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asThe International Labour
Organisation Declaration on
Fundamental Principles and
Rights at Work, have been put
in place to safeguard the rights
of workers employed within the
supply chain, in reality, labor
exploitation is practiced under
the radar in many countries. In
the UK, the Modern Slavery Act,
which was recently signed into
law, has a much wider impact that
extends beyond national borders
to tackle slavery in the UK and
help eradicate it throughout the
global supply chain.
Unethical or illegal practices
such as bribery, facilitation
payments and corruption may be
widespread practices in certain
countries and communities
operating within the supply chain,
but a refusal to pay bribes and
operate unethically or illegally
shows the integrity which is being
demonstrated among brands,
both big and small. Engaging in
such activity could have costly
consequences and may mean
getting the wrong suppliers for the
wrong reasons, not to mention a
loss of confidence in the integrity
of the company and its products.
Ensuring A
Sustainable World
Regardless of where the
corporate operation is located, the
supply chain is typically operating
within a wider environment that
is susceptible to impact caused by
that same supply chain. Examples
extend fromcarbon and other
greenhouse gas emissions to
accidental pollution, damage
to biodiversity, water, energy
and other resource usage and
efficiencies, and waste.The list
goes on.
The United Nations Global
Compact, the world’s largest
corporate sustainability
initiative, together with the
Sustainable Development Goals
that are agreed to by all the UN
countries, brings governments
and businesses together to align
strategies and operations, and
demonstrate a commitment
to sustainability. In parallel,
corporations and businesses
worldwide must consider
the impact of their activities
and take action to minimize
their effect.
In such a connected world,
businesses must step up. As
an industry, there are many
forums and meetings taking
place to raise awareness, such
as discussing how businesses
can influence their employees,
suppliers, partners and
consumers to be inclusive,
responsible and considerate.
Ultimately they can only
succeed and reach their goals
with the commitment and
real support of governments,
business leaders, responsible
corporations and businesses,
and a cohesive, ethical
and sustainable global
supply chain.
Managing Your Supply
Chain Responsibly
You need a strategic and
collaborative approach to manage
your supply chain responsibly.
Indeed, you cannot do it alone.
Collaborate internally and within
the industry to build leverage
in the supply chain and this will
create a ripple effect. These tips
will help you develop a plan:
• Take the lead, know
your supply chain.
• Understand your business
and purchasing drivers.
• Carry out initial audits,
reviews and risk assessments.
• Prioritize areas which are
of immediate concern.
• Gather information on
suppliers on identified risks.
• Develop policies and set
targets for improvement
internally and within
the supply chain.
• Build the capacity
of your people—be
inclusive and diverse.
• Integrate throughout the
purchasing process.
• Report externally
and internally.
• Stay engaged, share best
practices and back up
your claims.
Gill Thorpe, FCIPS, is CEO
and founder of distributor The
Sourcing Team in Wallington,
Surrey, UK and has been an
active supporter of the industry
for 25 years. She is a Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Purchasing
and Supply (CIPS) and a Lifetime
Fellow of the British Promotional
Merchandise Association (BPMA),
where she previously served
as chair, president and board
member. The Sourcing Team is
a leading specialist in ethical,
sustainable and compliant global
sourcing and procurement of
promotional materials, is qualified
in supply chain management
and has 28 years of expertise
in managing reputational risk.
The company is an established
member of BPMA, PSI and PPAI,
and holds green credentials which
include EcoVadis Gold CSR, CIPS
Sustainability Index Rating-Gold,
AB Membership of SEDEX and
signatories of The UN Global
Compact. Contact Thorpe at
gillthorpe@sourcing.co.uk.
Regardless
of where the
corporate
operation is
located, the
supply chain
is typically
operating
within a wider
environment that
is susceptible to
impact caused
by that same
supply chain.
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