Supply chains aren’t what they used to be—they’ve evolved for the better. Today, ethical supply chain management is an increasingly growing trend that’s taken the industry and world by storm. But what exactly is ethical supply chain management (ESCM)?
As the name suggests, ethical supply chain management is a concept that aims to incorporate ethics in supply chains, from raw material sourcing to production, distribution, and disposal.
Now, the term ethics is a vast concept but in this case, it refers to a code of conduct—a set of principles and standards—that guide businesses in making responsible decisions throughout the entire supply chain. These standards inform several ethical supply chain examples, such as ensuring fair labor practices, promoting environmental sustainability, preventing exploitation, and maintaining transparency.
The Growing Importance of Ethics in Global Supply Chains
Global supply chains today involve numerous processes and organizations from different regions. Therefore, the likelihood of unethical business practices increases which poses a risk to businesses’ processes and reputation due to increased consumer awareness. Today, consumers are more conscious about the products they purchase and are more likely to support businesses that align with their values, have a strong reputation, and prioritize corporate social responsibility. As such, any unethical operations in your organization’s supply chain, such as unethical sourcing can lead to the loss of customers and business revenue.
Beyond strategy, as regulatory scrutiny rises, it has become extremely crucial that supply chains adhere to government and international regulations. These regulations range from labor conditions to environmental policies, and consumer protection laws. The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (CTSCA) is a great example of a regulation affecting supply chain ethics, not just in California but beyond state borders due to the global nature of supply chains. This act requires companies to provide their consumers with transparent information about how they have taken steps to eliminate human trafficking and slavery from their supply chains, thus empowering consumers to make purchasing decisions aligned with their values.
Key Components of an Ethical Supply Chain
An ethical supply chain sounds easy to implement and achieve—and it is for the most part. However, without these components, your efforts might not reap the ethical performance you expect:
Transparency and Accountability
Transparency refers to your organization’s willingness to provide accurate and truthful information to the public, its customers, and stakeholders concerning its business processes, practices, and impacts associated with the sourcing and production of goods or services. Transparency means ensuring that you make every stage of the supply chain visible, from raw material sourcing to the delivery of the final product. It might also mean clearly labeling products with information about their origin, ethical certifications, and sustainability standards to ensure consumers make informed choices based on their values.
On the other hand, accountability refers to taking responsibility for the impact of business processes and activities on social, environmental, and ethical dimensions. It involves establishing clear standards, monitoring adherence to those standards, and taking corrective actions when necessary. To achieve accountability, you must first define clear ethical standards and policies that outline your organization’s commitment to responsible business practices. Next, your organization must be willing to acknowledge and rectify any negative consequences resulting from your supply chain practices or failure to meet your defined standards. Whether it’s addressing environmental degradation, labor exploitation, or community displacement, accountability is essential for creating a responsible and ethical business model.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Practices
Sustainable practices involve meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In supply chain management, sustainability may refer to responsible sourcing of raw materials, energy-efficient production processes, waste reduction, and focusing on social and economic well-being.
On the other hand, eco-friendly practices revolve around ensuring your supply chain processes don’t pose environmental risks. This may include incorporating supply chain processes that minimize pollution by reducing carbon emissions and adopting renewable energy sources.
The Impact of Ethical Supply Chain on Business
Implementing ethical supply chain management in your supply chain operations can have several effects on your business. Here, we discuss two major impacts:
Brand Reputation and Customer Trust
Your business’ success depends on its customers. As such, how current and prospective customers view your business is important. And with customer awareness at an all-time high, with information being readily available, you must implement ethical supply chain management.
A study established that at least 13 percent of consumers would pay more for services or products if they felt that a brand had a positive social impact. When customers can trace the journey of a product and understand the ethical considerations taken by a company, it creates a sense of trust, consequently building loyalty. Moreover, a positive reputation can turn satisfied customers into advocates for your brand by recommending it to others.
Therefore, your supply chains must prioritize ethical processes that contribute to a positive reputation such as observing human rights, environmental laws, and sustainability concerns.
Long-Term Business Sustainability and Growth
Implementing ethical supply chain management practices has a ripple effect on the overall sustainability and growth of your business in the long term.
When you work with reliable supply chain partners, you reduce the risk of disruptions associated with ethical issues in supply chain management, such as legal challenges. This ensures a continuous and reliable flow of materials and minimizes operational risks over the long term. Besides, when you have working supply chain systems and satisfied customers, your business revenue grows, an essential component for business growth and sustainability.
Moreover, ethical practices can help your business attract and retain socially responsible investors who prioritize environmental, social, and governance factors. This way, your business is guaranteed stability and financial support during periods of growth and challenges.
Increase Your Supply Chain Visibility With Surgere
Supply chain visibility is essential for organizations to achieve ethical compliance. When you can track and monitor your products, processes, and transactions as they move through the entire supply chain, it becomes easier to ensure your supply chains meet ethical standards.
With Surgere, you can harness cutting-edge technology to gain unparalleled visibility into your supply chain. Surgere’s innovative supply chain management solutions empower you with real-time tracking, end-to-end traceability, and actionable insights, by leveraging the power of AI.
Contact us today and let us help your organization not only adhere to ethical standards but proactively drive continuous improvement in your supply chain practices.
