Ethical Purchasing

Introduction to Oxfam's policy:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/suppliers/ethicalpurchasing.html

How Oxfam explains their policy to suppliers:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/suppliers/ethicalpurchasingsuppliers.html

The questionnaire that Oxfam gives to their suppliers:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/suppliers/downloads/supplier_questionnaire_mar08.pdf

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade union organisations. It aims to promote and improve the implementation of corporate codes of practice which cover supply chain working conditions. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the working conditions of workers producing for the UK market meet or exceed international labour standards.
http://www.ethicaltrade.org/

Aileen Peverell says the best resource available is the ETI workbook, 2nd edition. This is the definitive source of guidance for companies on negotiating the ethical trade maze.

The workbook reflects the latest hands-on experiences of the retailers, brands, trade unions and non governmental organisations, delivering best practice guidance, case studies and resources back to the ethical trade practitioner. The workbook is in a CD-ROM format and cost £35.00.
http://www.ethicaltrade.org/Z/resrcs/wkbk/index.shtml

The Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex)
Sedex is an on-line database where purchasers and suppliers can store and share ethical data including self-assessments, audit reports and corrective action reports and status.

This is a resource that may be useful for large organisations, or those that have a lot of suppliers. Sedex is a membership organisation and the fees start at £975 per year.

Sedex is not an accreditation agency and not a buying tool. It aims to help organisations to reduce duplication of ethical information, and to promote the improvement of labour standards by encouraging suppliers to sign up.
https://www.sedex.org.uk/