Ethical selling and procurement (purchasing) is now in the spotlight. Harvey Norman’s recent publicity surrounding their supposed sourcing and use of Australian native old growth forest timbers in their Chinese made furniture has drawn light on retail procurement practices.
Harvey Norman have been asked by activist groups NGO Markets for Change and GetUp.org.au to explain themselves. GetUp.org.au has even gone to the lengths of creating and distributing a viral advertisement after the Television Classification Board refused to classify the ad, concerned about potential legal action if they did so. GetUp.org.au have not been deterred and their internet advertisement has reached its nearly 600,000 members Australia-wide. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? What will be the impact? Who knows?
Whether or not GetUp or Harvey Norman are ethically and legally right in their actions, the matter of ethical procurement practices it not going to go away. More frequently people are asking questions about where goods come from, what they are made of, transportation miles, etc. Many people are demanding that businesses act more responsibly when it comes to sourcing and distributing their products.
Procurement is now fairly and squarely in the spotlight and choices surrounding sourcing and distribution activities can have a dramatic effect on a company’s brand, reputation and sales revenue.
Let’s look at another recent example of public influence; Australia’s live export cattle trade is now under intense scrutiny. Why did they let cattle go to these abattoirs? Didn’t they know about the poor work practices in play? No one can escape the net.
Whether you’re sourcing product or supplying product it’s important to acknowledge that in the blink of an eye, the stroke of a key or the post of a tweet, can have you and your practices under the microscope.
Sourcing, supply and distribution should never be simply about managing costs but also about managing consumer expectations.
Professional bodies such as The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPSA) are now rightly asking questions about how we manage and guarantee supply in an ever changing, often unpredictable and volatile world that is laced with moral causes, principles and philosophies.
The messages are clear; people want frank, measurable, transparent and ethical selling and procurement practices which discourage inhuman and immoral practices, human and environmental degradation and exploitation, excessive consumption and greed. The focus is moving towards forging legitimate business relationships which serve the environment, people, business and communities recognising that ‘we’re all in this together’.
If we are to meet current economic, environmental and social demands and expectations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, we need to engage in ethical and sustainable selling and procurement practices which support the concept of Sustainable Development as part of our business and community strategies moving forward.
So do your procurement, distribution and selling practices stand you in good stead for the future? Could you stand up to the scrutiny experienced by Harvey Norman?
Remember everybody lives by selling something.
Author: Sue Barrett, MD of www.barrett.com.au
New Article Email Notification