This Code of Conduct helps us put our core values into action in our everyday work situations and it provides guidance for how we are expected to act.
The Code of Conduct shall provide guidance to aspects relating to:
- How we respect human rights both inside and outside our company
- How we maintain sound business ethics
- How we ensure that we operate in an environmentally responsible way
The Code is applicable to all employees within the Piab Group (Piab) worldwide and its Board of Directors. Moreover, our business partners, including suppliers, consultants, and independent contractors, must adhere to standards similar to those reflected in our Code. Our suppliers, as well as others with whom they do business, including employees, subcontractors and other third parties, are expected to establish and maintain appropriate management systems and actively review, monitor and modify their management processes and business operations to ensure they align with the principles set forth in this Code of Conduct. The official language in Piab is English and all our policies are in English only, with the exception of this Code of Conduct which is translated to every local language where we have any kind of official presence.
The Code is split into the key areas Business ethics and integrity, Social ethics, Environmental responsibilities, and Governance and monitoring of the Code. Where relevant, the Code refers to more detailed policies, or guiding documents at group and/or local level. If any local policies and guiding documents vary from or are contradictory to our Code of Conduct, this Code shall prevail.
1. Business ethics and integrity
Legal compliance
We and our business partners, comply with the applicable laws, standards, and other legal provisions of the countries in which we operate. We are aware of the continuous development of International Regulations and social standards and continuously adopt those that are relevant to our business.
Competition
We are committed to fair competition. Laws protecting competition, especially anti-trust laws and other regulations that regulate competition, shall be observed. Companies and employees must never engage in any anti-competitive activity such as illegal fixing of prices or the sharing of markets. Further details are specified in our Anti-Trust Directive.
Anti-corruption and -bribery
We are committed to working against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. No such illegal activity is tolerated either in action or as negligence by any of our employees, suppliers, and business partners. We use suitable means to promote transparency, trading with integrity, responsible leadership and company accountability. We shall comply with the applicable criminal law on corruption. Further details are specified in our Anti-Corruption Directive.
Gifts and entertainment
Neither Piab employees, nor anyone acting on our behalf, may solicit, give or receive, directly or indirectly, gifts, gratuities, special allowances or a benefit which could influence the judgement of the recipient or is deemed unreasonable in the context. However, we also recognise and accept that occasional modest – and in the context of business – reasonable, gifts or hospitality can make a valuable contribution to our business relationships. Further details are specified in our Anti-Corruption Directive.
Non-complicity
We cooperate with customers and business partners in observing the potential use of our products and services for illegal purposes. A detailed Trade Compliance policy supports these principles.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is maintained by Piab and our employees with regard to our business partners’ commercial secrets, and vice versa, i.e. we require our Business Partners to keep Piab’s information confidential. The communication of confidential information to third parties or the public is prohibited. The obligation to observe secrecy continues to apply after the end of employment for all employees in line with applicable legislation. The obligation to observe secrecy continues to apply also for our business partners after the relationship with Piab has ended
Company assets
Piab employees are expected to be loyal and share the responsibility of protecting the company’s assets from loss, damage, misuse, and destruction. Company assets shall not be used for personal purposes or in support of activities outside of Piab’s business.
2. Social ethics
Human rights
We support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights (www.ohchr.org) and we ensure that company activities are not complicit in human rights abuses, for example, in our relationships with our suppliers. In practice this means that:
- We comply with applicable legal requirements relating to human rights.
- We identify, prevent, and address actual or potential human rights infringements.
Discrimination and harassment
We, and our business partners, condemn discrimination in hiring and employment. No existing or potential employee should be discriminated against because of, for example, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, religion, political views, nationality, ethnic background, social origin, social status, disability, age or union membership. We disapprove psychological, physical or sexual abuse and verbal harassment or abuse. Integrity, privacy and freedom of expression are guaranteed.
Freedom of association
We, and our business partners, respect the right of employees to establish or join trade unions and representative organisations of their own choosing in line with applicable local legislation.
Forced labour
We and our business partners, shall not engage in or support forced, bonded or compulsory labour, nor do we accept any form of deposit or confiscation of identification papers from employees. Employees are free to leave their employment after reasonable notice as required by law and contract.
Child labour
We, and our business partners, do not tolerate child labour (<15 years old) and any form of exploitation of children and adolescents (<18 years old). Any tasks deemed to be dangerous may not be performed by any employee under 18 years. Any local legislation must be followed.
Labour practices
We, and our business partners, are committed to providing fair compensation and working conditions for all our employees. Working hours shall be set according to the domestic laws in force or industrial standards, but never more than 48 hours. All employees are informed and have the right to know the basic terms and conditions of their employment.
Health and occupational safety
Domestic and international regulations to ensure occupational health and safety in the workplace are to be followed, both by Piab and by our business partners. By supporting risk analyses, training programmes and other precautionary measures, we ensure that our employees can perform their work in a safe and healthy manner.
Product safety
We apply risk analysis and corresponding mitigating actions and strict procedures in our operations, as well as maintain a high level of expertise in the application areas of our products, thereby contributing to increased safety in the use of our products. We are in compliance with all relevant EU directives (CE) regarding safety and we aim to comply with other directives in other markets.
Land rights of communities
We accept and support that land rights of communities and indigenous peoples, will be protected and promoted.
3. Environmental responsibility
We recognise that environmental responsibility is a precondition for the survival and prosperity of all living beings. Consequently, environmental responsibility for us means that our products are designed, produced and distributed with environmental consideration. We, and our business partners, always apply with existing environmental legislation.
Environmental protection
We promote sustainability across all aspects of the business, fulfil the requirements and standards for environmental protection and act in an environmentally conscious way in all locations in which we operate. In this context, we strive for environmentally compatible processes and a considerate use of our planet’s resources.
Sustainable products
We actively work to optimize our products from a material usage perspective and from a functionality perspective, aiming at minimizing negative environmental aspect from the used material, as well as minimizing the energy consumption in their fields of application. We also aim to make them fully recyclable. All materials used in our products must be in accordance with the latest REACH and RoHS directive and should not contain any conflict material as per the EU regulation on conflict materials and the US Dodd-Frank Act.
Operations
We operate our business and provide products in a way that minimises environmental impact. The overall aim is to minimise environmental impact that relates to our activities, products, and services. We therefore support a precautionary and careful approach to environmental challenges.
C. Governance and monitoring of the Code
This code is approved by Piab’s Board of Directors. All employees should be familiar with our Code of Conduct and other policies relevant to their jobs and apply them in their work. This is ensured by all employees, annually, takes the obligatory online training of this and other policies and directives that are necessary to understand and practise. Directors are responsible for assuring that the policy is known by all employees within their respective organization and that, if applicable, the necessary parts are included in local rules and procedures, in addition to those anyway required for compliance with local legislation. Audits will support the monitoring of compliance with this policy.
Upon request, a business partner must, by way of providing information and/or allowing Piab or its representative, access to their premises, verify to our reasonable satisfaction, that they comply with this, or a similar, Code of Conduct.
Non-compliance with the Code
Violations of this Code of Conduct will always be taken seriously and may lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. In addition, violating the law may result in substantial criminal fines, custodial sentences and/or civil damages for us or for an individual employee.
Our business partners are solely responsible for full compliance with this Code of Conduct, or similar, and shall inform Piab Group if they discover a breach to this code in their own operations.
Practical guidance
In our daily work we may face situations from time to time which are not explicitly covered by our Code of Conduct or other policies and guiding documents. Often it is a question of common sense or prior experiences. If we are unsure about the correct behaviour in a specific situation, we should ask ourselves, or discuss with a colleague, the following questions:
- Does the behaviour seem legal?
- Am I a good role model doing this?
- Do I risk becoming dependent on someone from my behaviour?
- Have I made a decision or an action that would stand close examination by media?
