What are the key criteria for evaluating the environmental and social responsibility of suppliers?

When evaluating the environmental & social responsibility of suppliers,the first & most fundamental criterion is to ensure that suppliers comply with relevant laws & regulations concerning human rights, labor standards, business ethics,environmental protection, & safety.This includes upholding ethical standards,rejecting unfair competition,corruption,bribery, & conflicts of interest. Suppliers must act in accordance with legal requirements, implement environmental legislation, reduce pollution,monitor noise levels,promote waste reduction & recycling, manage chemical products responsibly,& reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Additionally, suppliers must ensure the safety of their products &services & comply with laws regarding conflict minerals,

1) Check supplier's compliance to their country environmental standards, labor rights, health and safety, anti-corruption and human rights. 2) Check if the supplier has clear policies and procedures related to environmental and social responsibility (i.e. waste reduction, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions). 3) Measure suppliers' performance on implementing environmental and social goals (i.e. carbon footprint, water consumption, recycling rate, social contribution, employee satisfaction). 4) Review supplier's improvement plans, targets, milestones, achievements, and their response to complaints and challenges. 5) Assess how your supplier collaborate with you to enhance their environmental and social responsibility.

Ao avaliar fornecedores, o primeiro passo essencial é garantir que eles estejam em conformidade com as leis e regulamentos aplicáveis nas regiões onde operam. Isso inclui o cumprimento de normas ambientais, direitos trabalhistas, saúde e segurança, anticorrupção e direitos humanos. Para verificar a conformidade, você pode solicitar certificados, realizar auditorias, e pedir relatórios ou outras formas de comprovação. Além disso, existem ferramentas e plataformas de terceiros que oferecem monitoramento e avaliação da conformidade dos fornecedores em várias dimensões, facilitando esse processo de verificação.

1) Supply Chain Traceability: The ability to trace the origin of materials and ensure ethical sourcing. 2) Sustainability Practices: Assessing the supplier’s commitment to sustainable sourcing, waste management, and energy efficiency. 3) Environmental Certifications: Checking for certifications such as ISO 14001, FSC, or LEED that indicate adherence to environmental standards. 4) Carbon Footprint: Evaluating the supplier’s emissions and initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint. 5) Pollution Control: Understanding the measures taken to minimize air, water, and soil pollution. 6) Labor Practices: Ensuring fair labor practices, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and the prohibition of child labor.

One thing that I have found helpful is to look beyond basic compliance and evaluate suppliers' commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. For example: Do they have policies, codes of conduct, or management systems focused on environmental protection, worker health/safety, fair labor practices, etc.? Are they measuring, reporting on, and setting goals to reduce their carbon emissions, waste generation, water usage? Do they engage positively with external stakeholders such as local communities, NGOs, or auditors to continually improve? Do they cascade standards onto their suppliers and subcontractors? Suppliers that go beyond check-the-box compliance often have leading sustainability programs that can benefit your supply chain.

When assessing suppliers for environmental and social responsibility, it is crucial to scrutinize their policies and procedures to ensure a robust commitment to sustainability. These policies should encompass a wide range of areas, including environmental management, waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, social impact, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, employee welfare, and effective communication with stakeholders. By examining the depth and clarity of these policies, companies can gauge the extent of their suppliers' dedication to environmental and social responsibility.

One thing that I have found helpful is to not just look at suppliers' policies, but also how they are implemented. A few questions I ask: Who in the supplier organization is responsible for oversight and implementation of these policies? Is there dedicated staff? Can the supplier demonstrate how these policies translate into tangible programs and targets at their sites? What mechanisms does the supplier have to monitor compliance with standards in their own operations and supply chains? How are violations addressed? Does the supplier engage with external groups such as NGOs, communities, or expert auditors to get outside perspectives and validate their initiatives?

Muitos fornecedores negligenciam as politicas. As consideram um "cliche". As politicas são a base das normas, procedimentos e regulamentos das empresas. Não podem ser omitidas.

When appraising suppliers for their environmental and social commitments, the third pivotal criterion revolves around gauging the efficacy of their policy implementation and the attainment of set sustainability objectives. This evaluation necessitates a meticulous examination of performance metrics such as carbon footprint, water usage, waste generation, recycling rates, renewable energy adoption, social initiatives, employee contentment, and client feedback. Companies can acquire this data through regular performance assessments, scorecards, on-site evaluations, or surveys to ascertain the tangible outcomes of suppliers' sustainability endeavors in practice.

The evaluation of suppliers for environmental and social responsibility includes a crucial criterion focused on assessing how effectively suppliers continuously enhance their environmental and social performance while addressing any existing gaps or issues. This process involves fostering a culture of learning and innovation within supplier organizations, establishing robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, feedback, and action. By reviewing suppliers' improvement plans, milestones, achievements, and responses to challenges, companies can ensure that their suppliers are proactive in refining their sustainability practices and adapting to evolving environmental and social standards to drive positive change.

Collaboration in enhancing environmental and social responsibility involves companies working together to address complex challenges like climate change and resource depletion. Successful collaborations require a shared purpose, trust, and a focus on systemic issues. Companies are increasingly engaging with external stakeholders to drive progress, recognizing the power of deeper collaboration. Effective collaborations create shared value, treat ecosystems holistically, and involve diverse stakeholders like academia, government, and civil society. Notable examples include partnerships like the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Action to Accelerate Recycling, demonstrating the impact of collaborative efforts on sustainability,

One helpful thing is to connect with suppliers collaboratively around emerging sustainability issues that stand to impact both our operations. For example, climate change presents risks but also opportunities for new partnerships, technologies, and ways of doing business. Rather than just monitoring suppliers' progress retrospectively, I engage them proactively as partners in addressing shared challenges. This drives more open, constructive dialogue and often unlocks their expertise and creativity. Suppliers closer in outlook tend to cooperate more in accelerating progress, co-innovation, value sharing, and competitive differentiation based on responsibility practices. I find tapping into suppliers' forward-thinking mentality

I once visited a potential new supplier of electronic components. On paper and presentation, they seemed highly compliant and advanced with certifications to multiple international standards for quality, environment, health & safety, and social responsibility. However, when I toured their facility, I noticed safety issues on their shop floor that gave me pause. Workers lacked basic protective gear while handling machinery and chemicals. The supplier quickly made excuses that this part of the facility was undergoing maintenance. This on-the-ground observation highlighted gaps between documentation and actual practices - and clues that audits and certificates may not tell the whole story.

Temos que ter cuidado com a publicidade. Uma vez avaliamos uma empresa de call center que tinha todas as licenças, politicas e procediementos. Pela matriz de riscos do cliente era nota 10 porém o serviço incluia a recepção e tratamento de dados pessoais dos clientes da empresa compradora. O fornecedor não possui nehum unico processo orbigatório pela lei de proteção de dados pessoais. Basicamente eles tinhamum aclausula contratual que dizia que cumpriam com a lei porém não cumpriam. Sempre reforço a importância da categoria. Ela nos diz como devemos agir na avaliação.