What is responsible sourcing?

Responsible sourcing, also referred to as supply chain responsibility, is a voluntary commitment by companies to take into account social and environmental considerations when managing their relationships with suppliers.

This strategy is now an integral part of effective supply chain management. Responsible sourcing practices contribute to efficiency and continuity of the supply chain in the long run.

As production chains expand, companies of all sizes and sectors are devoting more efforts to managing supply chain risks and building effective supplier relationships. Improving social and environmental performance in production chains is becoming a major element of this process.

As experience has shown, one bad incident with one supplier can lead to a disproportionate amount of adverse publicity, damaging a company's reputation and brand image. This has led a growing number of companies to develop and promote responsible sourcing practices.

Indeed, effective supply chain management is a way for businesses to build a competitive advantage, especially in sectors where production is largely outsourced, such as clothing, footwear, electronics, or food products.

For many companies, working towards improving social and environmental standards in the supply chain has become a natural extension of their commitment to corporate responsibility and, as such, forms part of their overall business model.