Code of Conduct
Integrity in partnerships
To govern our collaboration, our Code of Conduct sets out minimum requirements regarding social, environmental and ethical responsibility. This Code of Conduct applies equally to both partners. In the event of a breach of these principles, the other partner is entitled to terminate the collaboration.
This Code of Conduct is based on national laws and regulations as well as international conventions, including the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Guidelines on Children’s Rights and Business, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the International Labour Organisation’s core labour standards.
General
- Negative social and environmental impacts should be systematically minimised and avoided. Positive impacts should be increased.
- The partners recognise and implement relevant international and national laws and regulations relating to health, safety, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
- The partners also involve their employees and stakeholders in the implementation of these principles.
- The partners encourage their suppliers and subcontractors to adhere to the same fundamental principles.
Social Responsibility
- The partners are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment.
- The partners pay their employees at least the national statutory minimum wage or the higher minimum standards customary in the sector. They comply with regulations on working hours, annual leave and sick leave. Protective measures are in place for pregnant employees.
- The partners prohibit all forms of forced labour and exploitative child labour.
- The partners undertake to protect children from sexual exploitation and prostitution. Suspicious behaviour by employees, suppliers or other persons within the contractual partner’s sphere of influence will not be tolerated and will be reported as a criminal offence.
- The partners reject physical and psychological violence as well as sexual harassment.
- The partners do not accept discrimination on the grounds of skin colour, ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Environmental responsibility
- The partners are taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint.
- The partners take care to reduce or avoid the use and consumption of resources during production, as well as the generation of waste, including water and energy. Energy consumption is monitored with a view to improving energy efficiency.
Ethical responsibility
- The partners shall comply with the standards for fair business practices, fair advertising and fair competition.
- Partners undertake to protect the privacy of partners, customers and staff, and to meet reasonable expectations regarding data protection.
- Intellectual property rights must be respected. The transfer of technology and know-how must take place in such a way that intellectual property rights and customer information are protected.
