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Ethical sourcing: a contribution to sustainability or a diversion?

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  • Mick Blowfield

    (Natural Resources Institute, UK)

Abstract

There is a plethora of codes of practice emerging to help business manage and communicate social and environmental performance, particularly the relationship with suppliers in developing countries. These codes lie at the heart of ethical trading or ethical sourcing, and often tackle issues central to sustainable business. However, there are often separate codes addressing social and environmental criteria, and no real coherence in either their development or implementation. Consequently, the contribution of ethical sourcing to the sustainable business agenda is open to question. This paper, drawing on the work in developing countries of the Natural Resources and Ethical Trade programme as well as others in the field, examines the reasons behind the divergence in social and environmental codes of practice (see note). It explores the contribution ethical sourcing has made to increasing business responsibility, but argues that greater cohesion between social and environmental standards is necessary if this approach to value chain management is to help achieve sustainable business goals. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mick Blowfield, 2000. "Ethical sourcing: a contribution to sustainability or a diversion?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 8(4), pages 191-200.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:8:y:2000:i:4:p:191-200
    DOI: 10.1002/1099-1719(200011)8:4<191::AID-SD146>3.0.CO;2-E
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    Cited by:

    1. Seongtae Kim & Claudia Colicchia & David Menachof, 2018. "Ethical Sourcing: An Analysis of the Literature and Implications for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(4), pages 1033-1052, November.
    2. Philippe Gugler & Jacylyn Shi, 2009. "Corporate Social Responsibility for Developing Country Multinational Corporations: Lost War in Pertaining Global Competitiveness?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 87(1), pages 3-24, April.
    3. Sabrina Lechler & Angelo Canzaniello & Anton Wetzstein & Evi Hartmann, 2020. "Influence of different stakeholders on first-tier suppliers’ sustainable supplier selection: insights from a multiple case study in the automotive first-tier industry," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(2), pages 425-454, July.
    4. Turlough F. Guerin, 2020. "Perceptions of supplier impacts on sustainable development in the mining and minerals sector: a survey analysing opportunities and barriers from an Australian perspective," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 33(3), pages 375-388, October.
    5. Guerin, Turlough F., 2021. "Tactical problems with strategic consequences: A case study of how petroleum hydrocarbon suppliers support compliance and reduce risks in the minerals sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Goebel, Philipp & Reuter, Carsten & Pibernik, Richard & Sichtmann, Christina, 2012. "The influence of ethical culture on supplier selection in the context of sustainable sourcing," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 7-17.

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