Launched: Ethical Supplier Questionnaire for independent retailers
Wednesday 15th October
A great deal of CSR activity in Europe focuses on the needs of multinationals (with deep pockets) - leaving an affordability gap for small and medium sized businesses, so here's a questionnaire we've produced for independent clothing retailers, to enable them to monitor their suppliers more effectively, and ensure their supply chains are as ethical as possible.
This questionnaire was originally produced with clothing retailers in mind, though much of it can be utilized by other sectors and types of business.
We retain the copyright. If you would like to use this questionnaire free of charge, please contact us today.
Independent Retailer – Supplier Questionnaire
Social and Environmental Performance
Date:
Company Name:
Company HQ Address:
Company Non-HQ Address(es):
Company Registration Number(s):
Limited by Guarantee / PLC / Partnership / Sole Trader? (delete as applicable)
Is your company part of a group of companies?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details:
Please detail the product(s)/service(s) your company provides:
A. SOCIAL PERFORMANCE
(1) Does your company monitor and manage its social performance by running SA8000 / ETI or similar certified schemes and monitoring programmes, or through other formal procedures?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your position and complete the ILO Conventions Checker supplementary questionnaire on page 16:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(2) Does your company actively monitor and evaluate the social performance of its suppliers on an ongoing basis?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details, including information about certified schemes and formal monitoring procedures, if they are used – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation. Please specify whether you are monitoring performance internally and/or through third party verification.
(3) Are your company’s suppliers monitoring their own social performances by running SA8000 / ETI schemes, or similar schemes and monitoring programmes?
YES
NO
Some
If YES, please provide details where possible – If NO or some, please explain your company’s position:
If YES or some, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(4) Does your company communicate its social commitments, responsibilities and performance to its suppliers?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details, including info about how and when – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(5) Does your company oppose the use of sweatshops? (see appendix for definition)
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(6) Does your company always pay workers at least the legal national minimum wage?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position.
Please detail the relevant national minimum wages that apply to your company’s site(s):
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(7) Has your company implemented a living wage policy (a living wage is a wage sufficient to meet the basic needs of personnel, and provide some discretionary income – see appendix for further info)?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details including information on how the living wage is calculated. If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(8) Are normal (not overtime) working hours, within your company, always less than (or equal to) the national legal maximum or in any event less than 48 hours per week?
YES
NO
If YES, how is this monitored or enforced? If NO, please explain your company’s position. Please also detail any seasonal peaks in working hours:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(9) Is all overtime work within your company (in excess of normal working hours) always paid at a higher rate than normal work?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(10) Does your company support local organisations and community groups and schemes? E.g. through financial donations, staff community work, etc.
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(11) Does your company support national and international charities, and other organisations, that work to improve the welfare of others?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(12) Has your company produced a CSR or social performance policy?
YES
NO
If YES, please e-mail the policy to [retailer info] – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(13) Please include additional ‘Social Performance’ information below:
B. HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE
(1) Does your company comply with all health and safety laws?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(2) Has your company undertaken a health and safety risk assessment for all activities?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details and date – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(3) Do you run a certified Health and Safety management scheme? (OHSAS 18001, etc.)
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(4) Please provide additional ‘Health and Safety Performance’ Information below:
C. ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
(1) Has your company produced an environmental policy?
YES
NO
If YES, please e-mail your latest policy to [retailer e-mail] – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(2) Is your company committed to a process of continual environmental improvement?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details. If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(3) Does your company monitor and manage its environmental performance by running an externally certified environmental management system at its HQ – such as EMAS, ISO14001, Green Dragon and Acorn certified systems?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – if NO, please explain your company’s position:
E.g. Certification Body, Standard, Approval Date, etc.
(4) Does your company run externally certified environmental management systems at any other company sites?
YES
NO
NOT APPLICABLE
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
E.g. Certification Body, Standard, Approval Date, are all company sites covered? etc.
(5) Does your company use externally set targets in its environmental management programme?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
E.g. One Planet Living Targets / Government-Set Carbon Reduction Targets.
(6) Are your company’s main suppliers running externally certified environmental management systems?
YES
NO
Some
If YES or Some, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
E.g. Certification Body, Standard, Approval Date, etc.
(7) Does your company actively monitor and evaluate the environmental performance of its suppliers?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(8) Does your company communicate its environmental commitments, responsibilities and performance to its suppliers?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – including info about how and when – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please provide evidence together with information on implementation.
(9) Does your company use products derived from GM crops?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(10) Does your company use products derived from organically produced crops?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(11) Does your company Eco-Label any of its products?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
If YES, please include info on whether ISO 14001 guidelines followed.
(12) Does your company, and its suppliers, minimize the use of / ban the use of any substances that are harmful to the environment and/or human health (e.g. Phthalates, PVC, etc.)?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(13) Does your company reduce, reuse and recycle waste, and encourage the reuse and recycling of products sold to your customers, including the packaging?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
(14) Does your company integrate principles of sustainable design into its buildings and/or products?
YES
NO
If YES, please provide further details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
15) Please provide additional ‘Environmental Performance’ information below:
D. QUALITY ISSUES
(1) Does your company run any quality management systems? (UKAS, etc.)
YES
NO
If YES, please provide details – If NO, please explain your company’s position:
E.g. Certification Body, Standard, Approval Date, etc.
(2) Please provide additional ‘Quality Issues’ information below:
Thank you for completing this questionnaire. Please finish off by completing the information below:
Name:
Position:
Signature:
Date:
If you have any general feedback, please include this here:
This survey has been approved by Your details
-Tel: Your phone number
-E-mail: Your e-mail
Please complete and return this form to Your company name
If you require any clarification, please phone Your contact info
FOR RETAILER TO COMPLETE
Corporate Critic Information:
ON SYSTEM?
YES
NO
If YES, score =
APPENDIX
Sweatshop definitions and additional information:
• http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alandear/glossary/s.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweatshop
• http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sweatshop
• http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweatshop
• http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org
Living Wage definition and additional information:
http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/background/rights/living-wages
http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/background/glossary
‘Living Wage. Where the earnings from a standard working week are sufficient to meet the basic needs of workers and their dependents, and to provide some discretionary income. Distinguished from both the minimum wage and prevailing industry wage.’ – Labour Behind The Label
- If answer A1 is NO, please complete this supplementary supplier questionnaire:*
ILO CONVENTIONS CHECKER
(1) Does your company allow freedom of association?
As defined in the ILO Conventions:
-Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
-Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
Please state YES or NO and provide further details. If YES, how do you ensure that this right is implemented and what external verification can you offer?
(2) Has your company abolished the use of forced labour?
As defined in the ILO conventions:
-Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
-Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Please state YES or NO and provide further details. If YES, how do you ensure that this has been implemented and what external verification can you offer?
(3) Does your company support equality in the workplace?
As defined in the ILO Conventions:
-Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
-Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
Please state YES or NO and provide further details. If YES, how do ensure that this has been implemented and what external verification can you offer?
(4) Has your company abolished the use of child labour
As defined in the ILO conventions:
-Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
-Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
Please state YES or NO and provide further details. If YES, how do ensure that this has been implemented and what external verification can you offer?