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JUNE 2016 •
PPB
• 73
Communicating Your Code
All employees within an organization and
its factories should be aware of the company’s
code of conduct and be trained in its applica-
tion. Vendors should commit to audits and
corrective action plans as part of a sustainable
social responsibility program.
It is considered a best practice to translate
a code into local languages where factories
are located so that factory personnel under-
stand their rights and responsibilities. The
PPAI code is available in English as well as
in French Canadian, Chinese and Spanish.
Closing A Loophole Means
Stricter Enforcement
In the past, social standards on a global
scale were typically considered more of a
“nice thing to do.”While standards and prin-
ciples have been adopted over the past centu-
ry, there has rarely been much enforcement,
and the lack of laws addressing the social
irresponsibility only served to exacerbate the
problem. This is no longer the case. On
February 24, 2016, President Obama signed a
bill that prohibits the U.S. importation of
goods produced by convicts, or forced or
indentured labor. The bill closes a loophole in
the Tariff Act of 1930 that allowed goods
produced through forced labor into the U.S.
if demand exceeded domestic production.
Through the Trade Facilitation and Trade
Enforcement Act this loophole has been
closed, thus opening the door for stricter
enforcement of goods produced via forced
labor.
Tim Brown, MAS
, is PPAI’s product responsibility manager. In 2013 he brought his background in supplier relations, sourcing and vendor com-
pliance to his role at PPAI with the intent of driving member advocacy and communicating product safety issues throughout the industry. Prior
to joining PPAI, Brown was the supplier relationship manager at distributor Cintas Promotional Product, where he implemented industry-lead-
ing supplier management best practices. He has served on the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) Distributor Advocacy Council, as well as on
the board of directors for Tri-State Promotional Products Association (TSPPA) as president in 2012. He also served as a member of PPAI’s
Product Responsibility Action Group (PRAG). Brown was named a PPB Rising Star in 2012.
PRODUCT
RESPONSIBILITY