The Ethical Supply Chain Programme is designed to ensure that products which the NUS offers to students are sourced by the most ethically sound means possible. This is achieved by maximising the influence of consumer behaviour and NUS Service’s commercial relationships to encourage and improve ethical and environmental responsibility internationally.
Working with our suppliers, we are able to deliver added value for students and Students’ Unions through the development of strong relationships which are built on shared values.
The eight-step Ethical Supply Chain Programme ensures that our strong ethical and environmental values are embedded within our commercial relationships. The Programme comprises the following elements:
1. Sound Sourcing Guide
Our Sound Sourcing Guide outlines the standards that we expect of our suppliers, partners and their manufacturers. Included within this Guide is our Ethical Trading Statement, which provides a quick guide to NUS core values and commitments All suppliers should familiarise themselves with this Code and ensure that their suppliers also meet the standards outlined.
The Code includes a commitment to the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, as well as minimum environmental standards, such as having a regularly reviewed environmental policy.
2. Ethical Screening
Prior to entering a commercial relationship with a supplier or partner, we undertake an ethical screening to identify any allegations, convictions or boycotts relating to that organisation. This includes screening of our suppliers and NUS Extra partners.
3. Product Evaluation
When evaluating a product during the tender process, consideration is also given to any ethical or environmental impact of the product itself. For example, we prioritise products which have minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, from their manufacture to their disposal.
4. Ethical and Environmental Accreditation
As part of our tender evaluation process suppliers are assessed against a core set of criteria known as the Ethical and Environmental Accreditation. In addition to supporting our decisions about the organisations we choose to work with, the scores achieved are used to develop our Sound Ethical Choice programme (the NUS’ reward scheme for suppliers of a high ethical standard) and identify any potential areas of concern in relation to suppliers’ ability to meet our standards.
Some suppliers are also asked to complete a more detailed Sedex Self Assessment Questionnaire and undertake and submit audits through this system. For key suppliers, we will also ask for their support in collecting ethical and environmental information from their own suppliers.
Further information on the Ethical and Environmental Accreditation is available on our Ethical and Environmental Accreditation page.
5. Contract Clauses
Terms and conditions within our contracts ensure that a supplier works with the NUS to rectify the situation when an ethical or environmental issue is identified. Ultimately, we can and will terminate the contract if no acceptable outcome can be reached through constructive engagement.
We can terminate a contract if a supplier:
- Is prosecuted for a breach of environmental legislation
- Breaches our Ethical Transparency Policy (i.e. if a supplier did not declare any historical or ongoing ethical issues at the start of a contract and these issues become an concern amongst our shareholders during the contract)
- Carries out ethically improper behaviour, as deemed by NUS Services
These clauses are intended to be used as levers for constructive engagement, rather than as inflexible conditions.
6. Audits
Suppliers’ ethical and environmental performance and improvements are monitored and supported by the buying team. Where it is deemed necessary or beneficial to either party, we audit suppliers to support this process and help identify risks and encourage improvements. This may be undertaken directly by the Ethical Supply Chain Coordinator or independently submitted through the Sedex system.
7. Constructive Engagement
NUS Services is committed to constructive engagement over boycott and we believe that greater influence and impact can be made by working with a company from within a commercial relationship than from outside. We define constructive engagement as a meaningful two-way dialogue in which both parties listen to each others’ viewpoints and share a genuine commitment to resolving issues of contention.
Further information on our constructive engagement work is available here.
8. Sound Ethical Choice
Sound Ethical Choice is our reward programme for suppliers that display superior ethical and environmental credentials. Independent certification schemes and our own Ethical and Environmental Accreditation are used to determine whether a product can be considered a Sound Ethical Choice.
Further information on Sound Ethical Choice is available here.