Our sustainable procurement programme has recently updated our policies and procedures, shared updated expectations with our preferred suppliers and fully defined the sustainability criteria used to assess and evaluate supplier performance and award new business.
Our annual supplier sustainability survey signals to suppliers the importance of sustainability, recognises good performance, and stimulates new sustainability conversations.
We see sustainable procurement as the single biggest way that we can support wider social, economic and environmental objectives. We observed great engagement and an excellent response rate of 78% to our first (now annual) supplier sustainability survey which goes to both domestic and international suppliers. The survey signal to suppliers the growing importance of sustainability in supply contracts and allows us to recognise high-performing suppliers and offer support to lower-performing suppliers. The high response rate indicates interest and engagement in our supply chain and the survey often prompts further discussions about improvement areas or collaboration opportunities.
In the event of potential ethical issues being identified in the supply chain during routine assessments, we undertake an independent investigation, as was recently completed for phosphate supply from Western Sahara, to fully assess, better understand, and if necessary, respond to this risk.
Our expectations are clearly outlined in our Supplier Code of Conduct.