CSR Press Release

NEW YORK, NY. - March 23th, 2009 - Intertek Sustainability Solutions (ISS), global provider of sustainability advisory services and ethical supply chain management tools, announces the release of Ethical Sourcing Report – Europe 2008 – Volume II, featuring in-depth articles on the latest sustainability and ethical sourcing innovations companies are now implementing. The report surveys the new, technologically-advanced and highly collaborative programs and platforms aimed at various stakeholders across a broad spectrum of industry sectors.

A number of the thought leader insights and solutions covered in the report came to light at Intertek Sustainability Solutions’ Ethical Sourcing Forum, convened in Paris last October. Report coverage investigates the pros and cons of the various solutions offered in the context of shifting stakeholder demands and urgent new priorities – such as the accelerating competition for the hearts and minds of ethically-conscious consumer!

Among the solutions assessed in The Ethical Sourcing Report 2008:

• A method for combating code proliferation and audit fatigue offers promise, but will the planned ‘harmonization’ have the hoped-for impact?


• A new, ambitious ethical sourcing scheme – one that is inclusionary and provides incentives for continuous improvement – sounds promising…but are the equally ambitious goals being targeted achievable?


• An online shopping platform that arms consumers with information needed to make ethical purchases while at the same time providing companies with new opportunities for competitive advantage suggests that technology is playing a big role in driving ethical sourcing forward. Will consumers be empowered or intimidated by all this new information?


• A collaborative program with the power to advance the cause of carbon labeling is now gaining traction. Again technology is a key driver as the science of calculating a given product’s carbon footprint becomes more exact; but will this new information fit on a small label?


• A simple database gathering environmental information is transforming the consciousness of an entire industry – proving once again that information access is half the battle when it comes to responsible corporate behavior. The other half of the battle? Getting suppliers to agree to share the information.

Ethical Sourcing Report Vol. II zeroes in on (potentially) ground-breaking and actionable CSR solutions. While a big-picture understanding of sustainability issues is a key focus, the report also delves into the incremental details that can influence success or failure; in addition to analysis, articles feature call-outs outlining pragmatic action steps.

Ethical Sourcing Report's feature interview is with Sean Ansett, someone who, as former global partnerships director at Gap Inc. and as founder of At Stake Advisors in Madrid, has seen enough to have a very good take on what's in the offing for CSR and ethical sourcing. He gives Ethical Sourcing Report the benefit of his overview of the industry's 'state of play,' as well as insight on the various practical steps that companies can take now in anticipation of bigger moves they will soon be called upon to make as regulations tighten and consumer involvement gathers steam.

In introducing its latest report giving new perspective to the Ethical Sourcing debate, Intertek Sustainability Solutions President Andre Raghu commented:



"As facilitators of the international Ethical Sourcing Forums over the past eight years, we are very familiar with the nature of the challenges facing organizations attempting to take their ethical sourcing efforts to a new level. We like to think this latest edition of Ethical Sourcing Report will be useful in helping those interested in sourcing ethically navigate the exciting yet challenging path forward."

Intertek Sustainability Solutions', upcoming Ethical Sourcing Forum event (March 26-27th at the South Street Seaport's Bridgewaters will also feature a two-hour Evening Cocktails event "Meet the Sustainability Innovators," at which the report will be launched and made available to Forum delegates and reception-only participants. CSRWire will be co-hosting this session on the evening March 26th (5:30-8 p.m.).



To REGISTER for the Ethical Sourcing Forum / North America or to RSVP for the "Meet the Sustainability Innovators CSR industry cocktail event, please call Intertek Sustainability Solution's New York offices: 212.803.5300


About Intertek Sustainability Solutions (ISS)


Intertek Sustainability Solutions (ISS) works with businesses to seamlessly integrate CSR and Sustainability with their brand and operations. We are proficient in delivering solutions dealing with immediate environmental and social concerns, but our ultimate value for clients has proved to be our ability to develop a portfolio of initiatives (such as stakeholder engagement programmes and ethical supply chain management tools) that align social and environmental performance with business imperatives for maximum Return on Sustainability Investment (RSI). 

For more information, please call ISS New York offices: +01.212.803.5300 (main)

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