The launch of the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP) on November 1st has sparked excitement and raised many questions. In this episode of the Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, we delve into the topic with two distinguished guests: Peter O’Driscoll, the executive director of Equitable Food Initiative, and Kim Combs, the supplier verification manager with The Kroger Co.
The beginnings of ECIP traced back to the impactful 2014 Product of Mexico series. This year-long investigation shed light on severe labor violations in the agro-sector of Mexican produce that was exported to the USA. To find out what was at the root of some of these allegations and what the industry could do to address them, many of the major players of the Product Marketing Association and United Fresh formed a joint committee. The result was the publication of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices in 2018.
Since then, ECIP was created to help put the Charter into action and has undergone significant evolution in its development. In 2019, a pilot program was launched, offering tools, resources, and support to employees seeking to enhance their management systems. The lessons gleaned from this pilot initiative have been consolidated into a powerful software platform known as the ECIP LAB, where:
- L (Learn): Employees can educate themselves about the principles and various management systems they need to implement.
- A (Assess): The platform enables users to evaluate performance, identify priority areas for improvement, and access resources to track system enhancements over time.
- B (Benchmark): A suite of tools and resources empowers employees to benchmark their progress and prioritize focus areas.
As an industry, our collective effort aims to improve supply chain assurance and elevate social sustainable practices to the same level as food safety. ECIP LAB is a strategic move in this direction, meeting growers where they are and providing resources and information on their next steps. In addition, ECIP LAB brings to the surface some of the great work already done in the supply chain, allowing growers to demonstrate their leadership in this space, and showcase their dedication to continuous improvement.
Designed to be accessible to the entire industry, ECIP invites any supplier or grower interested in accessing the system to do so. More information about on ECIP LAB is available at ethicalcharterprogramethicalcharterprogram.org.
For a deeper dive, listen to this full podcast episode to learn more about Kroger’s first-hand experience, gain insights into ECIP pricing, and discover the unique system for supporting capacity building without the constraints of a compliance program.
