PPB July 2015

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many of our clients’ campaigns are distrib-
uted around the world. There are different
requirements in different markets and this is
a critical part of our role in protecting brand
reputation.
For example, California’s Proposition 65
states: “No person in the course of doing
business shall knowingly and intentionally
expose any individual to a chemical known to
the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxi-
city without first giving clear and responsible
warning …” Businesses need to get on top of
this to understand their position and protect
themselves and their clients.
In the U.S., PPAI has been extremely
proactive in educating its members, insist-
ing they complete specific training in order
to exhibit at its trade shows, and to adver-
tise and sponsor events; bold, but brilliant
in my view!
We all need to carefully vet the expert-
ise of our supply partners as well. How
knowledgeable are they in product safety,
and can they demonstrate how they manage
this process? If procurement asks these
questions it sends a powerful message
throughout the market and in itself will
make a difference toward compliance being
achieved.
The complexities of the modern world—
managing supply chain risk from fraud, mod-
ern slavery, political unrest, product compli-
ance—certainly bring many challenges to
today’s procurement professionals. Any posi-
tive actions that improve responsible procure-
ment practices definitely get my vote.
Next time you look to negotiate on price
alone, think about the true cost to the organi-
zation, brand or client.
JULY 2015 • PPB • 67
Gill Thorpe, FCIPS, CEO of UK-
based distributor The Sourcing
Team Ltd., has more than 25
years of procurement experi-
ence. In 2011 she qualified as a
Fellow to The Chartered
Institute of Procurement &
Supply, the largest and most
respected global procurement
institute with 70,000 qualified
members and 600 Fellows.
STEP UP YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Take a seat at PPAI’s Product Responsibility Summit in Bethesda,
Maryland, September 28-30 and immerse yourself in the eye-opening
issues surrounding
product safety,
responsibility and
compliance. You’ll
explore the latest
developments and
best practices taught by industry thought leaders, representatives from
product safety labs and product certification groups. Find more informa-
tion and register at
Register
Today