Suppliers

We choose to base our supplier relations on lawful, efficient and fair practices. We regard suppliers as a critically important stakeholder group, especially in light of expectations that businesses should use their influence to foster good standards of corporate responsibility in their supply chains. We believe that the quality of our supplier relationships often has a direct bearing on the quality of our customer relationships.

We do not operate a central purchasing function but some of our businesses undertake collaborative purchasing for raw materials they use in common. As set out in our Code of Conduct and Ethics, we always provide a competitive opportunity for suppliers to earn a share of our purchasing volume, including any supplier businesses owned by the disadvantaged, minorities and women and enlist supplier support in ensuring that we consistently meet and exceed customer expectations of quality, cost and delivery.

Throughout our organisation, we employ measures such as lean manufacturing to streamline the production process, promote efficiency, reduce inputs and cut wastage. We also endeavour to encourage our suppliers to replicate these types of savings and efficiencies.

One of our main aims, as set out in our HSE policy, is to focus on the procurement of raw materials from sustainable sources. Some of our businesses have adopted a “Green Purchasing” programme by which sustainable materials are given preference in the purchasing process. Others are currently assessing the feasibility of green procurement.