The Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) has announced a restructured participation model and adjusted fee structure intended to be more engaging and inclusive with distributors and end-buyers.

[From left] David Clifton is QCA president of the board and CMO of alphabroder; Tim Brown is QCA’s executive director of operations.

Over the past decade, the organization has focused on supplier accreditation, which is granted to companies who complete an independent third-party audit and comply with stringent standards based upon a combination of state and national laws, international standards and industry-accepted best practices. Although QCA instituted a distributor advocacy council, many distributors wanted some form of certification for themselves, said David Clifton, president of the QCA’s board of directors and chief marketing officer at Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063).

“We’re expanding this beyond suppliers to include distributors and, more importantly, end-users,” Clifton told Counselor. “We’ll provide end-users with a list of distributors who are certified, that way they’ll see these folks are engaged in corporate and social responsibility. They’re following the right set of rules and working with suppliers who follow those same rules.”

The new participation model consists of four categories: End-Buyer Supporters, Distributor Advocates, Certified Distributors and Decorators, and Accredited Suppliers. The inclusion of direct end-buyer engagement will allow for organizations to publicly communicate their expectations to the promotional products industry.

That communication, Clifton believes, is vital in the wake of an Associated Press investigation that found at least 10 times this year, shipping containers filled with thousands of men’s, women’s and youth polyester shirts and pants were shipped to Badger Sportswear (asi/37876) from Hetian Taida Apparel Co. Ltd’s facility in the Xianjing region of China. The AP report said that Hetian Taida uses forced labor to produce apparel. Badger Sportswear says it has since suspended ordering from the Chinese factory, but the damage had already been done to the North Carolina-based apparel supplier, as high-profile clients broke off business with the brand.

“Every time something like that comes up or there is a product recall, it’s a hit on the entire industry,” Clifton said. “Brands will shy away from working with the industry. As a supplier, we feel obligated to sustain the industry. Distributors need to take that message to the end-user.”

In addition to the restructured participation model, QCA has created a fee structure that requires investment from its new group of distributor advocates. Under the new structure, a larger number of smaller distributors are empowered to collectively have a greater say in their expectations for brand safety and responsible sourcing.

“For suppliers to have a robust compliance program, certain costs are simply a part of the deal regardless of if they work with an organization or go it alone,” said Tim Brown, executive director of operations at QCA. “Realizing this, QCA is working with distributor advocates to help lessen the burden on suppliers. The result is a robust program that not only meets the industry and end-buyer demands, but also is affordable and attainable. Through this revised structure, QCA can engage a greater diversity and variety of voices in the conversation around brand safety and corporate social responsibility. We can assist our trade association and industry compliance leaders in protecting and growing the industry.”