Over 400 companies to share supply chain data with Open Supply Hub

• Supply chain mapping platform Open Supply Hub has announced a range of collaborations with multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs)
• The initiatives will line up over 400 companies to share their supply chain data on Open Supply Hub’s platform
• The non-profit has seen significant growth following its expansion beyond apparel and has now mapped nearly 1 million production locations, spanning automotive, electronics, consumer goods, beauty, food and beverage supply chains, amongst others
• Open Supply Hub notes that more companies are embracing open supply chain data to prepare for upcoming due diligence regulation

18 November 2024: More than 400 companies will share their supply chain data with Open Supply Hub (OS Hub), thanks to a series of partnerships with multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs).

The collaborations with these four MSIs - Cascale, Ethical Trading Initiative, Ethical Supply Chain Program, and Ethical Tea Partnership - will result in tens of thousands of suppliers across various sectors being shared on OS Hub's open data platform, which maps supply chain production locations globally. Furthermore, the MSIs, which bring corporate members together, will deliver shared value from supply chain transparency by enabling companies to drive social and environmental progress collectively.

Open Supply Hub is increasingly seeing companies use their platform to get a complete picture of their supply chain, plug data gaps and identify opportunities for collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Historically, companies have been skeptical of sharing their supply chain data publicly for various reasons, such as fear of backlash or losing their competitive advantage, for example. However, as companies navigate growing calls for transparency and stakeholder engagement, particularly in light of Due Diligence legislation, more are adopting supply chain transparency and understanding its benefits.

Natalie Grillon, CEO and Executive Director of Open Supply Hub commented:

“Transparency efforts are significantly more impactful when they are harmonized. If we can all go to one resource to know where the world’s production locations are and who is connected to them, then so much opportunity can be unlocked: from reporting and business efficiencies to more impactful programmatic work, collaboration, remediation and investment.

More and more, companies are understanding that transparency is a benefit, not a burden. By having total visibility of their supply chain, companies can effectively implement Due Diligence, enhance interoperability and conduct risk assessments, for example. And by giving all these initiatives a shared and open tool, we are enabling members to work together and collaborate on Due Diligence efforts, which ultimately leads to safer and more sustainable supply chains.”

OS Hub is rapidly expanding its work with MSIs, which are voluntary partnerships between businesses, civil society and other organizations. While MSIs work to facilitate collaboration between members, they also offer a unique way for companies to test supply chain transparency with peers in a lower-risk environment. Specifically, OS Hub notes that MSIs increasingly want a complete picture of production locations that reach their members to understand overlap and inform pilots and programs.

By joining MSIs, member companies often must commit to baseline standards, in return for guidance, tools and frameworks to help them address specific issues. By ensuring companies are taking steps towards supply chain transparency alongside their peers, MSIs can set baseline standards and a level playing field for members, reducing the perceived risks associated with supply chain transparency.

The four MSIs join over a dozen that are already working with Open Supply Hub, including Fair Wear Foundation, RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality), Apparel Impact Institute and the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles.

To date, Open Supply Hub has over 1,400 contributors mapping nearly 1 million production locations on its platform, which is available to explore here. The organization will also host a free webinar on November 21 about how open data can be used for effective stakeholder engagement and supply chain due diligence.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Details about the MSI partnerships and disclosure requirements are as follows:

Comments from participating MSIs

Colin Browne, CEO of Cascale commented: “Cascale is excited to work closely with Open Supply Hub to deliver meaningful progress towards a more transparent and sustainable supply chain. Our members are hungry for change, and this comes with amplifying the existing tools, best practices, and resources that allow them to collaborate effectively and, ultimately, lead to greater improvements for the industry. We applaud the work Open Supply Hub has done thus far, and we are committed to working together to advance the disclosure of Tier 1 suppliers on Open Supply Hub. This data-driven initiative is a significant step forward in meeting the growing expectations for transparency and responsible business practices.”

Amelia Cherry, Senior Progression Advisor for Human Rights at ETI comments: “We launched the ETI Corporate Transparency Framework in 2021 and are excited to partner with OS Hub to work together to continue to improve transparency and drive progress on human rights in global supply chains."

Carmel Giblin, CEO of the Ethical Supply Chain Program comments: “ESCP has always been committed to transparency. Transparency and collaboration are at the core of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives and mechanisms like Open Supply Hub enable buyers to find new, responsible suppliers quickly. We can also identify opportunities for collaboration amongst shared suppliers which helps improve labor standards cost-effectively and efficiently.”

For media comments, or to arrange an interview, contact

Tash Nikolovski: The Comms Department

tash@thecommsdepartment.co.uk | + 44 (0) 7754 380 153

About Open Supply Hub

Open Supply Hub is a non-profit platform powering the transition to safe and sustainable production, with the world’s most complete, open and accessible global supply chain map. With their users, they have mapped nearly 1 million production locations around the world, showing where global production is happening and who is connected to each location.

Open Supply Hub is used by some of the world’s best-known brands, as well as human rights, labor and environmental groups. Individually or together, those organizations can contribute, download, and search the data to spot opportunities, build partnerships, and drive investment and impact. By making collectively built supply chain data easy for anyone to work with, Open Supply Hub’s model is opening doors to new solutions, targeted investment, and more effective collaborations.

Open Supply Hub’s vision is to map all of the world’s production locations, transforming supply chain ecosystems for the 100+ million people working in them.