GOJO set a bold goal to ensure 90 percent of GOJO Strategic, Preferred and Collaborative suppliers meet GOJO Sustainable Value Responsible Sourcing Criteria by 2020. By developing and implementing our Sustainable Value Sourcing program, we can insure that the suppliers with whom we work share the same vision for creating a sustainable supply chain, and continuing to advance more sustainable practices.
As a first step in advancing our Sustainable Value Sourcing program, GOJO requires all suppliers to read the Supplier Code of Conduct and return a signed copy to acknowledge understanding. The GOJO Supplier Code of Conduct is made up of five sections:
- Compliance with Laws
- Human Rights
- Conflict Minerals and Substances of Very High Concern
- Environmental Compliance
- Ethical Business Practices
Our Supplier Sustainability program is focused on gathering data, providing a platform for feedback and collaboration and expanding to include new suppliers every year. The feedback we receive from our suppliers is crucial to refining our process, our metrics and our goals for the program. GOJO developed a supplier scorecard in 2015, which we piloted in March 2016 and formally rolled out in 2017. Thanks to the input and cooperation from our suppliers, the scorecard has evolved and has been streamlined to focus on actionable information, including the following:
- General information about the company, environmental metrics and how the design of GOJO products influences their sustainability program
- Availability and disclosure of data relating to GOJO material topics
- Materials—general chemical and/or material policies and packaging certifications, which provide details and examples of a specific GOJO product or process where modifications could increase Sustainable Value
The GOJO Sustainable Value Supplier Scorecard requires both quantitative and qualitative responses, providing not only data but also a written description about their practices, including the impacts of working with GOJO and opportunities to collaborate in new ways.
The scorecard was developed in collaboration with our suppliers, whom we convened at our global headquarters in 2016 to introduce and receive their input on this new aspect of our sustainability program. The scorecard was first piloted with 10 suppliers from a wide cross-section of our supply chain. We were pleased with a 90 percent participation in the survey. We included 15 more suppliers in 2017, will engage a total of 40 suppliers in 2018 and double that to 80 suppliers by 2020, which is equal to 90 percent of our Strategic, Preferred and Collaborative suppliers. These suppliers account for 85% of our total supplier spending, and represent the most efficient, value-added of our supplier relationships.
As we pursue our 2020 goal, we will evaluate supply chain progress and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. The Supplier Sustainability program and scorecard are not being used to select, disqualify, penalize or judge suppliers. Instead, these steps are encouraging dialogue, collaboration and product innovation. We provide feedback and recognition to our suppliers. In the future, we aim to host workshops that bring together suppliers to share and highlight Sustainable Value accomplishments.