A TV host takes supermarkets to task on BBC’s Watchdog programme after her daughter’s Halloween costume catches fire. A chemical previously thought harmless and contained in thousands of consumer products suddenly shows up on an official list of extremely hazardous substances. A company with a strong public commitment to sustainability discovers inadvertently that much of…
Ensuring that practices such as modern slavery and child labour don’t find their way into supply chains is a serious challenge for modern businesses. As this article points out, few companies have visibility beyond their first tier of suppliers, and many commodities are sourced from countries where human rights risks are substantial, but mapping your supply…
Reputational Companies that are concerned about protecting their brand against negative publicity need to make sure they have full visibility throughout their supply chain in order to identify and act on any suppliers that may be engaging in illegal or unethical activities. Customers are increasingly looking for assurance that the materials or products they…
Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology has been around for more than a century, but recently its popularity has surged with the introduction of wireless charging devices for consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, as well as for electric vehicles. According to technology consulting firm IHS inc. consumer awareness of wireless charging technology has doubled,…
Here at Track Record Global we have big plans for expanding the business. The business is growing fast, particularly in the UK retail sector. Retailers are, however, demanding to deal with, technically rigorous, and the profit margins can be tight. In the light of this we’ve created a new position of Chief Operations Officer. Fiona Horsnell…
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) there are more than 20 million forced labourers around the world today. The Global Slavery Index estimates the number is closer to 40 million. Many of these modern day slaves are working in the supply chains of western corporations, and the ILO estimates that roughly $150 billion of illegal…
The largest forest products company in Romania, the Austrian-based Holzindustrie Schweighofer, is suspected of knowingly buying illegally-cut wood in the country. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), an environmental NGO, has released a video exposing the leadership of the company knowingly accepting illegally harvested timber, as well as offering bonuses for any further timber supplied. Romania…
In its weekly overview of its Rapid Exchange of Information System (RAPEX), the EU has produced the following report) on the products that have recently been withdrawn, recalled or banned from the European market. The RAPEX system covers non-food products posing a risk to consumer health and safety, and highlights the commercial importance of product…
BSi have published an updated British Standard for topsoil. BS 3882:2015 sets out requirements for topsoil composition, with information on sampling, analysis, and guidance about handling and site preparation. Changes include: A safer and cheaper new test for organic matter in soil; Revised test parameters to reflect increased use of composted waste; The updated standard…
Parents should be careful when buying costumes for their children. The shocking news of the serious burns suffered by Claudia Winkleman’s daughter after her Halloween costume caught fire indicates that reform of the legal standards covering these products should be seriously considered. According to the CTSI, 32 RAPEX notifications regarding chemical and flammability hazards relating…