Register for the joint The Sustainable Procurement Pledge / Spend Matters webinar (20 Nov, 9am EST — 3pm CET) on ‘Empowering Procurement: Leveraging Technology to Navigate Human Rights Regulations’ – https://lnkd.in/gjiHiTMg?
Featuring Bertrand Maltaverne, Louise Herring and Victoria Folbigg.
I am very much looking forward to the panel, as I want to know if initiatives like this are losing steam.
For example, here are the poll results from a recent akirolabs webinar. Granted, it is limited to those attending the session, but the results are still notable.
Historically, human-centric incentives like Diversity have existed since the early 1950s and have experienced spikes at certain points in time fuelled by a crisis, e.g., the 1968 Detroit summer riot and the George Floyd tragedy. Unfortunately, sustaining commitment and efforts has proven to be problematic.
While the focus on human rights in the supply chain – which first came to broader attention in the 1990s was fuelled in recent years by tragedies like the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, is today’s focus sustainable, given obstacles like ineffective regulatory enforcement, the increasing complexity of global supply chains, and supplier resistance?
BERTRAND (POINT 1)
Jon W. Hansen, here are different answers to yr question(s):
1/ The short answer is… a question: “when did it become acceptable (again) to buy & use products made by “slaves”?” or “when did slavery become acceptable?”
MY RESPONSE (POINT 1)
Great insights, as always, Bertrand Maltaverne.
Let’s start with number 1: Tacit agreement takes many forms, including a lack of information or a willingness to ignore what we don’t understand (or want to understand).
Here are a couple of examples:
Iain Campbell McKenna wrote the following article, which continues to resonate today – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/silent-victims-moral-cost-electric-cars-iain-campbell-mckenna/
How do we reconcile the contradiction between clean power and child labor? What is interesting now is Elon Musk’s support of Donald Trump. How will that impact the governance and management of the electric car supply chain?
There is also the “monitoring” of the chocolate industry regarding farmers. In a segment of John Oliver’s LWT, he highlighted the lack of oversight and possible collusion between governing bodies and businesses. Yet, we still buy chocolate, even though some products with Faire Trade designation may not be warranted.
Finally, do you remember when Wish and now Teemu and similar online retail sites had workers in places like China sewing “help me” notes into clothing?
My point is that just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
We need to read John Elkington.
BERTRAND (POINT 2)
2/ The poll, to me, mixes different things: means (the how) and outcomes (the why). As you know better than most, tech (and processes) serve a purpose. The results show that the focus is on the “how” and not much on the “why.” Which is, as you also know, one of the main issue behind the many tech. implem. failures.
MY RESPONSE (POINT 2)
Bertrand Maltaverne, let’s move on to point two. By the way, each discussion point focuses on the importance of reading John Elkington Cannibals With Forks’ Triple Bottom Line book.
Over the years, I have written many posts discussing the importance of initiatives transitioning from being the “right thing to do” to being the “smart thing to do.” We need to realize that these two focus points are not mutually exclusive.
To illustrate this point, check out this post regarding a comment made by Flashfood CEO Nicholas Bertram also tagging Esther Cohn – https://bit.ly/432Qlhd
BERTRAND (POINT 3)
3/ There’s a “perfect storm”: consumer demand (to some extent, and only for consumers having enough means) AND regulatory pressure (to create a level-playing field and also complement consumer/market pressure) and procurement people are in the middle of it. So the risk, compliance, sustainability, etc. agendas are sort of merging.
MY RESPONSE (POINT 3)
Bertrand Maltaverne, your observation that “risk, compliance, sustainability, etc. agendas are sort of merging” is right on the money.
This is the reason why John Elkington‘s book is a must-read. https://www.amazon.ca/Cannibals-Forks-John-Elkington/dp/1841120847
BERTRAND (POINT 4)
4/ A last short question (looping back to 1/): how have we been doing so far? (on modern slavery and more…). Many things have improved greatly in society/economy, but we tend to forget the price we and the ones after us will pay. I think there is no harm in considering these elements into the mix and not just counting on the “invisible hand.”
MY RESPONSE (POINT 4)
Bertrand Maltaverne, let’s extend the concept beyond Scottish economist Adam Smith to include L.J. Hanifan’s “social capital.”
I often refer back to a statement by L.J. Hanifan in 1916 about his definition of social capital. Specifically, Hanifan said:
“..that in life which tends to make these tangible substances count for most in the daily lives of people: namely goodwill, fellowship, sympathy, and social intercourse among the individuals and families who make up a social unit… The individual is helpless socially, if left to himself… If he comes into contact with his neighbor, and they with other neighbors, there will be accumulation of social capital, which may immediately satisfy his social needs and which may bear a social potentiality sufficient to the substantial improvement of living conditions in the whole community. The community as a whole will benefit by the cooperation of all its parts, while the individual will find in his associations the advantages of the help, the sympathy, and the fellowship of his neighbors.”
How do Hanifan’s words from over a century ago resonate regarding these social issues?
Today’s Takeaway
Be sure to register for the joint The Sustainable Procurement Pledge / Spend Matters webinar (20 Nov, 9am EST — 3pm CET) on ‘Empowering Procurement: Leveraging Technology to Navigate Human Rights Regulations’ – https://lnkd.in/gjiHiTMg?
