Our business partner code

Our approach

Our Code of Business Principles commits us to establishing mutually beneficial relations with our suppliers, customers and business partners. In our business dealings we expect our partners to adhere to business principles consistent with our own.

We have formalised these expectations of our suppliers in our separate Business Partner Code. This Code makes clear the principles to which we expect our business partners to adhere, covering business integrity and responsibilities relating to employees, consumers and the environment.

Business Partner Code

Our Business Partner Code states that:

• There shall be compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the country where operations are undertaken.

• There shall be respect for human rights, and no employee shall suffer harassment, physical or mental punishment, or other form of abuse.

• Wages and working hours will, as a minimum, comply with all applicable wage and hour laws, and rules and regulations, including minimum wage, overtime and maximum hours in the country concerned.
  

• There shall be no use of forced or compulsory labour, and employees shall be free to leave employment after reasonable notice.

• There shall be no use of child labour, and specifically there will be compliance with relevant ILO standards.
  
• There shall be respect for the right of employees to freedom of association.*
  
• Safe and healthy working conditions will be provided for all employees.
  
• Operations will be carried out with care for the environment and will include compliance with all relevant legislation in the country concerned.
  
• All products and services will be delivered to meet the quality and safety criteria specified in relevant contract elements, and will be safe for their intended use.
  
• There shall be no improper advantage sought, including the payment of bribes, to secure delivery of goods or services to Unilever companies.

* The right to collective bargaining is implicit in the recognition of freedom of association. In line with its own long-standing practice and its adherence to the United Nations Global Compact, Unilever expects its suppliers to recognise the right to collective bargaining (where allowable by law).

Training

Supply managers are formally trained on the specific requirements of the Business Partner Code as part of regional and global supply management training workshops. Training courses are held in each region: Europe, the Americas and Asia Africa. This raises the overall awareness of the specific aspects of the Code, eg employment standards, health and safety, environment and business integrity. It also introduced managers to the new assessment protocols.