PPB June 2016

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70 • PPB • JUNE 2016 THINK
PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY
One of the first things you’ll want to do
is to adopt a code of conduct. A code is the
cornerstone of any responsible sourcing pro-
gram as it identifies an organization’s guiding
principles and is a tangible presentation of
what you are doing to meet the expectations
of the end buyer for product safety, social
and environmental assurances. It is a docu-
ment a supplier can hand to a distributor,
and a distributor can share with an end buyer
as a public statement of the organization’s
values and ethics. Many end buyers, particu-
larly larger businesses, have already adopted
their own codes and often look for their
business partners to adopt their code as well.
A well-written code of conduct lays out
the standards by which the organization will
evaluate factories and trading partners. It
serves as a statement of principles of compli-
ance with the laws, standards and regulations
of the United States and the regions around
the globe in which the organization conducts
business.
While there are no specific laws that
require a code of conduct, adoption of a code
gives buyers an extra level of confidence
when doing business with a vendor which
communicates its code in some fashion—for
example, posting the code on its website,
sharing it in the catalog or providing it to
clients with quotations.
The Meaning Behind The Components Of
A Code Of Conduct
While codes of conduct can vary, the
actual components or principles of a code
were established to ensure “decent and
humane working conditions” across the globe
by addressing labor standards as defined pri-
marily by the United Nations (UN), through
the International Labour Organization
(ILO), a specialized agency of the UN.
For simplicity, PPAI has created a volun-
tary industry code of conduct and recom-
mends that all members—suppliers, distribu-
tors and business services companies—adopt
it. More than 1,170 of the largest and most
well-respected companies in the industry
have already done so. View the full list at
under the Inside
A CODE GIVES YOUR CLIENTS AN EXTRA BOOST OF CONFIDENCE
TO BUY FROM YOU. By Tim Brown, MAS
MAYBE YOU HAVE READ articles on product safety, participated
in responsible sourcing education, completed PPAI’s Product Safety
Aware program or attended a PPAI Product Responsibility Summit. In
these and other ways your eyes have most likely been opened to the
reality of the risks you now face as a supplier or distributor of promo-
tional products. Now you find yourself asking, “Where do I start?” or
“What’s the next step?”
Why All The
Fuss About A
Code of
Conduct?