commitments

3. Integrate CSR criteria into the suppliers’ selection process

We endeavour to maintain long-term relations with suppliers who share our commitment in terms of respect for fundamental human rights at work.

• Established in 2002, our Supplier Charter is a basic policy for the control of social conditions. It is based on the rules of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and more specifically on the conventions aimed at eliminating child labour, slavery and forced or compulsory labour.

  Our commitment is extremely clear: the Supplier Charter considers child labour and forced labour as an unacceptable practice in all commercial relations between our company and a supplier".

  There are also requirements concerning health and safety, remuneration and working hours, freedom of association, compliance with all applicable environmental laws, non-discrimination on racial, ethnic or sexual grounds, non-harassment and the disclosure of our Supplier Charter to employees and sub-contractors.

  The charter has been translated into English, Chinese, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada and Sinhalese. Our suppliers are required to communicate it to their employees. This charter is now part and parcel of the standard contract entered into with all new suppliers.

• Social conformity audits make it possible to check on site that the principles of our Supplier Charter are being complied with: they are conducted by an independent external firm. In the event of non-compliance, the supplier, in coordination with us, implements corrective measures which are then checked through a verification audit. We have set out clear rules and criteria making it possible to assess a supplier's social performance, and adapt the amount of time granted for the implementation of corrective measures depending on the infraction reported.

  Social audits are carried out within the scope of a dynamic and progressive relationship with our suppliers, founded on long-term partnership and co-operation. For these audits, we rely on the common database compiled by the Social Clause Initiative launched by the Federation of Commerce and Distribution, of which PPR is member.

  Our network of seven dedicated purchasing offices guarantees better control of the conditions under which our products are manufactured: our buyers have better visibility, in terms of quality as well as social ethics.

4. Monitor and limit transport-related CO2 emissions

• In the field of transport, Redcats Group has chosen to optimise the management of its flows by adopting a preferential delivery policy. In line with this concept, our requests for paper deliveries are sent to the printers who are situated nearest the paper producing factories. In less than two years, we have managed to reduce the distances travelled by 18%, i.e. over 450 000 km. This effort has also given rise to a reduction of CO2 emissions of more than 450 tonnes a year.
• For 'large imports', we prioritize maritime transport wherever possible and this channel represented 85% of our transport flows in 2007 (since CO2 emissions produced by air transport are 75 times higher than in maritime transport).
• After the ISO 9001 certification, SOGEP obtained ISO 14001 certification in 2008. Given its logistics and transport activities, SOGEP owed it to itself to undertake this progressive sustainable development approach.
  The company also sign the 'Charter of Voluntary Commitments to reducing CO2 emissions' established by the French Ministry of Transport in partnership with the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME).