Companies in every industry have shown an admirable new commitment to higher ethical standards and have worked hard to build or restore solid reputations and stakeholder trust. But all their best efforts may be undermined if the many links in their supply chains do not follow suit. The Supply Chain Imperative helps companies avoid costly litigation and potentially devastating injury to reputation brought on by violations of law and ethical norms. The author has created a framework any business can use for monitoring, reporting, and improving performance of suppliers on environmental, social, and other issues. It ensures that the company's ethical mandate is understood and implemented along the entire length of the chain. This timely book clarifies: * The importance of maintaining an ethical supply chain * The new rules, problems, and responsibilities that businesses now face * Strategic concerns * How to use information technology in the ethical supply chain program * How to make the business case for action * And more The new business imperative is to create an unambiguous culture of ethical behavior. Here is the key to making sure that mandate is followed at every turn.