The Global Standard for Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing has been developed to enable suppliers to demonstrate that the goods and/or services that they sell are produced ethically. These Interpretation Guidelines are written to work alongside the full standard to help users understand the background to the clauses and how to put them into practice.

The Standard provides an organisation with the framework to build their own ethical trade and responsible sourcing management system that will help them to deliver against the principles of ethical trade and responsible sourcing. The Standard outlines criteria required for a site to fulfil legal and moral obligations towards workers, ensuring their premises, facilities are safe and do not harm workers health, as well as protecting their employment and human rights.

The Standard is the first and therefore only scheme of its kind to be recognised by the Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) and its member organisations. The SSCI is committed to building trust in the consumer goods industry by recognising programmes that respect key sustainability criteria. It is the benchmark of choice for the consumer goods industry and complements the well-established and respected GFSI-recognised product safety standards.

It is a requirement that all suppliers undergoing a BRCGS audit to the Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing Standard Issue 2 have access to an official copy of the Standard. 

Use of BRCGS intellectual property

Information on how you can use BRCGS Standards, guidance and published content can be found here. You can also find a list of answers to common question on how BRCGS content can be used here.