ABSTRACT

Ascribing a value to goods that have been produced or traded in a manner deemed to be socially sustainable is a relatively recent phenomenon. Whilst socially sustainable supply chain practices are laudable, the valorization of social sustainability is heavily dependent on the quality of the information that is available to stakeholders. With this in mind, this chapter examines quality seals: standards, certifications, codes of conduct and labelling that are used as proxies for socially sustainable supply chain management. The findings highlight pluralism and opacity as regards purpose, measurement and verification. The chapter raises questions about the ability of existing quality seals to support the progression of sustainability practices across global supply chains when the focus seems to be rooted in compliance rather than continuous improvement.