The Mama Bamboo Supplier Code of Conduct takes into account the well-established principles of sustainability that also have been incorporated in some important internal regulations:
- Sustainability is a key element of Mama Bamboo's values and forms an integral part of our business strategy
- Within our Environmental and Social Policy and Goals we have clearly defined our commitment to the principles of sustainable development
- Our membership to the B-Corp certification programme recognises Mama Bamboo as upholding the highest ethical and environmental standards and committing to using business as a force for good.
These values and policies demonstrate how Mama Bamboo assumes its responsibility concerning social, ecological and ethical standards and how we put into practice the principles of sustainable development in our daily operations. We expect all of our suppliers and subcontractors to share the principles which are expressed in this Supplier Code of Conduct and that comprise an important component of our supplier selection and evaluation. Supplier auditing is conducted and certified by independent assessors BSI (British Standards Institute) on these basis.
Ethical requirements - To meet social responsibilities, suppliers are expected to conduct their business in an ethical manner and to act with integrity, across all of the following aspects:
- Business Integrity - Suppliers are expected not to practice or tolerate any form of corruption, extortion or embezzlement. Suppliers will not offer or accept bribes or other unlawful incentives to/from their business partners. Suppliers are expected not to offer to Mama Bamboo employees gifts or any other kind of personal benefit resulting from the relationships with the suppliers.
- Fair Competition Suppliers will conduct their business in line with fair competition and in accordance with all applicable anti-trust laws.
- Privacy & Intellectual Property Suppliers will safeguard and make only appropriate use of confidential information and ensure that all employees’ and business partners’ privacy and valid intellectual property rights are protected.
- Identification of Concerns Suppliers will provide means for their employees to report concerns or potentially unlawful activities in the workplace. Any report should be treated in a confidential manner. Suppliers will investigate such reports and take corrective action if needed.
- Standards When Conducting Product Testing Suppliers are expected to conduct testing in accordance with the international guidelines, the current national and local laws and regulations and the strictest medical, scientific and ethical principles. Zero animal testing is tolerated of products or ingredients. Our FCOD aligns to the EU Cosmetic Testing Ban (11/03/13) meaning we will not use any product tested on animals after this date within our supply chain.
Labour - Suppliers are expected to protect the human rights of their employees and to treat them with dignity and respect. This includes the following aspects:
- Child Labour Avoidance We do not tolerate child labour in our supply chain. Suppliers should avoid any sort of child labour in their business operations consistent with the ILO’s2 (International Labour Organization) core labour standards and the United Nations Global Compact principles.
- Freely Chosen Employment We do not tolerate slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking in our supply chain. Bonded, indentured or involuntary prison labour is not accepted.
- Diversity and Inclusion Equal treatment of all employees will be a fundamental principle of the supplier’s corporate policy. Typical discriminatory treatment takes into consideration – consciously or unconsciously – irrelevant characteristics of an employee such as race, national origin, gender, age, physical characteristics, social origin, disability, union membership, religion, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any unlawful criterion under applicable law. Suppliers will ensure that their employees are not harassed in any way.
- Fair Treatment Suppliers will provide their employees with a workplace free of harsh and inhumane treatment, without any sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment or torture, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse of employees, or the threat of any such treatment. Furthermore, suppliers are expected not to unfairly terminate any employment contract or without clear evidence specify that the termination of an employment contract, in relation to the working performance of an employee, is permitted by law.
- Working Hours, Wages and Benefits Working hours for suppliers’ employees will not exceed the maximum set by the applicable national law. Compensation paid to employees will comply with applicable national wage laws and ensure an adequate standard of living. Unless otherwise provided by local laws, deductions from basic wages as a disciplinary measure will not be permitted (this does not exclude the entitlement of damages on a contractual or legal basis). Suppliers are expected to provide their employees with fair and competitive compensation and benefits. Compensation and benefits should aim at providing an adequate standard of living for employees and their families. Within the UK, all suppliers will be committed to the Living Wage policies. Suppliers’ employees will be paid in a timely manner. It is recommended that suppliers offer their employees ample training and educational opportunities.
- Freedom of Association Suppliers will be committed to an open and constructive dialogue with their employees and workers’ representatives. In accordance with local laws, suppliers will respect the rights of their employees to associate freely, join labour unions, seek representation, join works councils and engage in collective bargaining. Suppliers will not disadvantage employees who act as workers’ representatives.
Health and Safety: Suppliers are expected to provide a safe and healthy working environment and, if applicable, safe and healthy company living quarters, and to operate in an environmentally responsible and efficient manner. Suppliers will integrate quality into their business processes. This comprises the following aspects:
- Quality Requirements Suppliers will meet generally recognised or contractually agreed quality requirements in order to provide goods and services that consistently meet Mama Bamboo needs, perform as warranted and are safe for their intended use.
- Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality Regulations Suppliers will comply with all applicable quality, health, safety and environmental regulations. All required permits, licenses and registrations will be obtained, maintained and kept up-to-date. Suppliers will fulfill their operational and reporting requirements.
- Product Safety Material safety data sheets containing all necessary safety-relevant information will be made available by suppliers for all hazardous substances and will be provided to Mama Bamboo and other parties in case of a legitimate need.
- Occupational Health and Safety Suppliers will protect their employees from any chemical, biological and physical hazards and physically demanding tasks in the workplace as well as from risks associated with any infrastructures used by their employees. Suppliers will provide appropriate controls, safe work procedures, preventative maintenance and necessary technical protective measures to mitigate health and safety risks in the workplace. A safe and healthy working environment also includes as a minimum potable drinking water, adequate lighting, temperature, ventilation and sanitation and, if applicable, safe and healthy company living quarters.
- Process Safety Suppliers will have safety programs in place for managing and maintaining all their production processes in accordance with the applicable safety standards. Suppliers will address product-related issues and their potential impact during all stages of the production process.
- Emergency Preparedness, Risk Information and Training Suppliers will make available safety information on identified workplace risks and suppliers’ employees will be correspondingly trained to ensure they are adequately protected. Suppliers will identify and assess likely and potential emergency situations in the workplace and minimise their impact by implementing emergency plans and response procedures.
- Waste and Emissions Suppliers will have systems in place to ensure the safe handling, movement, storage, recycling, reuse and management of waste, air emissions and wastewater discharges. Any of these activities that have the potential to adversely impact human or environmental health will be appropriately managed, measured, controlled and handled prior to release of any substance into the environment. Suppliers will have systems in place to prevent or mitigate accidental spills and releases into the environment.
- Resource Conservation and Climate Protection Suppliers are expected to use natural resources (e.g. water, sources of energy, raw materials) in an economical way. Negative impacts on the environment and climate will be minimised or eliminated at their source or by practices such as the modification of production, maintenance and facility processes, material substitution, conservation, recycling and material re-use. Suppliers will engage in the development and use of climate-friendly products and processes to reduce power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Security Suppliers will have good security practices across their supply chains. Suppliers will maintain processes and standards that are designed to assure the integrity of each shipment to Mama Bamboo from its origin through to its destination and all points in between.
