Our impact on society report 2012 Supply chain

We use our influence with our suppliers to improve standards for their employees and the communities in which they operate.

Pearson purchases goods and services valued at over £2bn each year. This total includes our investment in research and development such as our advances to authors and the development of new digital products and services.

Pearson was a founder signatory to the UN Global Compact in 2000. We were clear from the outset that we would use our influence with our suppliers to improve standards for their employees and the communities in which they operate. So, in 2001, we made a series of commitments that covered labour standards and human rights as well as environmental responsibility, and extended these to cover our supply chain.

A more detailed review on supply chain management at Pearson is available in downloads.

Targets

Key:

  • Target achieved
  • Target ongoing
2012 Plans 2013 Commitment
Paper Develop a global strategy to maximise and grow our commitment to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Ongoing. Strategy on hold pending completion of Penguin Random House Pearson UK to seek to secure Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation by 2015
Using 2008 as the baseline year, to reduce the metric tonnes of paper required to generate £1m of non-digital revenue by 25% by the end of 2012 Achieved a 20% reduction against a target of 25%. We again reduced volume of paper purchased Set a new target pending completion of Penguin Random House
Vendor relationship management Roll out vendor relationship management system to existing and new suppliers and report on take-up Ongoing. VRM now covers 20% of vendors Continued roll out of vendor relationship management system to existing and new suppliers and report on take-up
Printer Integrate environmental metrics into key data marts within the vendor relationship management system starting with paper and print Achieved. Environmental metrics integrated in paper marts and printer survey Embed social and environmental risk based assessment into vendor management process