Kathleen Evers

What sparked your interest in researching sustainability in global value chains?

Global value chains are deeply embedded in our everyday lives – yet often remain invisible to consumers, who typically only encounter the end product. Their influence on the environmental and social dynamics of the global economy are immense. Therefore, making global value chains more sustainable could have far-reaching global impacts.

My particular interest lies in exploring how sustainability in global value chains can be achieved in a not only effective but also just and equitable manner. This interest stems from both academic curiosity paired with the practical implications of the topic and a normative concerning about how legal instruments can drive meaningful change without exacerbating global inequalities.

What is the focus of your current research, and what impact do you hope it will have?

My research focuses on comparing different regulatory approaches – at the international, regional and national level – aimed at governing sustainable global value chains. This includes analyses of mandatory due diligence laws, soft-law instruments as well as free trade agreements. The goal is to develop a nuanced understanding of how legal frameworks shape the structure and behaviour of global value chains and how legal instruments on different levels interact, whether by complimenting or potentially contradicting each other.

I aim to move beyond the notion of law as merely an external regulatory, instead conceptualising it as an internal determinant that actively influences the design and operation of global value chains. Through this perspective, I hope to contribute to the development of regulatory models that effectively promote sustainability while being sensitive to global economic realities.

What do you see as the biggest knowledge gaps in sustainable global value chains?

There are several knowledge gaps that need to be addressed from different perspectives. Mandatory due diligence laws are a relatively new phenomenon that still has to be explored. Insights are needed about their implications, particularly regarding their impact on market access and national competitiveness.

From a legal standpoint, one of the most pressing gaps in my opinion is identifying which regulatory approaches (and at which level) are most effective in promoting sustainability without compromising other factors such as legitimacy and legal security. Additionally, the interaction between emerging due diligence obligations and other legal frameworks - such as international (soft) law and trade agreements - warrants further exploration. For example, while in some parts the different legal instruments might be complimenting in each other, creating synergies and effectively promoting sustainability, other legal instruments might create legal tensions due to contradictory obligations. The multilevel-system is rather complex, encompassing not only unilateral measures such as national legislation but also bilateral agreements and multilateral agreements such as the WTO agreements.

How do you hope to collaborate with others in this research network?

I look forward to collaborating by building on each other’s disciplinary perspectives to create a more holistic understanding of sustainable global value chains. Legal research benefits greatly from insights into policy dynamics and economic realities, which can inform how we assess the feasibility, legitimacy, and potential consequences of regulatory approaches. On the other hand, I would like to contribute to others’ work by offering legal analysis and helping integrate regulatory perspectives into broader frameworks.

As law is always embedded in society - shaped by political forces and with far-reaching economic effects - I hope to engage in a genuinely interdisciplinary dialogue. Ideally, this collaboration will help co-create knowledge that is both practically relevant and normatively grounded, offering meaningful guidance to policymakers, NGOs, and corporate actors striving for balanced, sustainable governance of global value chains.