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Procurement Insights
A Snapchat Version of Spend Matters, The Sustainable Procurement Pledge, and Human Rights Webinar
Posted on November 15, 2024
0
Register for the joint The Sustainable Procurement Pledge / Spend Matters webinar (20 Nov, 9am EST — 3pm CET) on ‘Empowering Procurement: Leveraging Technology to Navigate Human Rights Regulations’ – https://lnkd.in/gjiHiTMg?
Featuring Bertrand Maltaverne, Louise Herring and Victoria Folbigg.
I am very much looking forward to the panel, as I want to know if initiatives like this are losing steam.
For example, here are the poll results from a recent akirolabs webinar. Granted, it is limited to those attending the session, but the results are still notable.
Historically, human-centric incentives like Diversity have existed since the early 1950s and have experienced spikes at certain points in time fuelled by a crisis, e.g., the 1968 Detroit summer riot and the George Floyd tragedy. Unfortunately, sustaining commitment and efforts has proven to be problematic.
While the focus on human rights in the supply chain – which first came to broader attention in the 1990s was fuelled in recent years by tragedies like the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, is today’s focus sustainable, given obstacles like ineffective regulatory enforcement, the increasing complexity of global supply chains, and supplier resistance?
BERTRAND (POINT 1)
Jon W. Hansen, here are different answers to yr question(s):
1/ The short answer is… a question: “when did it become acceptable (again) to buy & use products made by “slaves”?” or “when did slavery become acceptable?”
MY RESPONSE (POINT 1)
Great insights, as always, Bertrand Maltaverne.
Let’s start with number 1: Tacit agreement takes many forms, including a lack of information or a willingness to ignore what we don’t understand (or want to understand).
Here are a couple of examples:
Iain Campbell McKenna wrote the following article, which continues to resonate today – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/silent-victims-moral-cost-electric-cars-iain-campbell-mckenna/
How do we reconcile the contradiction between clean power and child labor? What is interesting now is Elon Musk’s support of Donald Trump. How will that impact the governance and management of the electric car supply chain?
There is also the “monitoring” of the chocolate industry regarding farmers. In a segment of John Oliver’s LWT, he highlighted the lack of oversight and possible collusion between governing bodies and businesses. Yet, we still buy chocolate, even though some products with Faire Trade designation may not be warranted.
Finally, do you remember when Wish and now Teemu and similar online retail sites had workers in places like China sewing “help me” notes into clothing?
My point is that just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
We need to read John Elkington.
BERTRAND (POINT 2)
2/ The poll, to me, mixes different things: means (the how) and outcomes (the why). As you know better than most, tech (and processes) serve a purpose. The results show that the focus is on the “how” and not much on the “why.” Which is, as you also know, one of the main issue behind the many tech. implem. failures.
MY RESPONSE (POINT 2)
Bertrand Maltaverne, let’s move on to point two. By the way, each discussion point focuses on the importance of reading John Elkington Cannibals With Forks’ Triple Bottom Line book.
Over the years, I have written many posts discussing the importance of initiatives transitioning from being the “right thing to do” to being the “smart thing to do.” We need to realize that these two focus points are not mutually exclusive.
To illustrate this point, check out this post regarding a comment made by Flashfood CEO Nicholas Bertram also tagging Esther Cohn – https://bit.ly/432Qlhd
BERTRAND (POINT 3)
3/ There’s a “perfect storm”: consumer demand (to some extent, and only for consumers having enough means) AND regulatory pressure (to create a level-playing field and also complement consumer/market pressure) and procurement people are in the middle of it. So the risk, compliance, sustainability, etc. agendas are sort of merging.
MY RESPONSE (POINT 3)
Bertrand Maltaverne, your observation that “risk, compliance, sustainability, etc. agendas are sort of merging” is right on the money.
This is the reason why John Elkington‘s book is a must-read. https://www.amazon.ca/Cannibals-Forks-John-Elkington/dp/1841120847
BERTRAND (POINT 4)
4/ A last short question (looping back to 1/): how have we been doing so far? (on modern slavery and more…). Many things have improved greatly in society/economy, but we tend to forget the price we and the ones after us will pay. I think there is no harm in considering these elements into the mix and not just counting on the “invisible hand.”
MY RESPONSE (POINT 4)
Bertrand Maltaverne, let’s extend the concept beyond Scottish economist Adam Smith to include L.J. Hanifan’s “social capital.”
I often refer back to a statement by L.J. Hanifan in 1916 about his definition of social capital. Specifically, Hanifan said:
“..that in life which tends to make these tangible substances count for most in the daily lives of people: namely goodwill, fellowship, sympathy, and social intercourse among the individuals and families who make up a social unit… The individual is helpless socially, if left to himself… If he comes into contact with his neighbor, and they with other neighbors, there will be accumulation of social capital, which may immediately satisfy his social needs and which may bear a social potentiality sufficient to the substantial improvement of living conditions in the whole community. The community as a whole will benefit by the cooperation of all its parts, while the individual will find in his associations the advantages of the help, the sympathy, and the fellowship of his neighbors.”
How do Hanifan’s words from over a century ago resonate regarding these social issues?
Today’s Takeaway
Be sure to register for the joint The Sustainable Procurement Pledge / Spend Matters webinar (20 Nov, 9am EST — 3pm CET) on ‘Empowering Procurement: Leveraging Technology to Navigate Human Rights Regulations’ – https://lnkd.in/gjiHiTMg?
30
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