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Thursday, 13 July 2017
New Report Finds Responsible Sourcing Good for Businesses

New Report Finds Responsible Sourcing Good for Businesses – Rattan furniture being made for export to European markets at a factory in Laos. (© Thippakone Thammavongsa / WWF-Laos)© Thippakone Thammavongsa / WWF-Laos

July 13, 2017


Responsible sourcing policies are good for businesses, according to a new report from WWF. Defined as having a publicly available policy, publicly disclosed targets with verified annual progress, and sourcing from credible certification systems, such as FSC, responsible sourcing helps companies in a variety of ways, according to a survey WWF conducted:

  • 80 percent reported positive impacts risk management and brand management.
  • 60 percent saw positive impacts on customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement.
  • More than 70 percent saw positive impact on employee engagement, including potential gains from higher employee satisfaction and retention.

“Companies with genuinely responsible timber sourcing strategies – based on clear commitments and public reporting – have an opportunity to stand out from the crowd,” said Alistair Monument, WWF Forest Practice Lead. “This is particularly important for retailers, who operate in a highly competitive public-facing space where maintaining a competitive edge and a positive reputation is crucial.”

Read the full study.