Do you need guidance? Become a member of IEH!
Would you like to know more about membership of IEH? Or perhaps you would like to arrange a non-binding meeting? Please contact us.
As a member of IEH- Ethcial Trading Initiative Norway, you have access to advice and guidance, and a range of resources and tools in addition to those available on our open pages. IEH is an arena for network-building, and a meeting forum. IEH also offers courses and seminars, and capacity-building for your suppliers.Read more about the benefits of being a member in IEH.
How to proceed:
- Establish key performance indicators
- Document progress and challenges
- Communicate results and challenges
1. Establish key performance indicators
In order to measure your performance in ethical trade, you must break down your objectives into activities that can be measured. The table below shows examples of how this can be done. This applies both to the company’s objectives regarding ethical trade and to the specific improvement measures that are implemented by the suppliers.
2. Document progress and challenges
Once you have decided how to measure your progress, the next step is to document the results. In addition to audit reports and corrective action plans, you should document your own activities by writing down what you do, keeping lists and taking photos. This is very important. An increasing number of companies find that their customers are not content with general assurances that the company has ethical trade on its agenda. You are in fact expected to be able to document the way in which you and your suppliers work. If you are supplying the public sector, an increasing number of your clients will be requiring companies to provide documentation of their efforts to promote ethical trade.
3. Communicate results and challenges
A prerequisite for good communication on ethical trade is that it is based on concrete activities and results. This applies to both internal and external communication. Transparency about your results and your challenges inspires trust. Don’t give in to the temptation of guaranteeing that everything is perfect in your supply chain. If you have suppliers who guarantee that working conditions are good throughout their supply chain, this is usually a signal to be on your guard.
You can use your annual report, a separate CSR report, websites, social media, blogs, product catalogues, brochures or other channels of communication to describe your efforts to promote ethical trade. The following principles apply regardless of the channel you choose:
- Explain your company’s values and general objectives, but focus primarily on your actual activities and results.
- Describe the current situation, your concrete objectives and the status of your efforts.
- Explain how you prioritise resource allocations and the rationale for these priorities.
- Be open about the real challenges you face.
- When you publish information, make sure that the date of publication is clearly stated.
Resources - Measuring performance, reporting and communication
Below is a selection of resources and tools related tomeasuring performance, reporting and communication of your work with ethical trade. A membership in IEH gives you access to more resources and tools in addition to ongoing counseling and follow-up in your work with ethical trade.
