[外贸英语] Trend Alert: The Supplier Code of Conduct

Who Is Using A Supplier Code of Conduct?
Today more than ever, the public judges a business by the companies with whom it spends its money. And such judgments are usually negative in nature.

Actress Pam Anderson rallied supporters to boycott the KFC food chain, claiming that KFC used suppliers that abused animals. Sony’s CEO was publicly vilified for Sony advertising on the obscene TV show “Nip/Tuck.”

This means that your work is under more scrutiny and can have a bigger impact on your organization than ever. Smart purchasers know this and their collective actions have spawned a new trend: the supplier code of conduct.

A simple Google search will link you to many supplier codes of conduct from top companies like HP, Pizza Hut, Federated Department Stores, Apple, Hallmark, and countless others in a variety of industries. Is there a reason for you not to use a supplier code of conduct?

If you want to quickly write a supplier code of conduct, let me save you some time. While an infinite number of items can be addressed in a supplier code of conduct, here are the ten most commonly addressed points:


All employment must be freely chosen
All employees must be a specified age
All employees must work less than a specified number of hours per week
The supplier must comply with wage laws
All employees must receive humane treatment
The supplier may not be discriminatory in its employment decisions
The supplier’s facility must meet safety standards
The supplier must have a plan for emergencies
The supplier must notify its employees of the applicable supplier code of conduct
The supplier’s compliance with the supplier code of conduct is subject to audit