Contributions Overview

The Better Buying Commercial Compliance Tracker
Measuring the extent to which buyer purchasing practices adhere to the minimum level of performance set forth by suppliers and do not cause obvious and avoidable harm to suppliers.

Better Buying Institute Publishes First Industry Score for Commercial Compliance
The first annual Better Buying Commercial Compliance TrackerTM has been developed as part of Better Buying’s participation in The Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative, and measures adherence to minimum levels of performance outlined in key recommendations set forth by manufacturers as central elements to the terms of trade they wish to do business under – purchasing practices that do not cause them ‘obvious and avoidable harm.’

Putting the Brakes on Purchasing Practices Survey Fatigue
Buyer surveys on purchasing practices do not produce credible data, and waste money and resources that brands and retailers could be spending elsewhere in the business. So let’s put the brakes on, before this train gets out of control. Read the latest article from our President and Co-Founder, Dr. Marsha Dickson.

The Better Buying Institute (BBI) is inviting non-apparel companies to subscribe to its Better Buying Partnership IndexTM (BBPI) to take the lead in relation to mandatory human rights due diligence reporting requirements.

Dr. Marsha Dickson, President and Co-Founder, on the important work of Better Buying Institute, which collects anonymous data and insights from suppliers about the purchasing practices of the global brands and retailers who buy their products. Win-Win Sustainable Partnerships between brands and suppliers are a win-win, and support the achievement of shared business, social and environmental goals. Brands and retailers who subscribe to Better BuyingTM continued to improve their purchasing practices even during the Covid-19 pandemic, and are building the resilient supply chains they will need to withstand future shocks and pandemics. Find out how suppliers, and brands, are using Better BuyingTM data to drive improvements, and to demonstrate progress and impact to investors and key stakeholders. Hear about our leading resources and tools, and our future plans for elevating supplier voices and supporting and inspiring companies to improve - via education, training, and innovative approaches.

What do suppliers say about the Better BuyingTM ratings platform?
"The platform is great. It's very straightforward, very easy to use. It's very anonymous and also gives you an avenue with which to give your detailed responses or ideas and concerns to the customer without risking any loss of business." Suppliers who are already participating in Better BuyingTM ratings cycles talk about their experiences of using the platform.

Article: Action speaks louder than words on purchasing practices
"If we really are serious about driving change in purchasing practices, then stakeholders should be demanding action and evidence, not just talking about it." Dr. Marsha Dickson, President and Co-Founder of Better Buying Institute, reflects on this year's OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector.

Better Buying Partnership IndexTM 2023 Executive Summary
Highlights, key takeaways and recommendations for buyers, from the Better Buying Partnership IndexTM 2023 Report.

Better Buying Partnership IndexTM 2023 Report
The findings from the second annual Better Buying Partnership Index, a short, anonymous survey of the quality of buyer-supplier partnerships consisting of 12 subjective measures and 3 open-ended questions where suppliers can share more in-depth feedback on their buyer's partnership.

The Better Buying Partnership IndexTM report 2023 finds that the quality of buyer-supplier partnerships in global supply chains has only slightly improved since last year, indicating that suppliers are still feeling the impact of disruption more than two years on from the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

A Special Report from Better Buying Institute

Are you ready to comply with Germany's new act on supply chain due diligence?
An article by Dr. Marsha Dickson, President and Co-Founder of Better Buying Institute, on the connection between purchasing practices and factory-level noncompliance, and how brands and retailers can comply with Germany's new Supply Chain Due Diligence law.

A Better Buying Institute Spotlight Report, examining how workers benefit when brands and retailers prioritize audit harmonization

Workers Benefit: When Brands and Retailers Accept Standardized Audits from Suppliers
When brands and retailers accept the SLCP Converged Assessment Framework instead of insisting on buyer-specific audits, the potential for worker benefits are significant. But audit harmonization is only part of the picture. Buyers’ purchasing practices need to be strong across all seven Better BuyingTM categories to support ongoing supplier sustainability, and deliver consistent benefits to workers

The STTI Survey of Commercial Compliance is Open for Ratings
Suppliers are invited to participate in the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) survey of commercial compliance. Driven by 15 apparel manufacturing associations from 11 countries, STTIs' objective is to deliver a major contribution towards purchasing practices that allow textile and garment manufacturers to run a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable operation.