What is Ethical Trading?

Ethical trading – or ethical sourcing – means that a company takes responsibility for the labour and human rights practices within its supply chain.

Ethical trade became a growing issue during the 1990s as companies with global supply chains, particular in the clothing and food sectors, came under increasing pressure to ensure decent working conditions.

Find out more about ethical trade at the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Website

Ethical Trading Audits

A number of the major retailers, including Tesco, are now making it their responsibility to ensure that ethical trading is an integral part of their business. Their aim is to work with suppliers to uphold labour standards in the supply chain.  This is done through a process of monitoring and assessment, hence the need for ethical trading audits to measure a supplier’s performance against the ETI Base Code.

Verner Wheelock Associates is one of a handful of third-party audit companies that conducts these ethical assessments in the UK, and we are included on the current Tesco Recognised Ethical Audit Company List.

Sedex

Following your audit we can upload your report onto the Sedex system and then work with you to manage the verification of corrective actions for any non-conformances, and ensure implementation. By becoming a member of Sedex it is possible for your data to be shared with all your major customers through this web-based system.

Visit www.sedex.org.uk for more information.

Training Courses and Consultancy

We can also provide training courses to help you improve your knowledge and understanding of Ethical Trading.

Our forthcoming dates are as follows: 

• Introduction to the Ethical Trading Initiative - 21 March 2011

Click here for more information and dates

We can also help you with specific issues such as:

• audit preparation/pre-audit evaluations
• how to audit your labour providers
• integration of and communication between different workers groups e.g. permanent and temporary workers or UK and foreign nationals

Clients

We can help you access funding for training. Contact us NOW!

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