The Irish Exporters Association is starting a new initiative to drive sustainable and ethical change across the international trade sector.
The Institute of Sustainable Trade (IST) is a new professional membership and education institute which aims to ensure Ireland can continue to compete effectively on the world stage while meeting a high degree of ethical standards.
It will focus on preparing individuals and companies for a more sustainable future and will offer participants the chance to develop the skills they need to drive sustainable change in their organisations to meet the high expectations of consumers.
The IEA said that to meet out sustainability targets, companies must bring in significant changes that ensure environmental stewardship, decreased damage and ethical and sustainable sourcing, manufacturing and product distribution.
Through membership of the IST, it said that international trade professionals will have an opportunity for their skills and expertise to be expanded while also gaining standardised recognition.
This will allow for the development of a more ethical approach to business activities in the future, the IEA said.
Simon McKeever, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association, said that consumers are more conscientious about what they buy than ever before and they expect organisations to meet a certain set of ethical standards, and no company is exempt from scrutiny.
"This new initiative will support companies foster sustainable business practices to meet the demand from consumers, and ultimately support the international trade industry to meet its domestic and international sustainability goals," he added.
Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner for Financial Services, said the dynamics of international trade are complex - sustainability issues are now part of the agenda.
"In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, human rights, water scarcity, issues related to land use, toxic waste, water pollution, deforestation, air quality and energy use are concerns," the Commissioner said.
"The introduction of a more ethical and sustainable approach is good practice for any business. The work of the IST will help companies improve regulatory compliance, enhance business branding and reputation, reduce waste and overheads, and lead to responsible, ethical, and sustainable sourcing which benefits everyone," she added.
