Both growers and suppliers earn stars in their engagement profile through engaging with ECIP LAB. Suppliers earn a favorable engagement profile as they better align with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices by both addressing their own management systems and supporting their growers in strengthening theirs. Grower stars are visible to their suppliers, and supplier stars are visible to their retailers. Suppliers can use the tools outlined below to grow their engagement profile and earn more stars.
Watch this short demo for a walkthrough of the ECIP engagement profile, from grower to Buyer Dashboard:
How to Improve Your Engagement Profile
Assessment Channel
To earn this star, suppliers must complete all assessment questions and confirm that their responses accurately reflect current management systems. Suppliers must also acknowledge that assessment responses remain confidential and are not shared with customers.
Learning Channel
Suppliers earn this star by creating action plans for all high-priority improvement areas and uploading at least one completed Continuous Improvement Action Plan. Suppliers must also confirm their willingness to provide non-sensitive documentation, if requested, for areas identified as strengths.
Supply Chain Engagement
This star is automatically awarded when a significant majority of a supplier’s qualified growers achieve at least two engagement stars, or the Grower Gold Star, in Grower LAB. It reflects active supplier support for grower engagement across the supply chain.
Supply Chain Scope
To earn this star, suppliers must verify and report the total number of qualified growers in their supply chain using either payment system records or food safety audit and certification documents from the past 12 months. Suppliers must also attest that the verification process was completed and agree to provide supporting documentation if requested.
Ethical Recruitment Leadership
The Supplier Gold Star is automatically awarded when a significant majority of qualified growers successfully earn the Ethical Recruitment Star in Grower LAB. This star recognizes leadership in supporting ethical recruitment practices throughout the supply chain.