Sustainable Procurement
Procurement Policy
The procurement policy of our company is designed to ensure that we only work with suppliers who adhere to high ethical standards in their employment practices, environmental sustainability, and business conduct. We take pride in our commitment to promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout our supply chain.
Employment Practices
We have strict policies in place to ensure that our suppliers do not prevent or discourage their employees from joining trade unions or discriminate against employees who hold trade union membership. We seek to work with suppliers who provide their employees with the freedom to choose to work for them and are free to leave the supplier after reasonable notice is served. Suppliers should not use forced, bonded, or non-voluntary prison labour. We also require that our suppliers establish recognized employment relationships with their employees that are in accordance with their national law and good practice.
Equality and Diversity
We seek to work with suppliers who can demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity for individuals and groups enabling them to live their lives free from discrimination and oppression.
Environmental Sustainability
Our commitment to ethical procurement extends to promoting greater environmental sustainability. We seek to reduce waste by:
- Reviewing the amount and type of materials purchased
- Exploring opportunities to purchase refurbished, recycled, and recyclable equipment, products, and materials
We source green energy wherever possible and adopt appropriate energy management measures. We ensure that the goods we purchase derive from natural sources where appropriate, do not have an adverse effect on the environment, and comply with the UK, the EU, and international trading rules. Furthermore, we ensure that the vehicles we purchase or commission have low emissions of air pollutants and climate change gases and take account of the need to minimize emissions and exposure to air pollution in all our purchasing of goods and services.
Bribery and Corruption
Our policy also prohibits bribery and corruption in any form. We prohibit the offering, giving, solicitation, or acceptance of any bribe or corrupt inducement, whether in cash or in any other form, to or from any person or company wherever located, whether a public official or public body, or a private person or company, by any individual employee, director, agent, consultant, contractor, or other person or body acting on the firm's behalf.
Conflict of Interest
The policy is not intended to prohibit normal hospitality provided that it complies with our Corporate Entertainment Policy, fast tracking a process which is available to all on the payment of a fee, or providing resources to assist a person or body to make a decision more efficiently, provided that it is for this purpose only. However, it may not always be a simple matter to determine whether a possible course of action is appropriate. Therefore, if any doubt arises as to whether a possible act might be in breach of this policy or the law, the matter should be referred to our General Manager. The firm will investigate thoroughly any actual or suspected breach of this policy or the spirit of this policy. Any stakeholder of the Company found to be in breach of this policy may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Sustainable Palm Oil
We are also concerned about the environmental and social impacts of the buying of palm oil from South East Asia. We ask that all our suppliers, who directly procure palm oil, are members of the RSPO. If they do not directly procure palm oil or palm derivatives, they must ensure their suppliers are a member of this organization to show their commitment to the growth and use of sustainable palm oil with full traceability back to crude palm oil.
We have guiding principles that we share with the suppliers who procure palm oil. These seek to build on the RSPO Principles & Criteria and New Planting Procedure, as well as adhere to all relevant national and international laws and conventions. We are committed to ensuring that there is no deforestation and no conversion of peat for oil palm cultivation. This is in line with our company's zero-deforestation commitment, and we expect our suppliers to adhere to the same principles. We are also committed to promoting transparency and engagement with stakeholders, including communities, NGOs, and other relevant organizations, to ensure that our palm oil supply chain is free from environmental and social risks."
No Deforestation
Our company is committed to zero-deforestation and is actively working to eliminate deforestation from its supply chain. We have set a target to achieve zero-deforestation across our supply chain by 2025. This includes a commitment to sourcing palm oil from suppliers who have no deforestation policies and adhere to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Conservation Value (HCV) approach. We also encourage our suppliers to adopt sustainable land-use practices, such as reforestation and forest restoration, and to support landscape-level conservation efforts. We believe that by working together with our suppliers and other stakeholders, we can achieve a sustainable palm oil supply chain that is free from deforestation.
No Development on Peat
Our company recognizes the importance of protecting peatlands and is committed to ensuring that there is no development on peatlands for oil palm cultivation. Peatlands are critical carbon sinks and their destruction can result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. We work with our suppliers to identify and protect peatlands that have been identified as High Carbon Stock (HCS) or High Conservation Value (HCV) areas. We also encourage our suppliers to restore degraded peatlands and support sustainable land-use practices that can help prevent further degradation of these important ecosystems.
