Communication

Without communication, how far would we get? Not far, I promise! We wouldn’t know what our customers need, what our suppliers can offer, how to make our products, or how to tell our customers that we’ve made products for them.

Communication is made up of many layers, including listening and speaking, reading and writing, questions and answers, plus body language, sign language and other forms of non-verbal communication – including facial expressions, such as a simple smile ??

Listening is more than just hearing. It’s not a question of waiting until it’s your turn to speak, and planning what you’re going to say while the other person is speaking. Listening requires your full attention, and not so much guess work. It’s about understanding the words and the tone, and “reading between the lines”.

When we communicate messages about sustainability, key points are:

* transparency; and

* clarity.

Sustainability in the supply chain is a complex subject, but when we have transparency throughout the supply chain, the message can be communicated more easily so that we can see clearly where our products were made, from which materials, and by whom – and that each process was managed responsibly and ethically, from an environmental and social point of view.