Sustainability Projects and Initiatives
QIMA sustainability projects and initiatives
For QIMA, sustainability and CSR are tightly intertwined with the work we do every day. Environmental protection, human rights, freely chosen decent work, safe working conditions – all of these issues hold very real meaning for us, as we see first-hand the impact they can have on countries, businesses and communities.
In addition to helping our clients bring trust to the global trade, we work with many sustainability-oriented groups and projects that span the business and expert community, as well as NGOs and charitable organizations.
Community involvement
Even as long-term improvement is underway, vulnerable communities need support in the short and medium term, if they are to ever benefit from the big-picture measures. Being a long-time partner of several charitable foundations and green initiatives, we also promote individual participation and contributions from our team members.
Gratia Foundation
The Gratia Foundation is a charity supporting child welfare organizations throughout China. Being a supporter since 2014, QIMA provides dedicated sponsorship for the Children Village in Sichuan, helping ensure that orphaned and disadvantaged children receive good-quality care and education opportunities.
Grow A Tree
The “Grow A Tree” initiative was launched by the Provincial Government of Cebu, Philippines, with the goal of planting 35 million trees by 2020. With QIMA’s Cebu office being a partner of the initiative, our team members have already planted their trees, and will be visiting them regularly in the years to come, helping promote a greener and healthier environment in local communities.
French-African Young Leaders Program
The French-African Young Leaders Program coordinated by the French-African Foundation seeks to identify high-potential French and African talents, and create and sustain trusted long-term relationships between them, with the ultimate goal of creating a community of pan-African leaders within the continent and with France. As a Bronze partner, QIMA contributes funds towards the training and support of the Program participants.
Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange
Collaboration between all stakeholders is a powerful tool for transforming global supply chains with a focus on safety, sustainability and human rights. At QIMA, we are proud to contribute our know-how and expertise to a number of professional organizations with social and ethical missions.
Associate Auditor Group — Sedex
As part of the world’s largest collaborative platform for sharing responsible sourcing data on supply chains, QIMA contributes its knowledge to help businesses manage their performance around labor rights, health & safety, the environment, and business ethics.
Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA)
The Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors is a practitioner-led initiative created to enhance the professionalism, consistency and credibility of the individuals and organizations performing independent social compliance audits. As part of its APSCA membership, QIMA participates in the review panel of the Association’s workgroup on auditor competencies.
amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
Established by amfori (formerly the Foreign Trade Organization) in 2013, the Business Social Compliance Initiative aims to improve social performance in the increasingly complex global supply chains. Being an accredited provider of BSCI amfori audits, QIMA helps international brands and retailers ensure fair working conditions in their supply chains and achieve compliance with the BSCI amfori Code of Conduct.
Initiative for Compliance and Sustainability (ICS)
QIMA is one the partner auditing bodies of ICS, a group of major retailers working together to sustainably improve conditions for people at work, and responsibly support suppliers. In cooperation with other ICS members, QIMA promotes responsible trade for retail and distribution brands who import products from at-risk countries.
International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
ICPHSO is an international forum of health and safety professionals representing government agencies, NGOs, educators and the business community. As a member, QIMA contributes to the ongoing exchange of ideas and information on product safety on the regional, national, and international levels.
Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)
The Responsible Jewellery Council is a not-for-profit standard-setting and certification organization dedicated to promoting responsible business practices in the jewelry supply chain. Being an RJC-accredited impartial auditor, QIMA helps companies ensure compliance of their jewelry supply chains with the RJC Code of Practices and the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol.
Social and Labor Convergence Project
QIMA is proud to contribute its ethical audit expertise to the Social and Labor Convergence Project, a social auditing initiative that aims to improve working conditions worldwide through broad cooperation and more effective audit methodologies.
Life and Building Safety Initiative (LABS)
The purpose of the LABS initiative is to improve worker safety in the international apparel and footwear sectors. By participating in the creation of LABS standards for fire, electrical and structural safety, QIMA helps address critical life safety issues in factories globally.
