Complexity and supply chains

August 2007

Many companies, particularly in the fashion and food retail sectors have been identifying and monitoring the social, environmental and ethical (SEE) sourcing risks in their supply chains for years.

A number have established formal management systems to identify and resolve such risks and are making laudable efforts to improve labour conditions and/or reduce environmental impact within their supply chain.

However, there is still progress to be made for companies to fully integrate the management of SEE risks into their buying processes; where work Is done it is typically on an isolated basis.

Without integration, responsible sourcing remains a silo activity, ineffective at achieving its fundamental objective, which is to reduce risk to the brand and improve SEE performance through the supply chain.