In 2010, Georgia-Pacific EMEA launched its Supplier Sustainability Guidelines. In addition to proactively sharing this document with our suppliers, we are implementing annual diligence during face-to-face meetings with our main suppliers to ensure alignment with these guidelines. This of course includes certification checking, manufacturing sites visits, and forest visits for pulp suppliers, as well as looking at plans for continuous improvement.
In addition, there is a standard vetting process for new significant suppliers and Georgia-Pacific EMEA's standard contract terms require compliance with applicable laws.
At Georgia-Pacific, we recognize the critical role we play inmaking products that improve lives and offer better solutionsthan other alternatives. Doing so sustainably requires thatwe balance the social, environmental and economic benefitsand risks of our products, including how they are sourced,manufactured and used. Therefore, suppliers play a key rolein our efforts to ensure that we manage our global supplychain in a sustainable way. These Guidelines establish ourexpectations of suppliers in areas that present near-termand long-term supply risk.
It is important to Georgia-Pacific, our customers and ourconsumers that suppliers perform consistently with theseGuidelines. We believe that compliance with all applicablelaws is the foundation for sustainability. But in addition tocompliance, we encourage suppliers to make continuousimprovement as they identify new and innovative ways tocreate value and mitigate risk in the social, environmentaland economic dimensions of sustainability.
Helping make people’s lives better through the products we make,support for the communities in which we live and work,maintaining quality work environments, and sourcing responsibly.
Suppliers must not employ underage individuals as defined byapplicable child labor laws.
Suppliers must not use forced labor or involuntary prison labor.
Suppliers must comply with all applicable minimum wage,overtime and maximum hour laws, as well as other wage andhour regulations.
Suppliers must implement measures to secure our internationalsupply chain and comply with all applicable customs andanti-terrorism laws.
Suppliers must comply with applicable laws related to anemployee’s choice to join, or refrain from joining, any legallysanctioned association or organization.
Suppliers must maintain a work environment that respects thedignity and worth of each individual and not discriminate on thebasis of any protected factor or activity, as defined by applicablelaw or regulation.
We value suppliers that maintain their long-term social licenseto operate by being good corporate citizens in the communitiesin which they have operations.
Using resources wisely, complying with laws, minimizing the impact of our facilitiesby operating in a safe, responsible and efficient manner, and reducing the adverseimpact of our products in use.
Suppliers must provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environmentthat meets or exceeds applicable laws and regulations for occupational safety andhealth.
Suppliers must meet all applicable environmental rules, regulations and laws in thecountries where they do business. In addition, we encourage our suppliers toconsistently look for new and better ways to conserve resources, reduce theimpact of products in use, and reduce manufacturing waste.
In addition to standard safety and product stewardship assurances, we encouragesuppliers to evaluate potential certifications as tools to verify and communicate theongoing application of sustainable practices in sourcing, manufacturing and qualitymanagement activities.
Driving long-term profitability, providing products and services that are preferred,creating greater value for our customers and consumers, supporting economiesthrough the purchase of goods and services, paying taxes and providing other formsof community support.We expect suppliers to operate with integrity. Suppliers must not offer bribes,kickbacks or other improper, undocumented payments for the purpose ofgarnering favorable treatment by a third party, including any government.Suppliers must comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act as well as anyother anti-corruption laws in the jurisdictions in which they do business.
Suppliers are expected to develop and apply appropriate internal controls,accountability and governance models that ensure accurate reporting andencourage financial stability.
We expect our suppliers to: provide products and services that meet ourquality and safety standards; deliver products and services at the lowest total costof ownership, including all associated purchase, converting, inventory, storage andhandling, transportation, distribution, use and disposal costs; and seek new andinnovative ways to further improve quality and performance, while reducing totalcost.