Title

Developing an Ethical Supply Chain

Panelists

Sarah Iles, Director of Compliance and Ethics, CDW

Jessica Martinez, Director of Product Integrity, Walgreens

Vikrant Viniak, Managing Director/Senior Partner, Accenture

Moderator

Seth Green, Founding Director, Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility, Loyola University Chicago

Takeaways

• The key reason to establish an ethical supply chain is because your stakeholders demand it, especially your customers, shareholders, and employees.
• Some of the response is due to changes in the environment and some is due to changes in the legal environment primarily coming out of the EU
• Employees are looking to work for socially responsible companies
• Some of the steps in developing an ethical supply chain
• Start with a mission and a vision
• Make sure your company has come to an internal consensus about what is okay in its supply chain. You are setting the bar ethically in a position that you as a company feel is defendable.
• Make sure all suppliers are conforming to the requirements
• Make sure your product is sustainable.
• Encourage employees to serve and contribute to society.
• Every level of the supply chain is responsible for maintaining an ethical supply chain.
• Education is key
• Explain the ultimate objective. It is important to share your common vision and to get your partners to buy into that.
• How to ensure an ethical supply chain needs to be a core topic of discussion.
• By sharing this common goal with your partners, you can build positive momentum and celebrate successes together.