Ethical and Sustainable Procurement Policy Statement
Our Aim
We will only procure goods and services from local and national suppliers who take into account relevant social, ethical and environmental factors in relation to the goods and services they provide.
This policy statement confirms the BAS Ltd approach to ethical and sustainable procurement for all of the company’s goods and service needs in compliance with UK government best practice advice and methodology as originally defined by the Sustainable Procurement Task Force (“Procuring the Future” – National Sustainable Procurement Action Plan published in June 2006)
Social & Ethical
Wherever possible BAS Ltd will procure from suppliers who:
- Have a Corporate Social Responsibility policy in place.
- Take account of national and other applicable laws regarding the fair treatment of
- Respect the principles of international labour standards covering forced labour; Health & Safety;
- Freedom of association and collective bargaining (e.g. do not prevent or discourage employees
- From joining trade unions or discriminate against employees who hold trade union membership);
- Prevention of any form of discrimination or oppression; employee harassment and abuse; disciplinary practices; working hours; remuneration.
- Have contractual employment terms that include reasonable minimum standards.
- As far as can be established do not engage in bribery or corruption.
- Supply ‘Fair Trade’ goods (where applicable).
Suppliers must not use forced, bonded or non-voluntary prison labour, nor should they seek to avoid providing their employees with their legal or statutory contractual rights.
BAS Ltd expects suppliers to demonstrate a commitment to equality of opportunity for individuals and groups and to address under-representation of particular groups and cultures and the need to provide skills and opportunities for people experiencing long-term unemployment.
Environment
Whenever possible BAS Ltd procures goods and services:
- Where the production does not have an adverse impact on the environment.
- That fully complies with EU and international trading rules.
- Sourced to ensure that items are energy -efficient, re-furbished, re-cycled and recyclable as far as is possible and as appropriate.
- That complies with relevant sustainability legislation.
- Take account of product life-cycle environmental impacts.
BAS Ltd aims to minimise waste streams and maximise the quantities of waste sent for recycling. The company regularly reviews the amount and type of materials purchased with the aim of realising opportunities to reduce the amount of resources consumed and to introduce efficiencies in how materials and goods are used. Whenever possible goods will be procured with minimal packaging in line with sustainable procurement good practice.
Energy efficiency measures are in place to try to ensure that heating, power and lighting usage is as efficient as possible at each BAS Ltd site.
BAS Ltd implements a sustainable transport process covering the hire and use of different modes of business travel by employees with the aim of minimising carbon emissions. The procurement of rail and air travel tickets and hire vehicles is managed centrally and monitored to ensure this aspect of company operations is as sustainable as is reasonably practicable.
Workplace
Every BAS Ltd employee is introduced to the company’s approach to sustainable procurement when they join the company at induction.
BAS Ltd works with its suppliers to ensure that its events and meetings are procured from venues that actively address our own corporate social responsibility aspirations. For example, sustainably produced food and drink are sourced for consumption at our premises.
Implementation
This policy applies to single central contracts for companywide goods and services. Relevant parts of the policy will also be applied for goods and services that local BAS Ltd sites may source from local suppliers of small and medium enterprises.
To achieve the effective implementations of the policy, BAS Ltd commits the company to:
- Making appropriate financial and staff resources available to progressing sustainable procurement throughout the company.
- Monitor suppliers against the requirements set out in this policy and report progress.
- Integrating work on sustainable procurement across the whole of BAS Ltd with the aim of Ensuring consistency in good practice and the sharing of learning to improve processes.
Review
This policy is subject to periodic review of BAS Ltd senior management with the aim of identifying opportunities to continually improve the company’s procurement operations.