Integrating Sustainability into the Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage

GPSI helped Giolong International turn sustainability into a competitive edge — embedding it directly into supplier selection through a procurement policy, a supplier code of conduct, and a UN-aligned audit questionnaire.

Sustainable supply chain and supplier auditing
8 Principles in the new
sustainable procurement policy
Client Giolong International

A turnkey provider of international sourcing, factory auditing, product development, and quality control — selecting the best manufacturers for its customers worldwide.

Industry
International Sourcing & QC
Engagement
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Deliverables
3 — policy, code of conduct, audit
Framework
UN sustainable development principles

Key Takeaways

  • Sustainability was embedded directly into Giolong’s supplier selection process and audit questionnaire.
  • A sustainable procurement policy with 8 principles formalized supplier-selection criteria.
  • A new supplier code of conduct was created for future contract renewals.
  • The pre-audit questionnaire was aligned to UN sustainable development principles.
  • Supplier-compliance risk dropped while brand image was protected across international markets.
  • Giolong gained a forerunner position and competitive advantage in its field.

Scope of WorkWhat was the scope of work?

Giolong International offers a turnkey service in international sourcing, factory auditing, product development, and quality control. As a partner in the field, the company selects the best manufacturers for its customers and ensures outstanding service. The sustainable supply chain management mandate fits perfectly with the company’s vision and mission. The supply chain is at the heart of Giolong International’s operational strategy. As a representative of its customers in various international markets, the company must promote foreign suppliers who share its values in terms of sustainable development, thus helping to instill a culture of sustainability among its customers.

DEFINITION

Sustainable procurement policy: a formal set of criteria a company uses to select suppliers based on sustainable-development and eco-responsible standards. For Giolong International, GPSI built a policy of eight principles to guide supplier selection and embed sustainability into sourcing decisions.

ActivitiesWhat did GPSI deliver?

Global Partner Solutions worked with Giolong International to integrate sustainability criteria into its supplier selection process and update its audit questionnaire. By drawing up a sustainable procurement policy containing eight (8) principles, we formalized the criteria for selecting suppliers. In addition, we developed a code of conduct to add to future contract renewals, which sets out the sustainable development and eco-responsible practices expectations of suppliers. For consistency, we modified the questionnaire leading up to the audit report to incorporate the sustainable development principles proposed by the United Nations.

Implementing these three deliverables has enabled Giolong International to deploy its sustainability vision internally and externally and thus improve the impact of its activities on its environment.

01

Sustainable procurement policy

Eight principles that formalize the criteria for selecting suppliers.

02

Supplier code of conduct

Added to future contract renewals; sets sustainable, eco-responsible expectations.

03

Updated audit questionnaire

Re-aligned to the UN sustainable development principles for consistency.

Audit CoverageWhat does the supplier audit now cover?

We added questions concerning new sustainability dimensions to the pre-audit questionnaire — giving Giolong a consistent, UN-aligned lens for evaluating every supplier.

Sources of supply
Waste management
Energy & water consumption
Ethics & integrity
Information security
Governance
8
Procurement principles
3
Deliverables implemented
6
New audit dimensions
UN
Sustainable development principles

ResultsWhat results did Giolong achieve?

Reducing the risk associated with selecting suppliers who do not comply with sustainable development principles was a major benefit of this mandate. Giolong International can now rely on the rigor of its internal audit processes to ensure full compliance when selecting suppliers. The brand image has been maintained despite the international stakes of the countries where Giolong International operates. As a forerunner in its field, the company enjoys an advantageous position over its competitors.

By embedding sustainability into supplier selection, Giolong reduced compliance risk, protected its brand image across international markets, and secured a forerunner’s advantage over competitors. — Outcome of the Giolong & GPSI engagement

EcoVadisSilver Medal

GPSI holds an EcoVadis Silver rating and sits on Fonds Écoleader’s list of sustainability experts — the credentials behind sustainable supply chain engagements like this one.

Frequently asked questions

What did GPSI deliver for Giolong International?
GPSI delivered three things: a sustainable procurement policy with eight principles, a supplier code of conduct for future contract renewals, and an updated pre-audit questionnaire aligned to UN sustainable development principles.
What is a sustainable procurement policy?
A sustainable procurement policy formalizes the criteria a company uses to select suppliers based on sustainability. For Giolong International, GPSI built a policy containing eight principles to guide supplier selection.
What standards does the audit questionnaire align to?
The pre-audit questionnaire was modified to incorporate the sustainable development principles proposed by the United Nations, ensuring consistency across supplier audits.
What areas does the updated audit cover?
The questionnaire added questions on sources of supply, waste management, energy and water consumption, ethical and integrity standards, information security, and governance.
What were the results of the engagement?
Giolong International reduced the risk of selecting non-compliant suppliers, gained rigorous internal audit processes to ensure compliance, maintained its brand image across international markets, and secured an advantageous position over competitors as a forerunner in its field.
What does Giolong International do?
Giolong International offers a turnkey service in international sourcing, factory auditing, product development, and quality control, selecting the best manufacturers for its customers across international markets.
How does sustainability create competitive advantage in the supply chain?
Embedding sustainability into supplier selection reduces compliance and reputational risk, protects brand image, and helps instill a culture of sustainability among customers and suppliers — positioning the company as a forerunner ahead of competitors.

Make sustainability your competitive advantage

GPSI helps companies embed sustainability into sourcing, supplier audits, and procurement policy — reducing risk while protecting brand and reputation. Let’s find a time to connect.

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