“It ’ s important organisations don ’ t see certification as the main goal but rather , the change that comes from it ”
MARTIN TOWNSEND GLOBAL HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY , BSI
conventions , and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights .
Basing sustainability ratings on globally recognised standards such as these are important because , as McClintock admits “ there are thousands of ecolabels and certifications , across industries , commodities and products and countries .”
For any form of green accreditation or rating to be useful it must be credible , which is why EcoVadis is rigorous in the demands it makes on businesses who are seeking a rating .
“ During the assessment process , our sustainability analysts consider the criteria relevant to the company ’ s size , industry , and location and also take into account the information provided in the company ’ s questionnaire and any supporting documents ,” says McClintock .
He adds that participating companies must provide “ formal , recent , and credible documentation that serves as a reliable element of the company ’ s sustainability management system .”
Just 30 years ago Nike was using slave labour Such rigour is a far cry from the situation 30 years ago , when Nike was calledout for using slave labour . More recently there was the 2013 Dhaka garment factory collapse , which claimed 1,123 lives , and left 2,500 injured , many seriously . The factory manufactured garments for brands , including Benetton , Prada , Gucci , Versace , Matalan and Primark .
In the wake of these and other supply chain controversies , companies began
102 March 2022