Diagenesis Consulting is able to provide a support to organisations on their ethical and responsible sourcing journey – thereby minimising the risk of large-scale PR disasters such as the horse-meat scandal that impacted on a large well known Supermarket.
Many Clients are seeking reassurance that the supply chains they are associated with are managed and that risk has been minimised. To this end and to demonstrate their credibility many forward thinking organisations have already achieved Certification to BES 6001 – a recognised standard for ‘Responsible Sourcing’ or perhaps have also become members of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). Entry level investment to both of these schemes may be beyond the reach of some organisations.
Responsible and ethical sourcing of products is about manufacturers, suppliers and customers taking responsibility for the working conditions of the people who make the products they make, sell, buy and use. While important, it is more than just about making sure that workers are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. Furthermore, clients and companies in the UK and throughout the EU member states are increasingly seeking information on origins of the products they procure and use on construction projects.
Schemes offering to certify the ‘Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products’ tend to provide a holistic approach to managing a product from the point at which component materials are mined or harvested, through manufacture and processing. It is demonstrated through an ethos of supply chain management and product stewardship and encompasses social, economic and environmental dimensions.
Responsible sourcing of construction products addresses aspects such as;
- stakeholder engagement,
- labour practices and,
- the management of supply chains serving materials sectors upstream of the manufacturer.
The stone industry is at the forefront of exposure to the issue of responsible and ethical sourcing as many products are purchased from abroad – often from those areas where it is known that these challenges will exist e.g. China and India.
However, many smaller organisations have struggled largely through size (and available finance) rather than desire to try to tackle this challenge.