the company had done to increase organisational knowledge and integration of risk-based due diligence as described in the Guidelines, and to draft an updated Community Engagement Manual with stakeholder input. The NCP concluded that Rockwool had sufficiently observed the NCP’s recommendations.
The NCP encourages Rockwool to continue the good efforts in integrating risk-based due diligence in the Rockwool Group by continuing to use the standards from the Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.