Staples inc.

"we require each supplier providing us with Staples® brand products to comply with the following Supplier Code of Conduct (“our Code”).* We strongly recommend that our other branded suppliers and subcontractors comply with our Code or similar standards: 1. Forced Labor: Suppliers shall not use forced labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, or otherwise. Suppliers must allow employees to keep their own identification documents and to resign from their positions at any time. 2. Child Labor: Suppliers shall not employ people younger than 15, or the minimum age for the completion of compulsory education, or the minimum age of employment required by law in the country of manufacture, whichever is highest... 4. Nondiscrimination: Suppliers shall not subject any person to discrimination in employment (including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement) on the basis of gender, marital status, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, social or ethnic origin or any other condition that could give rise to discrimination...6. Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining: Suppliers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Management is encouraged to engage in direct communication with employees."

"Nondiscrimination: Suppliers shall not subject any person to discrimination in employment (including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement) on the basis of gender, marital status, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, social or ethnic origin or any other condition that could give rise to discrimination."

"We will ask our suppliers to demonstrate that they provide paper and wood-based products from non-controversial sources, meaning that the wood or fiber: • Is not harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights, including free, prior, and informed consent;"

"We seek to work with paper and wood-based product suppliers and their associated raw material suppliers who not only comply with all environmental and forestry laws and regulations, but also demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, environmental innovation, and use technologies that minimize raw material utilization and emissions. As part of our evaluation process for the suppliers of raw materials going into paper and wood-based products, we may request information about factory specific operations and practices for use in evaluating supplier performance."

"At Staples, we strive to work with suppliers who treat their workers with dignity and respect, adhere to applicable laws and regulations, and make their products in an environmentally sustainable manner....To ensure compliance with our Code, Staples shall have the right to monitor factories producing Staples® brand products throughaudits by third parties and visits by Staples personnel. We seek relationships with suppliers that are committed to manufacturing Staples® brand products under fair and safe labor conditions and sound environmental practices. If we determine that a particular factory does not comply with our Code, we typically strive to work with the supplier to develop and implement an appropriate corrective action plan. Nevertheless, depending upon the circumstances, Staples may elect to end its relationship with a supplier that produces Staples® brand products at any time for failing to adhere to our Code."

Staples EthicsLink serves as a 24/7 ethics resource for all associates. Through this help line, associates can ask for guidance on ethical and compliance issues and report suspected ethics violations. It’s available online or accessible via phone in multiple languages. While hosted by a third party, it is administered by Staples, which receives all reports to ensure proper follow-up and, when needed, immediate action"

"SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AUDITS- All suppliers in "at-risk" geographies are required to be audited prior to starting production and are recertified every year. For example, Staples currently designates the following countries as "at-risk" in accordance with industry assessments: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, The Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Each audit is designed to allow the factory to demonstrate adherence to our Code through on-site verification by a trained auditor. The auditor conducts employee interviews and document reviews to substantiate factory operating practices, and rates the factory on a point scale.[...] Certain requirements are deemed "Critical" to create minimum standards for each supplier to consistently achieve. Suppliers failing to meet the minimum requirements are required to sign a Letter of Commitment, which states their intent to continuously improve and requests a probationary period to implement the necessary changes. They are also required to complete a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) documenting the steps they will take and the timeline for the necessary improvements. If suppliers meet the minimum requirements but have violations in other areas, they receive a conditional pass and may also be required to submit a CAP. All CAPs must be approved prior to Staples continuing business with the supplier."

"Certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) [...] To implement these commitments, we will survey our paper and wood-based product suppliers to identify the sources of their raw materials, the management practices and certifications held by them and/or their raw material suppliers, and the certifications that their products are labeled with, if any. Staples evaluates the supplier information provided in light of this policy and may conduct audits to confirm the validity of the information provided. We prioritize our surveys and audits to best meet the goals of this policy."

"we require each supplier providing us with Staples® brand products to comply with the following Supplier Code of Conduct (“our Code”).* We strongly recommend that our other branded suppliers and subcontractors comply with our Code or similar standards: 1. Forced Labor: Suppliers shall not use forced labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, or otherwise. Suppliers must allow employees to keep their own identification documents and to resign from their positions at any time. 2. Child Labor: Suppliers shall not employ people younger than 15, or the minimum age for the completion of compulsory education, or the minimum age of employment required by law in the country of manufacture, whichever is highest... 4. Nondiscrimination: Suppliers shall not subject any person to discrimination in employment (including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement) on the basis of gender, marital status, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, social or ethnic origin or any other condition that could give rise to discrimination...6. Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining: Suppliers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Management is encouraged to engage in direct communication with employees."

"Nondiscrimination: Suppliers shall not subject any person to discrimination in employment (including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement) on the basis of gender, marital status, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, social or ethnic origin or any other condition that could give rise to discrimination."

"We will ask our suppliers to demonstrate that they provide paper and wood-based products from non-controversial sources, meaning that the wood or fiber: • Is not harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights, including free, prior, and informed consent;"

"Staples is committed to operating our business in a sustainable manner and to making it easy for our customers and associates to make a difference for the environment. We seek to work with suppliers that share our commitment to responsibly managing natural resources, supporting local communities, and producing and promoting sustainable products. This policy specifies the efforts we will make to increase the sustainability of the paper and wood-based products we source. "

"At Staples, we strive to work with suppliers who treat their workers with dignity and respect, adhere to applicable laws and regulations, and make their products in an environmentally sustainable manner....To ensure compliance with our Code, Staples shall have the right to monitor factories producing Staples® brand products throughaudits by third parties and visits by Staples personnel. We seek relationships with suppliers that are committed to manufacturing Staples® brand products under fair and safe labor conditions and sound environmental practices. If we determine that a particular factory does not comply with our Code, we typically strive to work with the supplier to develop and implement an appropriate corrective action plan. Nevertheless, depending upon the circumstances, Staples may elect to end its relationship with a supplier that produces Staples® brand products at any time for failing to adhere to our Code."

Staples EthicsLink serves as a 24/7 ethics resource for all associates. Through this help line, associates can ask for guidance on ethical and compliance issues and report suspected ethics violations. It’s available online or accessible via phone in multiple languages. While hosted by a third party, it is administered by Staples, which receives all reports to ensure proper follow-up and, when needed, immediate action"

"Social accountability audits - Certain requirements are deemed "Critical" to create minimum standards for each supplier to consistently achieve. Suppliers failing to meet the minimum requirements are required to sign a Letter of Commitment, which states their intent to continuously improve and requests a probationary period to implement the necessary changes. They are also required to complete a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) documenting the steps they will take and the timeline for the necessary improvements. If suppliers meet the minimum requirements but have violations in other areas, they receive a conditional pass and may also be required to submit a CAP. All CAPs must be approved prior to Staples continuing business with the supplier."

"Certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) [...] To implement these commitments, we will survey our paper and wood-based product suppliers to identify the sources of their raw materials, the management practices and certifications held by them and/or their raw material suppliers, and the certifications that their products are labeled with, if any. Staples evaluates the supplier information provided in light of this policy and may conduct audits to confirm the validity of the information provided. We prioritize our surveys and audits to best meet the goals of this policy."