Our long-term objective is to source all of our raw materials in a way that minimizes any negative environmental and/or human rights impact

At the same time, we look to do this in a way that creates real, lasting value for all our stakeholders

We view sustainable procurement as a prerequisite for our long-term commercial success, because we use thousands of raw materials from all over the world and are heavily reliant on their availability, quality and price stability.

Consumers across the world are also increasingly concerned about protecting the environment, non-exploitation, forest conservation and natural qualities – as such, the provenance and source of the products they purchase and consume is of growing importance. To continue to create solutions for our customers that are loved by consumers worldwide, we need to continue to meet and exceed these changing consumer needs.

We work closely with both our customers and our suppliers to advance the social and ecological conditions that allow us to achieve these criteria.

Transparency and traceability are key to securing successful, sustainable supply chains

Achieving full transparency and traceability across our supply chains is an ongoing challenge for a number of reasons. The often highly complex material flows and differing objectives among the participants involved mean that it’s essential to clearly define guidelines and visibility at every step.

All of our suppliers must adhere to ourCode of Conduct, which involves delivering full disclosure as to the origin of their raw materials. As a SEDEX member, we can also rate the performance of our main suppliers in terms of factors such as human rights, the environment, health and safety, integrity and additional ethical criteria.

Our ability to understand and improve such factors not only helps secure our supply chain, it also gives our customers and consumers the valuable insights into their products that they increasingly demand.