The New York Times reports today that the group was founded in 1999 by universities, nonprofit groups and by companies, including Nike, that were trying to address supply chain worker conditions in the face of criticism from anti-sweatshop groups.

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The business, social and environmental results of supply chain operations have the potential to address many of the issues outlined above but need to be framed against the social purpose of the business and not as management by check box.

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Partnerships that address NGOs' misgivings about a firm's supply chain are likely to prove much more successful.

ECONOMIST: Business and NGOs