RBA certification is the internationally recognized electronic industry and related fields of the best chain of social responsibility certification, it recognizes the excellent performance of enterprises in labor, health and safety, environment, business ethics and management systems, but also consumers and customers trust and choose the company's mark. But in fact, there is a reason behind the introduction of RBA certification.
A number of shocking events and phenomena have exposed the social, environmental and ethical challenges in the electronics industry's chain, and have made industry leaders realize that they must work together. Therefore, they formulated the RBA Code of Conduct and established the RBA certification system, aiming to enhance the responsibility and sustainability of the ** chain. Next, I will take you to uncover the story behind RBA certification and let you see why it has so much meaning and value.
The origins of RBA certification can be traced back to 2006, when Nick Kristof, a reporter for Time magazine, made a secret visit to Foxconn, an Apple foundry in Suzhou, China, and discovered some shocking phenomena: workers worked more than 12 hours a day, six days a week, paid less than $100 a month, lived in crowded dormitories, and faced severe stress and discrimination. Some workers even committed suicide out of desperation.
Kristof's report caused a stir, and Apple's CEO Steve Jobs also had to come forward to respond, acknowledging Foxconn's problems, but also saying that Apple is working to improve the state of the ** chain, saying: "We're not burying our heads in the sand, we're taking action, we're doing better than anyone else." ”
In fact, Apple began its own chain social responsibility project in 2004, and it has formulated a set of business code of conduct, requiring companies to comply with relevant laws and regulations, protect the rights and interests of employees, reduce environmental impact, and improve business ethics.
However, Apple soon found that it could not effectively solve the complex and diverse problems of the ** chain on its own, and it needed to cooperate with other leaders in the electronics industry to jointly develop a unified standard, share a fair platform, and share a responsible mission. As a result, in 2004, Apple joined an industry organization co-sponsored by a number of electronics manufacturers, called the EICC (Electronic Industry Alliance), and later renamed RBA (Responsible Business Alliance), which is the prototype of RBA certification.
The development of RBA certification is a common action of the electronics industry, which reflects the importance and commitment of the leaders of the electronics industry to the social responsibility of the first chain, and also demonstrates the innovation and progress of the electronics industry, which has gone through the following stages:
Formulation: In 2004, the EICC (later renamed RBA) formulated the first edition of the EICC Code of Conduct, which is a set of norms based on internationally recognized standards and laws and regulations, involving five aspects: labor, health and safety, environment, business ethics and management system, requiring enterprises to comply with best practices in their operations and chains, protect the human rights of employees, improve the working environment, prevent pollution, operate with integrity, and continuously improve.
Improvement: In 2006, the EICC (later renamed RBA) improved the EICC Code of Conduct, adding some details and requirements, such as prohibiting the use of child labor, prohibiting discrimination and harassment, prohibiting forced labor, limiting working hours and overtime, guaranteeing wages and benefits, protecting intellectual property rights, preventing bribery and corruption, etc.
Promotion: In 2008, the EICC (later renamed RBA) promoted the EICC Code of Conduct, expanding its scope of application to the electronics industry and its related fields, including electronics, automobiles, toys and other industries, at the same time, it has also attracted more member companies to join, including Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Dell, HP, Lenovo and other well-known brands, as well as many first-class and second-class businesses, forming a huge chain network.
Improvements: In 2010, the EICC (later renamed RBA) improved the EICC Code of Conduct by adding some new content and requirements, such as focusing on conflict minerals, preventing the financing of illegal armed forces, paying attention to the effects of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on the health and welfare of employees, providing training and education, etc.
Update: In 2012, the EICC (later renamed RBA) updated the EICC Code of Conduct to align it with international standards and initiatives such as the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Declaration on Multinational Enterprise Conduct and the United Nations Global Compact.
Rebranding: In 2017, EICC (later renamed RBA) changed its name to RBA (Responsible Business Alliance) to reflect its broader industry coverage and deeper concept of social responsibility, and at the same time, it also launched a series of new programs and services, such as the RBA** Learning Platform, RBA Verification Improvement Program, RBA Responsible Minerals Initiative, RBA Responsible Factory Initiative, etc., to help enterprises better implement and improve the RBA Code of Conduct.
RBA certification not only shows how leaders in the electronics industry can pursue profits while also paying attention to the interests of society, how to compete while win-win cooperation, and how to innovate while also sustainable development. RBA certification not only provides an opportunity for enterprises to optimize management, enhance competitiveness and expand the market, but also provides consumers with a basis for choosing high-quality, safe, environmentally friendly and ethical products, and also provides a platform for the society to promote harmony, fairness and prosperity.
RBA certification is a forward-looking and influential certification, which is not only applicable to the best chain of the electronics industry and its related fields, but also can be used for reference and promotion to other industries and fields, bringing value and contributions to more enterprises and society. If you have any questions or needs about RBA certification, please feel free to contact us, we will be happy to serve you!