Essity

"Essity is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, which consists of 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, the environment and anti-corruption. The Essity requirements are mainly based on internationally agreed standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ILO Core Conventions, but also on national legislation [...] Essity expects its suppliers will treat their employees and all persons acting on their behalf with the highest ethical standards. Supplier must adhere to international and national conventions and laws in the area of fundamental rights, including, but not limited to, non-discrimination, freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, protection of children and mothers and the right to form works’ councils. Furthermore, Essity suppliers are not allowed to use or threaten to use corporal punishment or other forms of abuse.If required by local law, all employees of an Essity supplier must have an employment contract. Suppliers’ working hours shall comply with national laws and local industry standards, and wages and other benefits provided by supplier must be fair and at least equal to the minimum relevant legal and industry standards. [...] Suppliers shall take measures to ensure they do not engage in or support the use of forced or bonded labor."

"Essity suppliers are expected to adopt and enforce policies which effectively prohibit discrimination or harassment on the grounds of gender, marital or parental status, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, religious belief, political affiliation, age, disability, or of membership in a trade union or employee organization."

"Cooperation against forest destruction and deforestation Within the framework of the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Essity collaborates with global leading consumer product companies in the Forest Positive Coalition of Action initiative to combat global forest degradation and deforestation and to preserve biodiversity. In 2021, Essity was involved in a project to strengthen sustainable forestry and the care of forests of high conservation value in northwestern Russia, Europe's largest contiguous forest area with great natural values. The aim is to increase the adoption of sustainable forestry practices, as well as to engage local communities and other local stakeholders in a landscape planning process. In 2021, Essity had a leading role in CGF's Forest Positive Coalition where we worked together with other global companies to strengthen forest management and prevent deforestation."

"Essity uses several tools to move its suppliers in the direction of responsible forest management. Together, these tools provide Essity with the necessary information to perform risk assessments of its supply chain and evaluate its suppliers from a sustainability perspective, and to move them toward compliance with Essity’s policies and stakeholder expectations. [...] audits also include a review of [...] the use of National Risk Assessments"

"GLOBAL SUPPLIER STANDARD COMPLIANCE: Suppliers are requested to comply with Essity’s Global Supplier Standard, that includes our Supplier Code of Conduct that statesEssity’s expectations on suppliers in the following areas: • compliance with laws [...] operations are audited to ensure compliance with Essity’s Gobal Supplier Standard on a regular basis"

"External stakeholdersExternal stakeholders in EU Member States and the UK can report serious violations or breaches of laws or the Code of Conduct via the Speak up line. Information about how Essity collects and processes personal data received in the Speak up Line is available in our Privacy Notice for Essity’s Whistleblowing system. Please note that the Speak Up Line is not intended for issues related to products or services!Report a violations or breach here "

"In 2021, Essity purchased 3.2 million tons of wood-based fresh fiber and 1.8 million tons of recycled fiber. [...] Fiber sourcing wood-based fresh fiber by certification 98%"

" Our Supplier Code of Conduct and our Business Partner Code of Conduct includes our expectations regarding human rights and employee relations as well as health and safety. Compliance with such standards is a prime factor when selecting our business partners [...] Essity continuously perform risk assessment of our suppliers, including an evaluation from a human rights perspective. Essity also request our suppliers to share their human rights status via Sedex, as we do for our own production sites. Essity’s sourcing personnel related to strategic purchasing are also trained to assess and identify human rights risks in their activities and interactions with suppliers.All suppliers [...] may be subject to a social audit followed by a corrective action plan."

"The above questionnaires and third-party reports are supported and followed up byon-site supplier audits of the fiber procurement management system, and responsesto the relevant sections of the questionnaires are checked for accuracy. [...] The audits also include a review of supplier compliance with the FSC Controlled Wood standard, the use of National Risk Assessments and control measures for non-FSC certified supplies of wood, and how suppliers ensure traceability of fibers when sourcing from saw mills. [...] Satellite technology is being used to support the Essity pulp supplier assessmentsystem and help alert Essity to unexpected events that may occur within the woodsupply catchment areas. [...] allowing Essity to be alerted to unexpected events that occur within the supply catchment areas."

"Essity reserves the right to terminate business relations if so recommended by the findings of an Essity risk assessment [...] When Essity considers it necessary or when initiated by the supplier, Essity will worktogether with non-compliant suppliers to identify solutions to, for example, certification issues, supply restrictions or other bottlenecks."

"During 2021, Essity evaluated the outcome from 49 ethical supplier audits, carried out in China, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia and Estonia. Of these audits, 14 were carried out by Essity using an independent audit firm. The other 35 ethical audits, which meet Essity’s requirements, were carried out by other customers to suppliers and were approved by Essity. Essity is informed within 24 hours in cases of critical observations. No agreements with strategic suppliers were terminated on the grounds of sustainability-related non-compliance in 2021."

"Essity is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, which consists of 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, the environment and anti-corruption. The Essity requirements are mainly based on internationally agreed standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ILO Core Conventions, but also on national legislation [...] Essity expects its suppliers will treat their employees and all persons acting on their behalf with the highest ethical standards. Supplier must adhere to international and national conventions and laws in the area of fundamental rights, including, but not limited to, non-discrimination, freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, protection of children and mothers and the right to form works’ councils. Furthermore, Essity suppliers are not allowed to use or threaten to use corporal punishment or other forms of abuse.If required by local law, all employees of an Essity supplier must have an employment contract. Suppliers’ working hours shall comply with national laws and local industry standards, and wages and other benefits provided by supplier must be fair and at least equal to the minimum relevant legal and industry standards. [...] Suppliers shall take measures to ensure they do not engage in or support the use of forced or bonded labor."

"Essity suppliers are expected to adopt and enforce policies which effectively prohibit discrimination or harassment on the grounds of gender, marital or parental status, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, religious belief, political affiliation, age, disability, or of membership in a trade union or employee organization."

"GLOBAL SUPPLIER STANDARD COMPLIANCE: Suppliers are requested to comply with Essity’s Global Supplier Standard, that includes our Supplier Code of Conduct that statesEssity’s expectations on suppliers in the following areas: • compliance with laws [...] operations are audited to ensure compliance with Essity’s Gobal Supplier Standard on a regular basis"

"External stakeholdersExternal stakeholders in EU Member States and the UK can report serious violations or breaches of laws or the Code of Conduct via the Speak up line. Information about how Essity collects and processes personal data received in the Speak up Line is available in our Privacy Notice for Essity’s Whistleblowing system. Please note that the Speak Up Line is not intended for issues related to products or services!Report a violations or breach here "

" Our Supplier Code of Conduct and our Business Partner Code of Conduct includes our expectations regarding human rights and employee relations as well as health and safety. Compliance with such standards is a prime factor when selecting our business partners [...] Essity continuously perform risk assessment of our suppliers, including an evaluation from a human rights perspective. Essity also request our suppliers to share their human rights status via Sedex, as we do for our own production sites. Essity’s sourcing personnel related to strategic purchasing are also trained to assess and identify human rights risks in their activities and interactions with suppliers.All suppliers [...] may be subject to a social audit followed by a corrective action plan."