Code of Conduct
How we act matters
In an age of globalization and growing competitive pressure, it is important for a company that operates internationally to have consistent and uniform criteria on which to base its activities. In an continuous effort to maintain high standards in regards to human rights, workers rights and the environment, we have highlighted our principles and our expectations that we expect our suppliers to abide by in the Code of Conduct below.
Our Code of Conduct is an expression of our determination to observe fair and sustainable business practices and base our actions on ethical and responsible principles. We encourage and expect our employees and business partners worldwide to respect and observe the principles of our Code of Conduct.
We recognise that complying with the standards presented in the following is a dynamic process and we will promote a continuous dialog with our suppliers to this effect. However, in case of gross or repeated non-compliance we reserve the right to terminate collaboration. Suppliers must observe all laws, rules and regulations in place in their country of origin. Further to this suppliers are expected to do their utmost to always comply with international and industrial best practice. This extends also to sub-suppliers.
The 10 principles of our Code of Conduct
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights
HASLE Refractories A/S and its suppliers have a responsibility to uphold the human rights both in the workplace and more broadly within their respective spheres of influence. Suppliers operating outside their country of origin may have the possibility to promote and introduce standards in countries where human rights are not embraced and enforced to a sufficient extent.
Principle 2: Businesses must ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to avoid complicity in human rights abuses in any way. By complicity is meant direct complicity, which occurs when an enterprise deliberately helps a country to commit human rights abuses; beneficial complicity, which occurs when an enterprise directly benefits from human rights abuses committed by others; and tacit complicity, which occurs when an enterprise does not inform the proper authorities of systematic or continued human rights abuses. HASLE Refractories A/S also expects its suppliers to ensure that workplaces or any other places where production or work takes place are safe and healthy in accordance with the UN’s Global Compact’s Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems.
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to recognize and respect the right of workers to freely associate, organize and bargain collectively in accordance with the laws in force in the countries in which they are employed and the UN’s Global Compact’s Guidelines.
Principle 4: Businesses should support the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to avoid using any forced, bonded or indentured labour or involuntary prison labour. All work must be voluntary, and workers should be free to leave upon reasonable notice. The suppliers must as a minimum comply with all laws and regulations relating to wages and working hours, including those pertaining to minimum wages, overtime wages, piece rates and other elements of remuneration, and provide legally mandated benefits in accordance with the UN’s Global Compact’s Guidelines.
Principle 5: Businesses should support the effective abolition of child labour
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to work against all forms of child labour in accordance with the UN’s Global Compact’s Rights of the Child, Minimum Age and Worst Forms of Child Labour. Additionally, HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to protect all young workers from performing any work that is deemed to be hazardous or that may interfere with their education.
Principle 6: Businesses should support the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
The suppliers must not practice any form of discrimination in their hiring and employment practice on the grounds of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, health condition, political opinion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, trade union membership or marital status. Everybody must be treated with respect and have a harassment-free workplace. HASLE Refractories A/S also discourages discrimination regarding access to training, promotion and remuneration in accordance with the UN’s Global Compact’s provisions on Discrimination and Equal Remuneration.
“As a family-owned company, we are compelled to uphold certain standards for how we interact with our surroundings, both as far as people and the environment is concerned. Our Code of Conduct helps us act correctly and with integrity in our business activities.”
– Michael Bladt, CEO
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to perform their activities responsibly in relation to environmental risks and impacts by applying a precautionary approach to ensure that irreversible environmental damage does not occur.
Principle 8: Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to adopt a structured, systematic approach to environmental issues, including the setting of requirements and targets as well as the performance of follow-up activities, and to comply with existing laws, regulations and permits.
Principle 9: Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies
HASLE Refractories A/S expects its suppliers to choose modern, efficient and environmentally effective technologies and to invest in research and development supporting a sustainable development of society. HASLE Refractories A/S also expects its suppliers to strive to increase the use of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other emissions from their products and services.
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery
Suppliers must maintain high ethical standards in conformity with, above all, this Code of Conduct for Suppliers and good business practice. Existing laws, other legislative provisions and contracts must be complied with. Compliance with legislation alone, however, is not sufficient to maintain high ethical standards. Suppliers are expected to avoid conflicts of interests that may undermine HASLE Refractories A/S’s faith in them or third parties’ faith in HASLE Refractories A/S. Suppliers are expected to desist from paying or receiving improper benefits or benefits that may be regarded as improper remuneration in order to obtain, maintain or conduct business or to secure other improper advantages in their business dealings with HASLE Refractories A/S. Such improper benefits (bribery etc.) may include cash, objects, pleasure trips or other services.
