IntroductionThis report examines the widening agenda of ethical sourcing using a survey of those who work in retail.
Retailers with comprehensive ethical sourcing policies in place, addressing environmental as well as labour sourcing concerns, are in the best position to cover rising production costs.
All retailers must respond now to keep up with competitors who already have a key advantage.ScopeAssesses the importance of corporate social responsibility and ethical sourcing for retailers across different sectors.
Determines where retailers' priorities should lie now and over the next five years.
Examines the forces driving ethical sourcing to date and those driving changes in the future.
Forecasts potential cost rises in the supply chain and considers how these costs could be overcome or offset.HighlightsThe scope of ethical sourcing is changing.
It now focuses on minimising the exploitation of all resources in the supply chain, not just the traditionally accepted agenda of improving labour conditions.
Environmental sourcing concerns are set to become even more important over the next five years.
Ethical sourcing is expected to increase production costs by between 5% -10%.
With consumers willing to pay a premium for a benefit that offsets guilt about other forms of environmental damage, retailers who embrace the full ethical agenda can offset increased production costs with higher price points.
An ethical sourcing policy is only as strong as its weakest link and every aspect of a retailer's ethical sourcing programme requires investment.Reasons to PurchaseEnsure your ethical sourcing policy will stand up to the changing demands of the next five years.
Prepare for the expected increases in production costs and use this information to help minimise and offset these costs.
Formulate plans to keep up with competitors, support internal planning and targets.