Certifiable

4Pulling Back the Curtain: The Basics of Standard‐Setting and Auditing to Increase Transparency

“The single most important ingredient in the recipe for success is transparency because transparency builds trust.”

—Denise Morrison, former President & CEO of the Campbell Soup Company

Now that we've introduced the various actors involved in getting product to market, let's focus our attention on one team in particular: responsible sourcing. How can one team have eyes and ears in multiple countries at once, especially if they have to deal with dozens, if not hundreds, of factories and producers in each? In this chapter, we will explore one of the key solutions to this problem: systems of standard‐setting and the auditing processes that increase transparency throughout the supply chain. We will also look at how brands can communicate their commitment to this process to their customers through the use of certifications and product seals.

Who Is the Responsible Sourcing Team?

Responsible sourcing teams are typically composed of multiple individuals (or, in some cases, smaller teams) who manage different product categories or specialize in a specific area of compliance (e.g. environmental impacts, social impacts, or government regulations). In most cases, larger firms will have larger teams, but that is not always true. In fact, the size of the team can be a quick way to gauge a company's commitment and investment into their responsible practices. Responsible sourcing teams will ...