This panel will explore the intricate balance between fostering collaborative efforts among competitors in sustainability and labour-related projects and adhering to competition law constraints. A key focus will be the lawfulness of information exchange between competitors in these contexts.

As businesses increasingly pursue joint sustainability initiatives to address environmental challenges, questions arise regarding the extent to which such cooperation is permissible under competition law. The panel will examine recent case studies highlighting approved sustainability projects and, on that basis, consider practical guidelines helping to ensure that sustainability partnerships and the associated exchanges of company information comply with antitrust regulations.

In the realm of human resources (HR), companies often engage in benchmarking and other cooperative activities to improve labour practices and competitiveness. The panel will discuss the competition law implications of HR benchmarking among competitors, as well as collaborations aimed at enhancing labour conditions for self-employed and gig economy workers.