Supplier Code of Conduct Policy
Purpose
Crystalloids is committed to conducting business with integrity, transparency, and respect for all stakeholders. We expect our Suppliers to share this commitment and adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct, social responsibility, and human rights. Crystalloids holds the EcoVadis Committed Badge for environmental responsibility, and this policy reflects the necessity of maintaining these standards across our supply chain.
Our policy aligns with international standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Crystalloids is also proud to be ISO27001 certified and hold the SNA Keurmerk (NEN 4400) for fair labor practices, as well as the EcoVadis Committed Badge for environmental responsibility.
Scope
This Code of Conduct applies to all suppliers, vendors, contractors, consultants, and service providers (collectively, "Suppliers") who provide products or services to Crystalloids, as well as their employees, representatives, and subcontractors.
Compliance
Suppliers must comply with this Code and all applicable local and international laws, rules, and regulations. Where a requirement in this Code is more stringent than local law, the Supplier must meet the more stringent requirement. Violation of this Code may lead to a review of the relationship, including potential termination of contractual obligations.
Policy Requirements
Labor and Human Rights
Suppliers must treat their employees fairly and with dignity, providing the conditions they need to perform at their best. This section reflects the core principles of the Crystalloids Labor Human Rights Policy.
| Principle | Requirement |
|---|---|
| No Child Labor | Suppliers must strictly prohibit child labor and ensure a zero tolerance for child labor across all operations and supply chains. |
| No Forced Labor or Human Trafficking | Suppliers must strictly prohibit any form of forced labor, bonded labor, or human trafficking. Employment must be 100% voluntary. Suppliers must not tolerate coercion or the retention of personal documents. |
| Fair Working Conditions & Pay | Suppliers must ensure fair pay that meets legal standards and adherence to working hour regulations. Wages must meet minimum wage standards and be paid in a timely manner. Suppliers should promote a strong focus on work-life balance. |
| Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination | Suppliers must not tolerate any form of discrimination (based on gender, background, age, nationality, or beliefs), harassment, or physical, psychological, and verbal abuse. Hiring and promotion decisions must be based solely on skills, potential, and team fit. |
| Health and Safety | Suppliers must provide a safe, healthy, and respectful work environment. |
Crystalloids and its Suppliers must establish clear and accessible grievance mechanisms that allow employees, subcontractors, and other stakeholders to report concerns or suspected violations confidentially and without fear of retaliation. The designated Crystalloids contact details for reporting concerns are provided within this policy. Suppliers are expected to use these official communication channels to submit any reports, ensuring that all concerns are directed to the appropriate department for timely and confidential handling.
Ethical Business Practices and Integrity
Suppliers must adhere to the Crystalloids Code of Ethics, upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability.
| Principle | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Anti-Corruption & Bribery | Suppliers must maintain a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and bribery. Suppliers must never offer, give, solicit, or accept any form of bribe or unethical advantage in business dealings. All gifts, hospitality, and business expenses must be transparent, reasonable, and in compliance with company guidelines. |
| Competition and Antitrust | Suppliers must comply with all applicable competition and antitrust laws. Suppliers must act independently of their competitors and must not exchange commercially sensitive information (e.g., pricing, strategy, market allocation) or make agreements that harm competition. |
| Conflicts of Interest | Suppliers must avoid conflicts of interest and ensure clear and truthful communication. Any potential conflict of interest must be disclosed to Crystalloids immediately. |
| Tax and Trade Compliance | Suppliers must conduct business to prevent the opportunity for, and occurrence of, tax evasion, and must be tax compliant. Suppliers must also comply with all applicable international trade laws, regulations, and export controls related to their work with Crystalloids. |
| Integrity & Accountability | Suppliers must act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions, adhering to all applicable laws and regulations. |
Environmental Responsibility
Crystalloids believes in minimising its environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices. We encourage our Suppliers to share this commitment by actively working to reduce their own environmental impact.
- Minimising Environmental Footprint
- Suppliers are encouraged to seek ways to minimise their environmental footprint. This may include prioritising low-emission travel and transport methods where feasible.
- Responsible Resource Use
- Suppliers should strive to use resources responsibly. We recommend, for example, promoting reusable resources, implementing responsible waste management practices like recycling, and prioritizing digital documentation to achieve a paperless environment.
- Sustainable IT Practices
- Suppliers should consider leveraging sustainable IT solutions, such as energy-efficient hardware, cloud computing, and responsible data storage practices, to minimise environmental impact.
- Continuous Improvement
- Suppliers should continuously look for opportunities to evaluate their practices and improve their environmental performance.
Information Security and Privacy
Suppliers must safeguard confidential and sensitive information, respecting privacy laws and the standards required by Crystalloids' ISO27001 certification.
- Data Protection & Security
- Suppliers must implement rigorous data protection policies to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. They must comply with all relevant regulations regarding data privacy, including GDPR and other applicable laws.
- Responsible PII Handling
- Suppliers are expected to process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in an ethically responsible manner, aware of the privacy rights of data subjects. Unethical handling of PII (e.g., unauthorized access, unlawful processing, or failure to report incidents) is unacceptable.
- Confidentiality and IP
- Suppliers must protect Crystalloids' confidential and proprietary information and must safeguard and protect Crystalloids' and its customers' proprietary intellectual property.
- Responsible Marketing
- Suppliers must ensure marketing practices are truthful, transparent, and do not mislead customers or stakeholders.
Sustainable Procurement
Monitoring and Reporting
The Operations department is in charge of monitoring, incident reporting, and improvements. Suppliers must maintain accurate records and respond transparently to any reasonable request for information from Crystalloids (or its advisors) related to the level of compliance with this Code.
Suppliers are encouraged and facilitated to report suspected or actual cases of non-compliance or unethical behavior.
- Internal Channels
- Suppliers should provide their employees with a clear, accessible process for reporting ethical concerns confidentially and without fear of retaliation.
- External Concerns
- Concerns from external stakeholders and indications of misconduct can be raised through: info@crystalloids.com.
Fairness and Compliance
Suppliers are responsible for their own compliance with this Code. The standards outlined in this Code are non-negotiable.
Crystalloids maintains a structured annual supplier sustainability evaluation process, which includes a review of our suppliers, the official information they provide regarding their sustainability and compliance standards, and an assessment to ensure these do not conflict with Crystalloids’ principles and Code of Conduct.
Contacts
For questions or clarification regarding the implementation or compliance with this policy, contact: