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Supplier – Kaneta in China
ENVIRONMENT: PROGRESS ON ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION
STRATEGY – LIVING THE FUTURE
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The Group’s increased procurement in dollars or in
low-cost countries during 2007 was not enough to
offset very steep price rises for raw materials such
as aluminium and nickel. Total purchase costs for
the year increased by 2.4%.
In the area of sourced finished products, the Group
reinforced its procurement structures based in
Hong Kong and Shenzhen with a view to focusing
on a limited number of approved suppliers and
building up long-term working relations with them.
All the Group’s suppliers – of raw materials, components or finished products –
sign an eco-statement in which they undertake not to use substances forbidden by
regulations in the countries where the products they are concerned with will be
sold by the Group. The conditions laid down by the European RoHS* directive on hazardous substances form part
of the eco-statement, and the European REACH* regulations on chemicals will also be gradually integrated.
Inspections and analyses of components are carried out regularly to verify the conformity of delivered products.
The Group also presses its suppliers to begin the procedure to obtain ISO 14001 environment certification.
Close to one-third of the Group’s supplier panel for raw materials and components already hold this certificate,
while the rate for the finished products supplier panel is 11%.
INCREASE IN SOCIAL AUDITS
Respect for labour rights is a key requirement for Groupe SEB. With an increased proportion of its supplies
sourced in Asia, the Group decided to introduce an SA 8000-style labour rights statement for this zone. The
statement has been signed by all its Asian suppliers. To monitor actual practices in the field, 44 detailed social
audits were conducted in 2007, of which 17 by an external agency.
In the event of failure to comply with regulations, the Group immediately suspends all new orders for the supplier
concerned, and makes corrective action a condition of resuming business (after verification by a follow-up audit).
Of 44 supplier audits in 2007, a single case of non-compliance with regulations on under-age working was found.
This labour rights statement was extended to Latin American suppliers in 2007. Half of them have already signed.
* see Glossary.