Ethical Supply Chain Strategies | The US Summit: Sustainability Stage 2026

Why It Matters

As companies nearshore supply chains and face rising regulatory and reputational scrutiny, Sedex’s dataset gives firms and buyers actionable intelligence to target high-risk sites and labor-supplier practices, reduce audit fatigue, and better allocate compliance resources. Predictive SAQ metrics can help firms preempt severe violations and focus remediation where it matters most.

Summary

Sedex, operator of the Smeta social-audit methodology, presented analysis of its US data covering more than 10,000 sites and roughly 2 million workers. While the US shows a medium inherent risk overall, Sedex’s combined risk scoring — which layers audit and self-assessment data onto sector/country risk — finds 38% of US sites are high risk, above the 31% global average, with manufacturing and agriculture concentrated among those sites. Key issues identified include heightened freedom-of-association risks, sector-specific vulnerabilities to child and forced labor in agriculture, widespread use of labor providers (44% of US sites vs 21% globally), and a gap between firms’ responsible-sourcing processes (95% have processes) and formal commitments to international standards (45%). Sedex also showed that self-assessment management scores and site characteristic indicators are strong early predictors of severe audit non-compliances, offering a predictive tool for prioritizing interventions.

Original Description

Is your supply chain truly ethical, or are you just checking boxes? As transparency becomes the new global currency, discover how industry leaders are moving beyond compliance to build value chains rooted in genuine human rights and environmental integrity.

Recorded live at The US Summit 2026 in Chicago, this expert panel on the Sustainability Stage brings together four heavyweights in the field: Martine Hornseth (Sustainability Lead), Hicham Nehme (Operations Specialist), Michelle Dilley (CEO of AWESOME), and Vini Pathak (Strategic Sourcing Expert). Together, they tackle the growing complexity of monitoring "deep-tier" ethics and the rising regulatory demands for supply chain accountability.

The discussion centers on the practical implementation of ethical standards—from ensuring fair labor practices in emerging markets to leveraging blockchain for radical transparency. These leaders share how they navigate the tension between cost-efficiency and moral responsibility, proving that an ethical supply chain is not just a "nice-to-have," but a prerequisite for long-term brand resilience.

Key Insights Include:

Beyond Tier 1: Innovative strategies for ensuring ethical compliance deep within the sub-tiers of your global network.

The Legislative Wave: How to prepare for and stay ahead of evolving global human rights and environmental due diligence laws.

Technology for Good: The role of AI and data tracking in verifying supplier claims and preventing modern slavery.

Diversity as Ethics: Why inclusive procurement and female leadership (as championed by AWESOME) are fundamental to ethical operations.

Cultural Shift: Moving your organization from a culture of "policing" suppliers to one of collaborative partnership and capacity building.

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