DEFINITION: An unbroken and documented chain of ownership all the way from the supplier to the end user.
See also: Supply chain
Chain of custody
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British retailers linked to polluting supplier factories
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How Twinings is championing women's rights in the tea supply chain
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Unilever implements 'radical step' on palm oil traceability
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Primark's Global Sourcing Map emphasises the importance of brand transparency
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Apple and Sky among swelling list of green procurement leaders
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Unilever to increase sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia
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Dell targets e-waste with recycled gold initiative
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Corporates set to miss zero-deforestation targets for 2020
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Report: UK jewellers 'must do more' to combat potential human rights abuses
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Sainsbury's and Unilever sign up to blockchain trials for supply chain practices
Global brands Unilever and Sainsbury's have partnered with leading investors to trial how blockchain technology can financially reward sustainable farming practices for Malawian tea makers.
Dell spearheads global initiative to combat ocean plastics
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Fairtrade: Competition law hinders food supply chain sustainability
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Global firms accused of importing timber linked to Amazon massacre
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Corporates risk $941bn due to deforestation failure, CDP warns
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Homebase pledges ban on bee-harming chemicals amid green group pressure
Retail giant Homebase has committed to phase out toxic pesticides from its garden plant range after months of heavy pressure from green campaigners.
2 Sisters chicken scandal a 'wake-up call' for food watchdog, MPs warn
MPs have issued a "wake-up call" to monitoring bodies in the food supply chain after an investigation revealed breaches of health and safety procedures at 2 Sisters Food Group.
The needs of the many: Why Fibria's corporate plan has transformed to a 'shared value' approach
With the UK announcing a new £62 investment to combat deforestation across key areas of Brazil, one of the largest pulp companies from the country, Fibria, outlines its new corporate strategy that seeks to give back to society.
Furniture retailer becomes first UK company to be fined under illegal logging laws
Designer furniture retailer Lombok has become the first UK business to be fined for breaching restrictions on the importing and sale of illegally harvested timber.
Renewable energy in the supply chain
This new report focuses on the opportunity for companies to amplify their carbon reduction efforts by driving renewables through their supply chains. Given how easy it is to choose renewable electricity in the UK, businesses could be doing more to engage with their suppliers.
Domino effect: Businesses urged to promote renewables into supply chains
Corporates that leverage their purchasing power for renewable energy could create a "domino effect" that improves the energy efficiency of supply chains to create more clean generation capacity, a new report from SmartestEnergy has found.
Autonomous shelf-scanning robots to assist Walmart workers
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Nestlé, Hershey and Mars 'breaking promises over palm oil use'
Nestlé, Mars and Hershey have been accused of breaking pledges to stop using "conflict palm oil" from deforested Indonesian jungles, just days before the annual Halloween confectionery frenzy.
In practice: Landsec's BREEAM Outstanding headquarters designed to WELL standards
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Top firms act on deforestation as UK urged not to 'turn a blind eye'
A pioneering study has illustrated the overseas impact of UK imports on forests, wildfire and nature, as a host of global firms make pledges to help prevent deforestation in Brazil's tropical savanna.
Sustainability Leaders Awards 2018 shortlist revealed!
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Aldi joins World Banana Forum to strengthen supply chain
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Stella McCartney backs first Life Cycle Assessment for man-made cellulosic fibers
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Innovative trucks help Smurfit Kappa slash supply chain emissions
Global packaging firm Smurfit Kappa has pioneered innovative new trucks which are claimed to have slashed emissions by 20% and reduced the number of annual trips by almost one-third.
Target commits to 100% renewables as part of science-based targets approach
Clothing giant Target has unveiled a revamped climate policy that will see the retailer commit to the Science-Based Targets Initiative to reduce emissions by 25% and source 100% renewable electricity "in the coming years".
Evolving global supply chain risks must raise 'red flag' for EV manufacturers
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edie Explains: Energy resilience
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Kering championing 'disruptive' innovations to push towards science-based targets
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Greenpeace: Tech giants neglecting environmental responsibility
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The Salvation Army: Labour exploitation in England and Wales on the rise
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edie roundtable: Driving renewables through the supply chain
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What can blockchain do for corporate sustainability?
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Plastic packaging: Are producers ready for their 'diesel moment'?
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Sky to ban single-use plastics by 2020
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Cargill targets zero deforestation as part of SDG alignment for cocoa sourcing
Food and agricultural company Cargill has updated its sustainable cocoa sourcing strategy to align with the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to boost farmer prosperity, reduce environmental impacts and enhance the traceability of its supply chain.
Food and beverage giants agree to strengthen supply chain management
Companies such as Unilever, Mars and PepsiCo are part of a new collaborative partnership aiming to develop free science-based decision tools that improve farm-level sustainability reporting metrics and data collection.
