Blog post 2024-09-05
Sustainability

Emphasizing CSR and Due Diligence in Medical Device Product Development

At Evercare Medical, our commitment to improving supply chain management ensures that we capture and address salient risks. We advocate for stringent tender requirements, including comprehensive risk assessments that extend well beyond the first tier, especially for high-risk commodities and products.

Understanding the Life Cycle and Supply Chain Risks

To effectively identify and mitigate social risks, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of the entire life cycle and supply chain. At Evercare Medical, we implement rigorous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and quality processes. Our commitment extends beyond immediate impacts, ensuring a fair and sustainable value chain. However, we also recognize the complexities and challenges that come with managing a dynamic supply chain.

 

Comprehensive Risk Assessment Strategies

Our approach to risk assessment is thorough and multifaceted. We conduct general country risk assessments based on various indexes and indicators for all countries. For high-risk countries, we perform more extensive, in-depth assessments. Additionally, we carry out specific product and commodity risk assessments based on identified risks. This allows us to evaluate risks from multiple perspectives, ensuring that we catch potential issues, even several tiers back in the supply chain.

 

The Importance of Local Expertise

A key element of our CSR efforts is the presence of local sourcing offices in countries where we have production. As Johannes Mauritzson, Commercial Manager & ESG Transformation Manager at Evercare Medical, notes, "We have internally trained SA8000 CSR auditors. This in-house expertise enables us to dynamically improve our work and gradually enhance our knowledge over time."

 

Commitment to Ethical Trading

Evercare Medical has been a proud member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) since 2022. ETI brings together companies, trade unions, and NGOs to promote fair working conditions, ethical trades, and positive development for workers worldwide. As active members, we adhere to the standards set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

 

Promoting Comprehensive Risk Mapping in Public Procurement

In the realm of public procurement, Evercare Medical actively advocates for comprehensive risk mapping, which includes country, product, and commodity risks. Addressing these risks collaboratively is essential for minimizing negative social impacts and fostering a fairer industry.

 

 

Top Three Takeaways

Be aware of the risks in your supply chain. Risk extends far beyond the country of origin or even in some cases beyond specific commodity risks. It's the intricate web of interrelated complexities where many potential risks reside. This is why a multilayered risk approach is required.

CSR work is dynamic. We are operating in an ever-changing landscape.

Next step. Include requirements of CSR, risk assessment, and transparency in tenders. Favour and reward the ones with good overview and control. This helps us and others in the industry to accelerate our improvement journey.