The ICTI Ethical Toy Program (IETP) is rebranding to reflect its place within the larger industry.
A global nonprofit best known for its Supplier Certification Program, IETP is moving to make its offerings accessible to additional industries. The organization will now be known as the Ethical Supply Chain Program (ESCP).
The toy industry has been instrumental in championing ethical labor and supply chain standards in factories worldwide; standards which have enabled us to change the lives of millions of workers around the globe for the better. This evolution will increase the accessibility of our program, enabling us to work with more factories and expand into new industries, ultimately improving labor and environmental standards in international supply chains across the board.
The ESCP will continue its work in showcasing sustainability and positive changes across a number of industries. In addition to its Supplier Certification Program, the organization has a Social Impact Assessment, Environmental Assessment, supplier capability building, and worker wellbeing initiatives.
“Renaming to the Ethical Supply Chain Program is welcome news within the toy industry and beyond, demonstrating the standards upheld by the organization and the attention placed on quality and rigour — regardless of sector,” says Edena Low, Chair of the Board at ESCP. “The fact that many more organizations globally will now benefit from more ethical certification and audit processes will ensure better rights for more factory workers worldwide”.
The ESCP has a long history of work within the toy industry, with 20 years of efforts to keep standards high. Recent initiatives include the 2010 launch of a Worker Helpline, the 2016 launch of its Family-Friendly Spaces Program, and the launches of new supplier assessments (including the Environmental Assessment) in 2020. This isn’t the organization’s first rebrand, as it was previously known as the ICTI CARE Foundation, rebranding to the ICTI Ethical Toy Program in 2018.
The new brand will be phased in throughout the year, as part of a larger strategy to expand into new sectors with additional program offerings. The ESCP has services for both buyers and suppliers, with remote assessments, certifications, and more.
