Press releases

New open-source comparison tool launched by the Global Social Compliance Programme and ITC Standards Map

25 June 2015
ITC News
Quick Scan offers easy first step assessment of supply chain social and environmental compliance against best corporate practice

(Paris and Geneva) – The Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) of the Consumer Goods Forum and ITC Standards Map of the International Trade Centre (ITC) today launched the GSCP-ITC Quick Scan. The new open-source tool allows buying companies, suppliers, scheme owners and standards to easily compare their social and environmental compliance approach against best corporate practice. Registration to the tool is open to GSCP members and other interested organizations, free of charge at www.standardsmap.org/gscp.

An easy and open-source tool for supply chain actors

With the growing number of sustainability standards becoming available, identifying and comparing the different requirements of schemes has become a key issue for supply chain actors. The Quick Scan offers a turn-key solution for all major supply chain actors and provides them with a first analysis of supply-chain management systems in a few clicks. The GSCP Reference tools, which reflect corporate best practice in environmental and social compliance, serve as the reference for the comparison.

  • Buying companies can use the tool to identify standards that reflect their needs and meet their requirements. The Quick Scan allows them to compare all listed standards against industry defined best practice. 
  • Suppliers can use the Quick Scan to create a self-assessment and compare it against the GSCP Reference tools, allowing them to move gradually towards internationally recognised best practice. 
  • Companies that are already listed on Standards Map can equally compare their own code of conduct against the GSCP Reference tools; a first step to the ‘Deep Scan – the GSCP Equivalence Process. 

The user benefits from a specialised interface and functionalities, graphical representation of results and access to all 175 standards referenced in the ITC Standards Map. The Quick Scan covers a standard’s main characteristics, such as its requirements, scope of operations and modus operandi.

Quick Scan as a first step to sustainability benchmarking

The GSCP-ITC Quick Scan aims to provide an overview of which elements standards or codes of conduct cover. Supply-chain actors wishing to receive an in-depth benchmarking of how these elements are covered can move on to the ‘Deep Scan’, the GSCP Equivalence Process. The Equivalence Process allows users to gain a better understanding of their systems through the Self-Assessment phase of this Process, and in a second phase provides them with an independent benchmark by three experts. It provides users with an in-depth assessment of their requirements and processes for social and environmental compliance. Users of the Equivalence Process platform have the possibility to share and compare results with other organizations and schemes, allowing for mutual recognition. Designed with a holistic approach in mind, the Quick Scan platform allows user data to be imported directly into the Equivalence Process via an IT bridge.

‘Cooperating with ITC proofed the best approach for us to offer GSCP members and other supply chain actors the possibility to gain a first insight into what extent codes, standards and practices cover the requirements of our industry recognised best practice tools in an easy and accessible manner. We are convinced that the Quick Scan will pave the way for further harmonisation of approaches, ultimately benefitting the whole industry. The GSCP Equivalence Process remains an indispensable tool for the mutual recognition of standards and approaches due to the objective benchmark provided by independent experts.’

– Didier Bergeret, Director of the Global Social Compliance Programme


‘This partnership with GSCP allows even more businesses to take advantage of the ITC Standards Map database and in particular to support more small and medium-sized enterprises comply with best practices on social compliance. Quick Scan will allow for even greater harmonization and mutual recognition among standards. It will provide a much-needed tool to guide SMEs through the myriad of existing standards, championing sustainability and transparency in trade.’

– Joe Wozniak, T4SD Programme Manager, International Trade Centre 


Visit the Quick Scan at www.standardsmap.org/gscp. To learn more about the GSCP Equivalence Process, visit: http://www.gscpnet.com/equivalence-process.html

Notes to the Editor:

About the International Trade Centre: ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the Millennium Development Goals.

For more information, please visit www.intracen.org

About ITC Standards Map: Standards Map provides comprehensive, verified and transparent information on voluntary sustainability standards and other initiatives covering issues such as food quality and safety. An online platform, ITC Standards Map enables users to explore and compare over 176 sustainability standards, allowing them to build personalised and sustainable business roadmaps.

For more information, please visit www.standardsmap.org

About the Global Social Compliance Programme: The Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) brings together key actors of the consumer goods industry to collaborate on a common goal: driving positive change and business efficiency in the areas of social and environmental sustainability along the supply chain. Motivated by the conviction that the way forward in sustainability is through collaboration and convergence, these experts from various sectors and affiliations, including major retail companies, brand manufacturers, international organizations, academia and government, have joined forces within the GSCP framework to deliver a harmonized, global approach for more efficient and sustainable supply chains. This work is accomplished through a complete suite of Reference Tools, a robust Equivalence Process and regular meetings and working groups.

For more information, please visit: www.gscpnet.com or write to gscp [at] theconsumergoodsforum.com (gscp[at]theconsumergoodsforum[dot]com)

About the Consumer Goods Forum: The GSCP is facilitated by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global, parity-based industry network, driven by its members. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of over 650 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders across 70 countries and reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Forum member companies have combined sales of EUR 2.1 trillion. With its headquarters in Paris and its regional offices in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, the CGF serves its members throughout the world.

For more information, please visit www.theconsumergoodsforum.com

 

 

Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP)

Lisa Prévert

GSCP & GFSI Communications Officer

The Consumer Goods Forum

l.prevert [at] theconsumergoodsforum.com (l[dot]prevert[at]theconsumergoodsforum[dot]com)

International Trade Centre (ITC)

Jarle Hetland

Media Officer

Phone: +41 22 730 0145

hetland [at] intracen.org (hetland[at]intracen[dot]org)