Cleaning Up Your Supply Chain

The Seven C’s of Ethical Sourcing.

A range of tools to assess the level of code compliance of companies and suppliers.

Best practices across industries for auditing and management.

These organizations exist as resources for buyers and suppliers, as well as nongovernmental organizations and labor unions, to share and manage complex data on supply chains, as well as to foster alliances across industries.

London-based affiliation of corporations as well as trade unions and nongovernmental organiziations. Dominated by British companies such as retailers the Body Shop, Burberry and Marks & Spencer, but also includes U.S. retailers Gap and Men’s Wearhouse, as well as nongovernmental organizations such as Oxfam International and CARE.

The association grew out of the Apparel Industry Partnership in the 1990s to address sweatshop conditions in the clothing industry. It has a high level of transparency because it publishes the results of audits on its website. Most members are apparel companies such as Nike Inc., Puma and H&M, though its newest member is Apple Inc.

This program provides a service for more-sustainable supply chains in the form of reference tools that describe best practices. Members of the organization include Adidas, Best Buy Co., Dole Food Co., Hasbro Inc., Starbucks Corp., Timberland Co., Walt Disney Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

This not-for-profit offers an electronic system for buyers to manage information about the practices of their suppliers, and for suppliers to share data about themselves with multiple buyers. Based in Britain, its roster is heavy with large multinationals and food processors such as Cargill, Grupo Danone and Molson Coors Brewing Co.

This nongovernmental organization established an international standard, SA8000, to measure and improve “social performance.” Members include retailers Eileen Fisher and Gucci, and manufacturers General Mills Inc., and Hewlett-Packard Co.

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) Organization for the apparel and footwear industries.

Umbrella organization for the toy industry.

Sourcing monitor for the electronics industry.