Transparency
Transparency is a key component of our company's sustainability commitments. We believe that transparency is essential for building trust and ensuring accountability across our supply chain. To this end, we require our suppliers to disclose information on their palm oil supply chain, including the origin of their palm oil, the mill where it was processed, and any certifications or sustainability commitments they have in place. We also engage with stakeholders, including communities, NGOs, and other relevant organizations, to ensure that we have a comprehensive understanding of the environmental and social risks associated with our palm oil supply chain.
No Exploitation of People or Communities
Our company is committed to respecting human rights and ensuring that there is no exploitation of people or communities in our palm oil supply chain. We have a zero-tolerance approach to forced labour, child labour, and any form of exploitation or abuse. We require our suppliers to adhere to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Conventions, including those related to forced labour, child labour, and discrimination. We also engage with our suppliers and other stakeholders to identify and address any social risks associated with our palm oil supply chain.
Driving Positive Social and Economic Impact for Smallholders and Women while Protecting Forests
Our company recognizes the important role that smallholders and women play in the palm oil industry and is committed to driving positive social and economic impact for these groups while protecting forests. We work with our suppliers to support smallholder and women's empowerment initiatives, including access to training, financing, and land tenure. We also promote sustainable land-use practices that can help smallholders and women increase their productivity while protecting forests.
Sustainable Soya
Our company is committed to sourcing sustainable soy products. We recognize the important role that soy plays in many food products and animal feed. However, we also recognize that unsustainable soy production can lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and negative impacts on local communities. To address these concerns, we work closely with our suppliers to ensure that our soy products are sustainably sourced and meet rigorous environmental and social standards. This includes sourcing soy from suppliers who are certified by reputable third-party organizations such as the Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) or ProTerra, and promoting responsible soy production practices such as reduced use of pesticides and responsible land use management."
Soy-derived Sourcing
We are committed to sourcing soy products from suppliers who can demonstrate responsible sourcing practices. We aim to work with suppliers who have implemented comprehensive traceability systems that allow us to track the origin of our soy products and ensure that they are not linked to deforestation, illegal logging, or other unsustainable practices. We also work to promote transparency in the soy supply chain by collaborating with our suppliers to share information on their sustainability practices and ensure compliance with our sourcing policies.
GMO Policy
Our company recognizes the concerns that consumers have regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their food products. While we understand that GMOs may have potential benefits, such as increased crop yields, we are committed to ensuring that our products are free from genetically modified ingredients. We require our suppliers to provide documentation demonstrating that their products are GMO-free and comply with relevant regulations and labelling requirements.
Modern Slavery Statement
Here at Fairtrade Warehouse, we take the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking extremely seriously. We believe in treating all individuals with respect and dignity, regardless of their position within our company or supply chain.
Our commitment to combatting modern slavery starts with our established Employee Code of Conduct. This code outlines our company's values and expectations, including our zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and human trafficking. We also expect our suppliers to adhere to the same high standards that we set for ourselves, and we work closely with them to ensure that they understand and meet our expectations.
To prevent acts of modern slavery and human trafficking from occurring within our business and the supply chain, we have implemented a number of measures. This includes carrying out due diligence assessments of our suppliers, monitoring their compliance with our policies, and providing training and support to both our employees and suppliers to ensure that they are aware of the risks associated with modern slavery and how to report any concerns.
In addition, we believe that employment should always be chosen and that there should be no forced, bonded, or involuntary labour. We expect our suppliers to ensure that their employees, whether permanent or temporary, are treated with respect and dignity, and that they are not required to lodge monies or identity papers in order to work. Furthermore, we believe that all employees should be free to leave employment after the giving of reasonable notice.
As part of our commitment to transparency, we regularly review our policies and procedures to ensure that we are doing everything we can to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. We also encourage our stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and employees, to speak up if they have any concerns or suspicions about modern slavery within our business or supply chain.
In summary, we take the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking very seriously and are committed to ensuring that these practices do not occur within our business or supply chain. We will continue to work closely with our suppliers, employees, and stakeholders to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking and to promote equality and respect for all individuals.
