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The Purchasing Practices in Manufacturing initiative by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), supported by the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS), aimed to explore how the principles outlined in the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices (CFRPP) for apparel and textiles (A&T) could be applied across a range of manufacturing sectors.
Responsible purchasing practices (RPP) are vital for improving labour conditions and ensuring sustainability across supply chains. By broadening the focus beyond textiles and food, the initiative sought to identify barriers to RPP implementation and develop solutions to drive lasting, positive change in diverse industries.
Everyday purchasing practices—such as inaccurate forecasting, short-term planning, last-minute order changes, below-cost pricing, late payments, and inadequate sampling—directly affect supplier stability and workers’ conditions. These issues can lead to excessive overtime, low wages, poor health and safety standards, and reliance on temporary labour.
Investing in responsible purchasing and building strong partnerships with suppliers offers significant benefits to businesses, including improved supply chain stability and efficiency gains through better communication, planning, and processes. The initiative used workshops, consultations, pilot projects, and collaboration with supply chain partners to enhance understanding of the human rights impacts of purchasing practices and to support companies in embedding RPP into their operations.
Case Study: Smallworld Accessories
Building stronger supplier relationships through responsible purchasing practices. With eight tier 1 suppliers in China and one in India, the company has always believed in fostering close relationships with its suppliers...
Smallworld Accessories, a fashion accessory company primarily operating through concession models for large high street retailers, has been a member of ETI since 2017. With eight tier one suppliers in China and one in India, the company has always believed in fostering close relationships with its suppliers. However, an audit in 2020 uncovered a significant non-compliance issue concerning workers' wages. This discovery prompted the company to reassess their supplier relationships, recognising that compliance audits alone could not address the deeper, systemic issues affecting workers. Instead, more consistent and meaningful engagement with suppliers was necessary.
Case study: Hardscape
How Stone company Hardscape used insights from ETI’s tools to assess and improve its procurement practices, embedding responsible purchasing practices into its operations.
Through workshops, consultations, pilot projects, and collaboration with supply chain partners, ETI facilitated a collective understanding of how purchasing practices influence human rights and worker welfare. The initiative focused on embedding responsible purchasing practices into companies’ operations, promoting peer learning and practical implementation. Hardscape participated in this initiative, using the insights gained from ETI’s tools—including the supplier survey—to assess and improve its procurement practices.
What have been the impacts for workers?
What have been the impacts for suppliers?
Project outputs
File(s)
Responsible purchasing practices in manufacturing industries
An overview of ETI's initiative which assessed the extent to which the five overarching principles of the Common Framework for the garment and footwear sector could be effectively applied across other manufacturing sectors.
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Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices in Manufacturing Industries (CFRPP MI)
The framework is a reference point to support companies in manufacturing industries to engage with stakeholders and take practical action to improve their purchasing practices.
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Mining of metals & minerals: A rapid assessment
This research report examines the state of human rights due diligence within downstream companies, highlighting critical gaps and opportunities to drive more robust action towards a fairer and more sustainable mining sector.
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Responsible purchasing practices in European legislation
How the human rights aspects of CSDDD relate to the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices in Manufacturing Industries (CFRPP MI).
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This work is funded by the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS), a German development cooperation project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH