Code of Conduct

Welcome to Repbasics’ Code of Conduct. The document is divided into two parts: a Suppliers Code of Conduct and a Buyers Code of Conduct.

The Supplier’s Code of Conduct

This part of the document contains ambitions, guidelines, and criteria that our suppliers should understand.

The Buyer’s Code of Conduct

This part of the document contains the efforts, ambitions and guidelines we will follow when engaging in a collaboration where we act as the buyer.

Note: the Code of Conduct has been written in English as it should also be available to our International partners, customers, and suppliers as well.

Supplier's Code of Conduct

Why we have a code of conduct

We have a code of conduct to communicate what we will not tolerate and at the same time indicate the direction for the journey we are on regarding working conditions and environmental consciousness.

This is not intended to be a legal contract based on which we will exclude our suppliers. We are not perfect, and we do not expect our suppliers to be perfect either. We do not expect our suppliers to be able to comply with all ambitions, but we expect that they want to be part of the journey. We say ‘part of the journey’ because we do not see ourselves as passive buyers, setting demands. Rather we see ourselves as part of the sustainability journey which is why we also want to engage with our suppliers and assist and support however we can to better working conditions and reducing environmental impact.

An opportunity to engage and know each other

This Code of Conduct has been made to be a conversation starter. We want to get to know you as a supplier; how you operate, what your ambitions and targets are and what we can do from our side to support you in achieving those targets. We also want you to know about Repbasics and our ambitions.

Hard limits

On every journey there is a starting point. We have decided on a few crucial points that must be in place for us to begin a collaboration.

Basic human rights

We want to make sure that no child has been part of making the products that we sell and use. Naturally we do not accept forced labour. Apart from that, we are expecting our suppliers to have a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and treat all employees with respect and in accordance with the law.

Agreements on products

When we have agreed on a product, we expect that we get what we have agreed upon. When we reorder a product, we expect that the same agreed terms apply. If, for some reason, it is challenging to live up to the same standards as agreed upon, we expect quick and upfront communication. That way we can help each other by rapidly discussing how you can move forward and we can make changes in our plans.

We do not tolerate changes in the product – being it change of materials or something else – without us agreeing to it.

When using sub-suppliers, we want to know

We know that one actor can hardly do all the many processes necessary to construct the products we order. Sub-suppliers are sometimes needed, and that is ok with us. However, we want to know when it happens and which processes you do and which ones you outsource. We also want to know what your specialties are. Maybe that will inspire new ways of collaborating.

Guidelines and preferences

Transport

As a default, we want the environmentally least harmful way of transportation. We are not working with rapidly changing seasons, and we don’t mind waiting for good products. If using air freight, that should explicitly be confirmed by us.

Packaging

We want to do what we can to minimize the amount of packaging used – without jeopardizing damaging the products. If you find better ways of packaging the products, please let us know.

Updating certificates

We want to stay on top of the documentation for the suppliers that we use and the products that we buy. Please send updated versions of certificates, new initiatives, that you are part of etc.

Encouragements

We are on a never-ending journey towards more and more responsible production, and we hope that you want to be part of it. Here are some of the ambitions that we have and that we hope you will join us in achieving.

Continual improvements and initiative

In Repbasics, we want to move forward with sustainability, and we know that when it comes to production, our suppliers know more than we do. Therefore, we urge the people we work with to point to where we can do better and where improvements – however small – can be made when it comes to sustainability. Are there ways of reducing for example cut-offs, energy, water, or waste? Then please let us know.

Grievance mechanism

We want to give the workers the opportunity to reach out to us in case something is wrong. Ideally, we would like our email address and phone number to be available and visible for all workers.

Buyer's Code of Conduct

As a buyer from many different suppliers, many different cultures, it can often be beneficial to make sure we help each other out instead of simply demanding. Back in the days, the buyer/supplier relationship was more a matter of the buyer demanding what they wanted and the supplier trying to fulfil the needs of the buyer’s needs. We do not necessarily see it that way, but as a two-way communication.

This Code of Conduct has been made to make sure we as buyers from our suppliers understand their challenges and understand how we can order our products in a way that makes life easier for all parties on the long run.

With the Code of Conduct in hand when buying, we can both maintain healthy, long-lasting relationships with current suppliers, but also make sure that new potential suppliers understand that we wish to establish relationships and make our collaboration a great deal for all of us.

We are committed to seeing the world from your perspective

We want to get to know you. We want to know what your ambitions are, what challenges you face and what your areas of expertise are. We believe that by knowing and understanding each other better, we will be able to strengthen our collaboration and find more suitable and responsible solutions.

Fair deals

We believe that a good deal means a good deal for everyone that is part of it. We are conscious that we need to sell our products and make a living and we believe that this should apply to our suppliers as well. A good deal is a good deal for everyone involved.

Workload

Just as we expect that our suppliers are valuing their employees’ time and respect decent workload and working conditions we want to contribute by not creating overload in the workflow, but instead try to plan our production so that it best fits the schedule of our suppliers. Therefore, we want to understand when your peak season is and when there is less to do. That way we, together, can plan our production to help fill out empty periods and avoid times where you are already heavily burdened.

Moreover, we understand that changes and hasty orders demand more from our suppliers, and we know that a premium price is associated with that.

Respect contracts

We will respect the contracts and agreements that we make with our suppliers. This might seem obvious, but as it turns out, it is not always the practice. It is important for us to create a long-lasting relationship with our suppliers. Doing that requires trust on both sides and the minimum is to respect contracts and agreements.