The rules changed completely, and most companies are still trying to figure out what happened. Used to be simple - find the cheapest factory, negotiate price, done. Now, buyers want documentation proving workers get paid fairly. Investors demand carbon footprint reports. Customers Google factory conditions before placing orders.
This isn't some trend that's going away next quarter.
ESG compliance became the entry ticket for working with serious companies. The problem is, most advice floating around is either completely useless or written by consultants who've never actually stepped foot in a manufacturing facility.
Here's what ESG compliance actually looks like when dealing with real suppliers making real products.