Engage
Overview
The “Engage” phase is the first phase in the process of implementing the Harmonized Responsible Sourcing Framework for Recycled Plastics (the “Harmonized Framework”). The objective of this phase is to engage all key actors to support the improvement of responsible sourcing practices in the selected value chain to meet the minimum and advanced indicators of the Harmonized Framework. Improving human rights and responsible sourcing standards is a collective effort, and it is imperative that everybody in the value chain is a part of the process.
The successful outcome of this phase is achieved when key actors and the responsible sourcing project team are aligned on the goals, objectives, and a path forward.
Where to Start
To begin, the leading organization should invite key actors across the value chain to join this effort by forming the responsible sourcing project team. Once your project team is assembled, begin work on the Engage phase to develop meaningful stakeholder engagement. This includes the following:
- Establishing a shared understanding of the Harmonized Framework and aligning expectations;
- Completing an inventory and mapping of all key stakeholders relevant to the Harmonized Framework;
- Identifying existing responsible sourcing practices of recycling companies, corporations, and all the other actors involved; and
- Completing preparation items for a participatory baseline assessment of the selected value chain.
Tools and Methods
Stakeholder and Supply Chain Mapping
The first step in the Engage phase is to convene your team and partners and complete a stakeholder map. Collaborating across the value chain is the only way to effectively improve human rights and responsible sourcing efforts to support informal waste workers and businesses. This step focuses on aligning all key actors to ensure a clear understanding of the process and expectations of the Harmonized Framework.
An introduction to the Harmonized Framework will provide the blueprint for this effort. The stakeholder map will enable the responsible sourcing project team to understand the size and scope of the selected value chain. Full traceability to the first mile of the value chain is a common challenge for recycled plastics value chains. During this step, you will identify the critical gaps to help arrive at a starting point to assess the value chain.
Objectives
- Identify and engage a project team, partners, and key actors relevant to the Harmonized Framework and to improving responsible sourcing practices;
- Establish a basic understanding of how the participating recycling company currently interacts with its upstream suppliers; and
- Gather all information needed to set up a successful value chain baseline assessment and understand the readiness to engage and set expectations for the next phase.
Steps
Introduction
Gather and introduce the project team to the Harmonized Framework to align understanding of the process and the expectations going forward.
Stakeholder Map and Supply Chain Map
Identify and map all key actors across the value chain to understand the size and scope of the chain and uncover information gaps. This helps to provide a starting point to plan the next phase.
Research of Local Regulations and Applicable Guidelines
Now that your project team is assembled and your value chain identified and mapped, the next step is to build up your knowledge base of relevant local, national, and global legal regulations and applicable guidelines. All key actors within the value chain, formal or informal, should abide by legal regulations and government guidelines that apply to their value chain and the people that work within it. This includes minimum wage guidelines, working age, working hours, business registrations, etc.
While formal businesses are required to abide by government regulations, these regulations can also help to form the basic standards according to which informal businesses should operate, and how informal workers are treated and their rights protected. During this step, your team will develop an inventory of applicable local, national, and global legal regulations to support improvements to working conditions and livelihoods of informal waste pickers.
Objectives
- Research and complete the inventory of local, national, and global regulations and applicable guidelines;
- Uncover any regulations and guidelines that may only apply to informal waste workers; and
- Review the inventory with your project team to confirm the information and address gaps, and help ground all stakeholders in the baseline standards and enforcements of regulatory requirements.
Steps
Research Local Regulations and Applicable Guidelines
Develop an inventory of local and global legal regulations and applicable guidelines that makes up the basic compliance that formal businesses and companies engaged in the value chain should achieve. This should include any regulations that impact the work of informal waste workers but might not necessarily apply to businesses or formal workers.
Supplier Engagement Assessment
The recycling company in your selected value chain plays an important role in raising human rights and responsible sourcing standards for both formal and informal workers. Recycling companies ensure that there is a way to connect the material supply to demand. While they are not solely responsible for all actions and inactions within a value chain, they are a key starting point. This is why a high-level executive from the recycling company is a required participant in the project team.
During this step, the project team will assess and understand the recycling company’s existing interactions and engagement with their suppliers, and the management system in place to support the effort. The goal is to build on this existing asset and knowledge previously derived from the recycling company’s engagement with its network of suppliers.
Objectives
- Understand the characteristics of the value chain and its actors based on the recycling company’s previous experience and input from its partners;
- Identify and acknowledge existing efforts by the recycling company that can be supported during the implementation phase; and
- Establish a baseline that includes all key actors across the value chain, and all supporting organizations, such as waste pickers’ associations.
Steps
Interview the Recycling Company and Complete the Supplier Engagement Assessment
Complete an assessment of the participating recycling company’s existing supplier engagement practices and management systems that addresses their readiness and expectations for improvement, sets the baseline on which responsible sourcing practices can be built, and provides details relevant to the baseline assessment.
Value Chain Baseline Assessment Preparation
The final step in the Engage phase is to assemble the outputs of the previous activities to prepare for the value chain baseline assessment. The value chain baseline assessment assesses all Harmonized Framework indicators across the full value chain. It requires some existing knowledge of workers and working conditions within the value chain and how interactions take place between all tiers, as revealed during the supplier engagement assessment.
Previous activities should guide the customization of the baseline assessment, its method, and most importantly, how the data collection team executes the assessment. During this step, the data collection team will complete the checklist of items to prepare for the assessment and ensure there is a clear understanding of how to engage with all waste sector workers.
Objectives
- Compile and review all learnings from the Engage phase activities to prepare for the customization of the value chain baseline assessment;
- Assemble and introduce the data collection team to support the value chain baseline assessment; and
- Complete the checklist and review of baseline assessment guidance.
Steps
Prepare for the Value Chain Baseline Assessment
Gather and review all information required from collaborators to support a successful value chain baseline assessment. Then utilize these insights to customize the value chain baseline assessment in the next phase.
