A valuable tool that enables collaboration
“We believe that increased partnership between peer companies is
important in creating better working conditions for factory workers
across the globe. The FFC has taken a large step toward this end,
creating a valuable tool that takes the uncertainty out of sharing
factory and audit information, and giving brands an organized forum
to work together. Safely sharing this information allows for more
unified remediation messages and approaches for suppliers while also
using audit time and dollars more effectively.”
Laura Olson
Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Nordstrom
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Our History to Date
Better Workplace Standards Are Needed
Globalization, with its volatile mix of economic opportunity and social disruption, has provoked numerous reports of exploitative working conditions in global supply chain facilities. Since the early 90s, companies have audited conditions in their supply chain to ensure international standards are upheld. Nevertheless, there was no comprehensive process, nor industry tool, for managing or sharing audit information. Many laudable efforts to create a widespread process have resulted in multiple, duplicative systems, with too many resources spent on identifying the issues, and not solving them.
A conference organized by Worldmonitors, Inc. November 2002 in NYC titled: "Making It Right: Lessons and Solutions in Global Sourcing " exposed the urgent need for a better way for companies to systematically find and use factories monitored for human rights standards.
In January 2003, Reebok and the National Retail Federation joined forces to explore how a database could be offered, on a non-profit basis, as a way for companies to more effectively manage factory compliance programs. In April 2003 World Monitors Inc. proposed a "Fair Factories Clearinghouse" to the U.S. Department of State, proposing that "one essential step to create sustainable, cost-effective monitoring systems from workplaces around the world is a shared 'Fair Factories Database'." The proposal for funding was accepted in 2004.
A Non-Profit is Formed from the Early Partners
Reebok International Ltd., the National Retail Federation, Retail Council of Canada and World Monitors joined forces and created the Fair Factories Clearinghouse in late 2004.
The FFC was established to use technology to:
- Lower the cost of entry for those seeking to manage compliance programs
- Improve the availability, comprehensiveness, and standardization of compliance standards and audits through the use of a global management system to track workplace conditions
- Facilitate the exchange of non-competitive information concerning factory compliance, and enable collaboration in global efforts to assess and improve workplace conditions
- Reduce audit fatigue through the sharing of compliance data, without mandating any specific standard or rating factories
- Advance and promote education & knowledge about global workplace conditions
The Software System is Licensed and Evolves
In 2004, Reebok generously donated the Reebok Human Rights Tracking System (HRTS), which formed the basis for FFC's Audit Management System, through a perpetual license. The FFC holds several stakeholder meetings to gather business requirements for development. The FFC invests millions to convert the HRTS into an industry solution to manage and share compliance information. The Audit Management System was launched in 2006, and the Sharing Platform was launched in 2008.
Membership Grows
Membership grows to include, in addition to industry associations and companies, non-profits and universities.
And the Story Continues...
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