Supply chains around the world have evolved from simple procurement and payment relationships to tangled, complex webs. Over 820,000 Canadians are employed in supply-chain-related activities overseeing thousands of trade transactions at every step of the line.<\/p>\n
Managing supply chains is costly<\/a>; supply chain costs are 79% of petroleum sales, 67% of vehicle sales, and aren\u2019t much lower for anyone else. Adding additional costs and considerations on top of an already-complex process can seem like just too much\u2026<\/i> but implementing a sustainable, ethical supply chain for your imports is worth it in the long run.<\/p>\n Ethical <\/i>supply chains are ones that follow guidelines for reducing and eliminating forced and underage labour, and unsafe working conditions. Sustainable <\/i>supply chains are ones that aim for reduced or net-zero carbon emissions.<\/p>\n Ethical and sustainable supply chains have a clear positive impact on the bottom line. A tightly controlled, best-in-class supply chain nets companies 50% higher sales growth!<\/p>\n The modern customer prefers to buy from brands that they know share their values<\/a>. Ethical companies are seen as more meaningful, more engaged, and more caring. Governments and companies aren\u2019t the only ones more aware than ever of ethical violations \u2014 customers are rightfully concerned that they\u2019re not buying imports produced by slave labour. Sustainability is also a winner with customers who demand more accountability from the companies supplying their goods. By implementing a sustainable\/ethical supply chain, you\u2019ll signal to customers that they can trust your imported goods.<\/p>\n A more ethical or sustainable supply chain pays for itself in more than one way. In addition to driving sales, implementing a better supply chain can cut your supply chain costs<\/a> by around nine to 16%. The reasons for this vary, but can be broken down to two key impacts:<\/p>\n Ultimately, the number one reason why you should implement a more ethical supply chain is to be a better citizen of the world \u2014 but the material benefits are undeniable.<\/p>\n There is one last reason why you should consider implementing an ethical supply chain \u2014 you might need <\/i>to. The Government of Canada is considering stricter supply chain legislation deliberation<\/a> in 2019 to combat child labour. If you\u2019ve already been rooting out unethical players and unsustainable procedures in your supply chain, it will be easier to get compliant faster if ethical supply chain laws are <\/i>passed. (Don\u2019t forget that a customs broker<\/a> can provide consulting whenever import regulations change.)<\/p>\n In addition to hypothetical laws, rules and regulations are already governing some aspects of ethical supply chain procurement. The Canadian Government has already implemented its own enhanced requirements<\/a> for importing clothing through its Acquisitions Branch, while the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has a set of Responsible Trading Guidelines that Canadian retailers can adopt.<\/p>\nThe Benefits of an Ethical Supply Chain<\/h2>\n
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Ethical Importing to Canada<\/h2>\n