Cradle to Cradle: How C&A is leading the fashion industry's circular transition
EXCLUSIVE: Fashion retailer C&A is driving circularity by selling apparel products made from sustainable cotton, and the Dutch-based firm is eager to bring the rest of the industry on its journey.
From climate science to global goals: How Tetra Pak is realigning its sustainability strategy
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Top brands doing 'little or nothing' about sustainable cotton
Major brands such as Next and Ralph Lauren are failing to make sufficient progress on sourcing sustainable cotton, according to the findings of a new report.
Asda and Co-op team up to share supply chain data
Competing retailers Asda and the Co-op have taken collaborative action to drive supply chain efficiencies by aligning the environmental data they request from mutual suppliers.
Walmart strengthens commitment to slash chemical footprint
Walmart has pledged to reduce its chemical footprint by 10% over the next five years, in the same week that research found that nearly two-third of British citizens want to keep EU chemical safety standards post-Brexit.
Velvet owner accused of sourcing pulp from protected forest region
The owner of well-known UK-based toilet paper brands Velvet and Cushelle is facing accusations of sourcing pulp from protected areas of the Great Northern Forest in Sweden.
How AkzoNobel intends to reach carbon neutrality by 2050
AkzoNobel will need to embrace disruptive technologies such as automation and ensure the commitment of customers and suppliers to meet the paint and coating manufacturer's bold vision to become a carbon-neutral business by 2050.
Uncle Ben's to source all basmati rice through certified sustainability standard
All basmati rice sold under the world's largest rice brand will be sourced under a sustainability platform to address human rights issues in supply chains and improve the environmental impact of farming practices.
First batch of African Fairtrade gold arrives in the UK
Fairtrade has announced the first ever shipment of certified African Fairtrade gold into the UK, in a move backed by Philips that could unlock new ethical sourcing opportunities for businesses ranging from jewellers to tech specialists.
Tesco agrees pioneering deal with suppliers to halve food waste
Tesco has struck a deal with its largest food suppliers for them to adopt the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to halve food waste by 2030, on the same day a new global initiative has called on major international food producers to reduce food loss and waste.
How the English Tea Shop's shared value approach has coupled ethics with profits
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Nike and other major apparel firms commit to Science Based Targets initiative
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Chocolate industry drives rainforest disaster in Ivory Coast
The world's chocolate industry is driving deforestation on a devastating scale in West Africa, the Guardian can reveal.
Water-hungry food companies ignoring supply chain risks, report finds
Just six of the world's largest food companies have set sustainable water-sourcing targets for the majority of their agricultural inputs, as a new report reveals that water risks in the supply chain are still largely ignored.
Building the story: How Mars got boardroom buy-in for its $1bn sustainability strategy
As Mars unveils a new corporate strategy to reduce emissions by 67% by 2050, edie's senior reporter Matt Mace speaks to the company's global director of sustainability Kevin Rabinovitch, to discuss how his team secured a $1bn backing from the company's chief executive.
BRE launches guidelines to combat modern slavery in the construction sector
A new eight-step guidance plan has been launched to help companies in the property and construction sectors become "best in class" in combatting global human rights abuses across value chains.
First ISO 20400 sustainable procurement assessment issued in the UK public sector
A purchasing consortium for higher education facilities in London has become the first in the global education sector to be assessed to the ISO 20400 standard for sustainable procurement, in what's believed to be the first such assessment in the UK public sector.
Responsible Retailer: How House of Fraser is reinvigorating its sustainability approach
From being ahead of the curve on supply chain ethics to exploring the adoption of science-based targets, House of Fraser is rapidly making waves in the industry through its "fast moving" Responsible Retailer strategy.
Whitbread first hospitality firm to be granted water self-supply licence
Regulator Ofwat has granted hospitality giant Whitbread a self-supply licence to deliver its own water and wastewater services for all of its brands in England.
IBM blockchain food safety programme attracts global firms
A host of major firms including Nestlé, Unilever and Walmart have established a collaboration with tech giant IBM to explore how the global food supply chain can benefit from blockchain technology.
Homebase caught in dispute over use of bee-harming pesticides
Homebase has clashed with Friends of the Earth after claims the garden retailer has failed to publicly commit to end the use and sale of restricted pesticides in its plant ranges.
Report: Migrant crisis escalating European modern slavery risk
Businesses have been urged to stay alert to modern slavery risks in their European supply chains after new research highlighted rising levels of exploitation across large swathes of the continent, including the UK.
Pyjamas become first products made using Primark's Sustainable Cotton Programme
Cotton sourced from Primark's Sustainable Cotton Programme, which has helped rural female farmers increase average profits, is being used in production for the first time.
Chemical footprinting 'moves to the mainstream' for big businesses
Companies with more than $670bn in revenue, including Adidas, HP and Walmart, have collectively reduced the use of hazardous chemicals in products by around 416m pounds in the last two years, according to a new report.
Shareholder demands driving commitments on deforestation, report finds
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