Retailers Play a Critical Role in ECIP
Retailers are using ECIP to ensure alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices and to create supply chain cohesion around social responsibility efforts. Retailer commitment has been instrumental in the development and growth of ECIP from the beginning. Leaders from the highest levels of buying and compliance teams have recognized the value of ECIP and cite several key benefits, from the program’s potential to create a consistent approach for the industry to its focus on continuous improvement. They also point to its scalability, with the capacity to reach much deeper into the supply chain, at lower cost, than compliance audits.
After joining the program, retailers start their ECIP journey by educating their internal teams about the importance of ethical labor practices, inviting their suppliers to participate and encouraging suppliers to bring in their growers. Retailers gain the ability to segment suppliers based on which are putting effort, resources, and time into social responsibility and which are falling behind or needing additional resources and support.
Participating retailers have access to the Buyer Dashboard, which ranks their suppliers based on the degree of their engagement in supporting alignment with Ethical Charter principles. This allows retailers to focus their efforts and resources where they’re needed most, and recognize and reward those who are investing in social responsibility efforts.
Denise Osterhues, Senior Director of Sustainability & Social Impact for Kroger
“ECIP reflects the power of industry collaboration to advance meaningful changes for people and our planet. We’re pleased to help scale this capacity-building work that prioritizes meeting growers where they are in their journey and offering practical resources and guidance to help enhance labor practices.”
The Value of ECIP
FIELD-LEVEL SUPPLY CHAIN VISIBILITY
Most buyers audit packing and processing facilities, but not the fields where produce is harvested—and where most labor risk resides. ECIP LAB shows users which suppliers are supporting their growers to strengthen labor management systems, and which are not.
DATA
Through ECIP, retailers receive aggregated supplier data and industry-wide analysis, enabling them to identify trends and develop targeted resources to support their suppliers and growers.
INDUSTRY UNIFORMITY
Rather than developing separate, expensive proprietary assurance programs, retailers can access data from all suppliers in the system, and facilitate consistent supplier and grower reporting that saves them time and money. As more retailers participate and engage their suppliers, ECIP LAB can engage the entire produce industry.
Pricing Structure
Initial investment is built on a sliding scale, based on retailers annual sales, yearly data fee access is a flat $25,000 across the board.
Getting Started
Ready to move forward? You can reach out to support@ethicalcharterprogram.org to schedule an ECIP LAB demo, ask questions or to get started as a participating retailer.
