Ch. 3 - Ethics & Social Responsibility

We believe in accountability - four suppliers and for ourselves

" By vigorously enforcing our Supplier Code of Conduct, we ensure that our suppliers follow the same principles and values we hold true. We collaborate with experts in areas such as human rights and the environment to conduct comprehensive, in-person audits deep into our supply chain. When we uncover problems, we work with our suppliers to fix them."

Apple's code of conduct and social responsibility are posted on their website along with reports from their yearly audits and their claims on how they take the environment into considerations when producing their products. 

The Apple Supplier Code of Conduct.

The Apple Supplier Code of Conduct is based on standards created by the International Labor Organization, the United Nations, and the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC). It requires suppliers to provide safe and healthy working conditions, to use fair hiring practices, to treat their workers with dignity and respect, and to adhere to environmentally responsible practices in manufacturing. But our Code goes beyond industry standards in a number of areas, including ending involuntary labor practices and eliminating underage labor. To make sure suppliers adhere to the Code, we have an aggressive compliance-monitoring program that includes Apple-led factory audits and corrective action plans, and confirmation that these plans have been carried out.

Workplace ethics and protection for whistle-blowers.

To conduct a thorough audit, suppliers must give our auditors access to factories and provide them with accurate documents and record-keeping processes for review. Our auditors are skilled in identifying circumstances where a supplier may be providing false information or preventing access to critical documents — both of which are core violations of our Supplier Code of Conduct. Coaching workers on what to say during an interview and retaliation against workers for participating in an audit interview are also core violations.

Apple’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

At Apple, we take responsibility for minimizing the environmental impact of our operations and products, and our suppliers must take responsibility for their operations as well. They must comply with local laws and regulations and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made We report on our total carbon footprint — and we’re one of very few companies to do so. We manage our overall footprint by comprehensively measuring and reporting the impact of our own operations and our products

Making working conditions safer.

To reduce the risk of hazards in the workplace, suppliers must provide proper protective gear, guardrails, safety harnesses, and other safety equipment, as well as comprehensive, up-to-date training for workers. And we go even further. In many cases, we review new materials and manufacturing processes to assess potential risks and take appropriate action before they are introduced to the supply chain. When we discover a problem — during an audit or through one of Apple’s many onsite employees — we require immediate correction, and we look for ways to expand safety procedures and practices in all similar facilities.

Although the code of conduct seems comprehensive, concrete standards or measurements used in the auditing process should be revealed. Also, the audit result should be shown with more details, such as the audit result of individual suppliers and how many businesses are terminated because of the social responsibility violations. Only with the above details can the Apple’s report be more convincing. Finally, Apple should be able to explain how issues like Foxconn suicides and the use of H-Hexane can happen with all suppliers’ strict compliance with its code of conduct and how it keeps coming up that their manufacturers exploit employees. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gypZoLbEvJo