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Equivalence Process PDF Print E-mail

Objective

Variations in Social Compliance standards, audit process and methodology as well as requirements for auditor competence make it difficult for buying companies to recognise and accept audit reports coming from other social compliance schemes.

The GSCP Executive Board decided to launch an Expert Working Group to develop an Equivalence Process, using the reference tools as a benchmark.
The Equivalence Process’ purpose is:

  • to contribute to the definition and delivery of a clear and consistent message towards global suppliers based on best practice
  • to build comparability and transparency between existing schemes while allowing them to maintain their specificities
  • to allow interested parties to trust each other’s audit reports with a view to drive out duplication in auditing
The equivalence process will be designed:
  • to allow companies / schemes to assess their own tools and respective systems against the GSCP Reference Tools and understand what needs to be reviewed to reach best practice
  • to allow companies / schemes to understand where they stand vis-à-vis each other and what tools or processes need to be improved for them to become equivalent
In any case, the process should aim at supporting continuous improvement of existing practices towards best practice.

Development process

Drafting

An Expert Working Group was launched in April 2009 to develop this voluntary equivalence process and is composed of ten experts drawn from the GSCP Task Force:

  • Karin Bogaers, Coordinator Social Compliance, ROYAL AHOLD
  • Karl Daumueller , Lead Auditor & Program Manager, HEWLETT-PACKARD
  • Paul Dearman, International Ethical Trading Manager, TESCO
  • George Jaksch, Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs, CHIQUITA EUROPE
  • Armineh Mardirossian, Group Sustainability Manager, WOOLWORTHS
  • Chris McCann, ES Country Manager, Wal-Mart Global Procurement, ASDA STORES
  • Lena Pripp-Kovac, IT Sustainability Manager, IKEA
  • Virginie Saudrais, Chargée de Mission Environnement et Social, CARREFOUR
  • Clément Warther, Director Sustainability and Risk Control, AMCOR (formerly ALCAN PACKAGING)
  • Johann Züblin, Head of Standards and Social Compliance, MIGROS

The work of the group is coordinated by a Project Manager: Marjan Smit

This work is based on the Reference Tools currently being developped by the Programme's other Expert Working Groups, and publication of any Equivalence Process tools or guidance documents will therefore be scheduled accordingly.

Timeline summary

Expected Development Phase: April 2009 to December 2010