Home » GRI Looks to Supply Chain Transparency

New Global Action Network to train multinationals’ suppliers in reporting

By Dennis Schaal

In a push for transparency and accountability, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched a new network to promote sustainability in multinational corporations’ supply chains.

The GRI Global Action Network for Transparency in the Supply Chain aims to enroll multinational firms in an effort to entice their suppliers to use the GRI G3 Guidelines to disclose publicly their sustainability track record and challenges.

To join the Amsterdam-based network, corporations pay a membership fee of 10,000 euros (about $15,650), and then nominate 5-10 of their suppliers, who receive 16 hours’ GRI-certified training. 

The network’s goal is to have the nominated suppliers issue reports using the GRI guidelines.

“Reporting by suppliers goes beyond the current system of control and audits and looks at ways to build a sense of shared responsibility between supplier and buyers to contribute to a sustainable supply chain and form transparent relationships,” GRI stated. 

The new network builds on an earlier partnership between GRI and the German Development Agency, in which multinationals, including Puma, met with smaller companies to discuss bringing more transparency into the supply chain.

GRI stated that the network will also include “funders,” including governments, NGOs, universities and foundations who will help “create specialized training and coaching strategies” for suppliers. 

Coinciding with its announcement about the network, GRI offered as a free download of a new publication, “Small, Smart and Sustainable,”  which features supply chain case studies from India, Chile, China, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.