In line with the Target Forward vision, we are committed to pursuing fair, responsible and equitable purchasing practices throughout our supply chain. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and we expect our business partners to do the same.
Our mission
Target is partnering across our value chain to drive meaningful change through holistic assessment of social,environmentaland business impacts of our products and packaging.
We take accountability for our own actions to generate social and environmental benefits and avoid causing adverse impacts within our manufacturing supply chain.It is our mission to verify everything we source forTarget is produced ethically andin accordance withall applicable laws and our policies. Our initiativesare grounded in traceability to enable holisticengagement between people and planet.
Our responsible sourcing and sustainability teams work together to improve supply chain oversight and remediation, integrate responsible sourcing practices into our business operations and consistently seek out innovative solutions to advance performance beyond compliance.We regularly evaluate the way we do business with our suppliers and collaborate with them on practices and processes that are in alignment with ours.
OurStandards of Vendor Engagement (SOVE), ourResponsible Sourcing and Sustainabilitygovernance program, oversight and performance elevation, and our commitment toResponsible Purchasing Practicesserve as the foundation for this work.
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Our philosophy
When it comes to sourcing products, we take a page from our company's founder, George Dayton, who was well known for his strong business ethics.
Today, wecontinue tostrive to ensure our suppliers manufactureall ofour products under the highest ethical standards, comply with all applicable laws and work with vendors and factories who share those commitments.We also work with regulators, manufacturers, industry organizations and other retailers around the world to continuallyset the bar higher for our industry.At all times we look for opportunities to improve our standards and processes.
Our expectations
We are committed to using our reach and influence to protect people and uphold environmental and social responsibility standards throughout our global supply chain.
We expect all our domestic and international business partners to respect human rights, and to comply with Target’s SOVE and all applicable laws pertaining to human rights, including, without limitation, all laws applicable to workplace health, safety, labor and employment.
All our vendor relationships are guided by the Business Partner Code of Conduct. This includes our SOVE, which outlines our expectations for vendors and serves as the anchor for embedding human rights throughout our supply chain, alongside our labor and human rights policies. These core documents define the scope of our vendors’ ethical operations obligations.
Additionally, "Applying Target’s SOVE" is a detailed guidebook on Target’s expectations for supply chain human rights, as well as environmental standards we expect from suppliers — has been made available to vendors in 10 different languages. Find the guidebook downloads on our SOVE page.
Standards of Vendor Engagement (SOVE)
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Responsible Resource Use
Visit section to learn more about our resource policies and commitmentsAs an industry expert and enthusiast deeply entrenched in the field of corporate sustainability and responsible sourcing, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge and experience to dissect and elaborate on the concepts presented in the provided article.
The article revolves around Target's commitment to sustainability and governance, with a primary focus on responsible and equitable purchasing practices throughout its supply chain. Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Target's Vision and Commitment:
- Target articulates its commitment to fair, responsible, and equitable purchasing practices aligned with the Target Forward vision.
- The company sets high ethical standards for itself and expects the same from its business partners.
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Mission and Holistic Assessment:
- Target emphasizes a mission to drive meaningful change through a holistic assessment of social, environmental, and business impacts of its products and packaging.
- The company takes accountability for its actions, aiming for social and environmental benefits while avoiding adverse impacts in its manufacturing supply chain.
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Ethical Sourcing and Compliance:
- Target declares its mission to verify that everything sourced for the company is produced ethically and in accordance with all applicable laws and policies.
- Initiatives are grounded in traceability to enable engagement between people and the planet.
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Collaboration and Continuous Improvement:
- Responsible sourcing and sustainability teams collaborate to enhance supply chain oversight, integrate responsible sourcing practices, and seek innovative solutions.
- Regular evaluations are conducted with suppliers, and collaboration is emphasized to align practices and processes.
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Standards of Vendor Engagement (SOVE):
- Target's SOVE, the Responsible Sourcing and Sustainability governance program, and commitment to Responsible Purchasing Practices form the foundation for their work.
- This includes exploring responsible supply chains, human rights, animal welfare, purchasing practices, suppliers, traceability, and transparency.
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Philosophy and Ethical Standards:
- Target draws inspiration from its founder's strong business ethics, striving to ensure all products are manufactured under the highest ethical standards.
- Continuous efforts are made to improve standards and processes.
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Expectations and Global Influence:
- Target commits to using its reach and influence to protect people and uphold environmental and social responsibility standards throughout its global supply chain.
- Expectations include respect for human rights, compliance with SOVE, and adherence to all applicable laws related to workplace health, safety, labor, and employment.
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Vendor Relationships and Code of Conduct:
- All vendor relationships are guided by the Business Partner Code of Conduct, including SOVE, defining the scope of vendors' ethical operational obligations.
- Target provides a detailed guidebook, "Applying Target’s SOVE," outlining expectations for supply chain human rights and environmental standards in multiple languages.
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Additional Resources:
- The article provides links to related content, such as Responsible Resource Use and information about Target Forward, offering more in-depth insights into the company's sustainability strategy and goals.
In summary, Target's approach revolves around transparency, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement in ensuring ethical, sustainable, and responsible practices throughout its supply chain. This commitment is underscored by specific programs, codes of conduct, and a comprehensive governance framework.
