Governance Partnership across the supply chain Responsible purchasing We procure a wide range of materials, products and services from many different suppliers. We want to keep the environmental impact of these purchasing activities as low as possible and therefore work hard to select suppliers that share our commitment to environmental protection and social responsibility. Our aim is to establish long-term partnerships with suppliers so that we can work together to promote sustainable practices across the supply chain and bring about collective improvements. Our procurement organisation comprises a team of buyers who are responsible for different goods and services. Procurement decisions are made based on the relevant product and supplier specifications, which are defined in consultation with the purchasing, quality assurance and engineering departments. Checks are conducted as part of our supplier management and purchasing processes to ensure compliance with these specifications, especially in product quality and safety, employment conditions and the working environment and environmental standards. Just like our products and services, our environmental and energy policy is designed with longevity firmly in mind. We understand the importance of environmental actions and energy decisions for the future of our planet and believe it is our responsibility to monitor practices in both these areas across our value chain. It is essential that environmental legislation and standards are upheld and that suitable environmental management systems are put in place wherever possible. We expect our supply chain partners to act responsibly with respect to natural resources and the environment and to take action to minimise their consumption of raw materials, water and energy. To that end, we look to establish long-term partnerships in all procurement areas and to prioritise partnerships with local suppliers so that we can reap the benefits of more direct – and therefore efficient – working relationships and shorter transport routes. ➔ GRI 3-3, GRI 407-1, GRI 408-1, GRI 409-1, GRI 411-1 – Introducing an ESG r isk management tool for the supply chain – Ongoing training programme on topics such as sustainabilit y and compliance in procurement Key points 72 © Copyright by Blum
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