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Apple is notoriously secretive about some of its activities including where its products are made. Recently it removed the cloak of secrecy around its suppliers for the iPhone, iPad and other products.

This increased transparency was just one of a number of progressive steps included in Apple’s sixth annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report. The 2012 report details findings of 229 audits covering four areas:

• labor and human rights
• worker health and safety
• environmental impact
• ethics

Leaps Forward

In addition to revealing its list of suppliers, Apple took a number of big leaps forward with this report including:

1. It increased the number of audits by 80 percent.
2. It conducted additional specialized audits at 14 suppliers in China, looking at wastewater treatment facilities, air emissions handling, solid waste disposal, and noise abatement
   systems. It is working with its suppliers to address the issues identified.
3. It is the first technology company to join the Fair Labor Association, a nonprofit organization that targets sweatshop conditions. The association will audit Apple’s supply chain against its Workplace Code of Conduct.
4. It evaluated the effort suppliers made to set up management systems to keep themselves in
   compliance with Apple’s code of conduct and their efforts to educate and develop workers are evaluated.
5. It expanded its program to offer professional development opportunities to workers

Influencing practices for good

By publishing its 2012 Supplier Responsibility Progress Report and going outside of its comfort zone with respect to transparency, Apple can influence more than just its suppliers. But Apple’s actions alone can’t influence others — the company’s activities must be communicated to make a difference.

Apple is a company that everyone loves to watch because of its leadership in many areas. Let’s hope others are paying attention to the leadership it is showing in the area of business practices for good.