Supplier Standards

INTRODUCTION

Pure Trade Africa is dedicated to providing a supply chain solution that enables commodity producers to allocate their resources towards the production of their outputs and not the management of their inputs.

Achieving this aim extends well beyond simply providing commodity producers with their inputs, and requires that we ensure that the supply of these inputs is not performed in a way that impacts the global supply chain negatively.

Through our Headquarters, based in the Republic of South Africa, we are responsible for bridging the gap between producers and consumers, and managing each step of that journey. In doing so, we work with a global network of suppliers, and in turn are responsible for protecting the integrity of the supply chain. To do this, we closely monitor and review our supplier network and the operations of our suppliers.

As a minimum standard, we expect all suppliers, irrespective of their location, function or background, to enact policies and processes which promote:

Honest and transparent business practices;
Occupational health and safety;
Environmental protection;
Labor and human rights.

In monitoring these areas, we seek to work with our suppliers to promote the value of the supply chain to all stakeholders, including the communities which are most impacted by the operation thereof.

Our Supplier Standards clearly identify the areas of our supplier operations that we monitor, and what our minimum standards are. These standards shall, in turn, be incorporated into all supply agreements entered into with Pure Trade Africa.

These expectations shall apply to all suppliers, supplier subsidiaries and affiliates, and sub-contractors or business partners. Compliance with these Standards is ensured through periodic audits.

By undertaking to provide Pure Trade Africa with materials or services, suppliers commit to abide by the Supplier Standards. Pure Trade Africa reserves the right to conduct periodic audits, whether on–site or off–site (by way of documentary review), to verify compliance with these expectations.

Violation or non – compliance with these expectations may result in the suspension or termination of business with Pure Trade Africa. Any suspected violation or non – compliance with these expectations can be reported to your Pure Trade Africa contact, or anonymously via procurement@puretradeafrica.com.

Pure Trade Africa reserves the right to amend these Standards when necessary. In the event of any amendment hereto, all suppliers on the Pure Trade Africa database shall be provided with an updated version of these standards. Alternatively, the most recent version of these standards can be found at www.puretradeafrica.com.

1. HONEST, ETHICAL, AND TRANSPARENT BUSINESS PRACTICES

Protecting the integrity of the supply chain is first and foremost about working with suppliers who conduct their business in an honest, ethical, and transparent manner. We believe that working with our suppliers to jointly uphold these values is the foundation for trusted business relationships, which create shared value.

We expect our suppliers to treat applicable legal obligations and regulations, whether international, regional, or local, as a minimum standard and proactively alert Pure Trade Africa of any material issues so as to allow for timeous resolution of any such issue.

Our Standards regarding honest, ethical, and transparent business practices cover:

International and Local Trade Regulations

All suppliers are expected to adhere to trade regulations. This includes not only obtaining the relevant licenses and permits required to conduct trade, but also adhering to trade embargoes and/or sanctions as dispensed by the relevant governments, bodies, or authorities. In order to aid the enforcement of responsible business practices, Pure Trade Africa suppliers are also expected to provide the utmost transparency with regard to their business structure, shareholding and related information.

Bribery and Corruption

All suppliers are expected to compete fairly and ethically for Pure Trade Africa’s business, and further work with their suppliers to promote conduct consistent with these expectations.

All suppliers must refrain from participating in any, whether active or passive, forms of corruption, bribery, and insider dealing. Under no circumstances shall a supplier accept any gift, payment or incentive that could compromise or raise doubts about the objectiveness of a decision. All gifts, payments, and incentives must comply with the Pure Trade Africa Anti – Bribery and Corruption Policy, available at www.puretradeafrica.com.

Conflict of Interest

All suppliers are to disclose information regarding potential or actual conflicts of interest as a Pure Trade Africa supplier immediately upon becoming aware of such (potential) conflict. Conflicts of interest can be disclosed anonymously via procurement@puretradeafrica.com.

Intellectual Property and Confidential Information

During the course of working with Pure Trade Africa, our suppliers may receive or come to learn of, property and information which is the property of Pure Trade Africa or otherwise confidential. Suppliers shall treat all such property and information with a due level of care and diligence. Under no circumstances shall a supplier use, or misappropriate, or disseminate intellectual property. All information of the supplier’s business which Pure Trade Africa may come to learn is equally protected.

2. HEALTH AND SAFETY

The supply chain would not function without the equipment operators, truck drivers, and logistics Co – ordinator’s who perform their responsibilities daily. As a result, ensuring the safety and health of all persons across the supply chain is of paramount importance to us. All suppliers shall implement and maintain a working environment that is geared towards protecting the health and safety of all persons, whether under their employee or not. Our Standards regarding health and safety cover:

Occupational Health and Safety Hazard Prevention

A safe, and healthy working environment is a fundamental right for all employees, subcontractors, and associated on-site parties. Accordingly, all suppliers must establish and implement systems aimed towards providing an incident and injury-free working environment and taking all possible steps to prevent any party from contracting an illness or other health problems because of their operations.

Emergency Management

Certain operations have an increased probability of resulting in emergency situations. All suppliers must conduct assessments of which areas may fall under this increased risk topic and implement response procedures to minimize the impact of a risk materializing.

Communication and Training

All persons, whether employees, sub – contractors or otherwise, must be made aware of the Health and Safety systems implemented and further, must be provided with training that enables them to promote the Health and Safety system implemented. All communications and training regarding Health and Safety must be conducted in a language and form which is understandable to the person to whom it is directed.

Health and Safety for Local Communities

All suppliers are expected to implement systems that enable them to review the impacts of their operations systematically and regularly on the communities surrounding their operations.

3. LABOUR PRACTICES AND HUMAN RIGHTS

We believe that all workers, subcontractors, and related parties have a right to a working environment that is non – discriminatory, ethical, and promotes the values of human dignity.

At all times, our suppliers are expected to maintain the highest standards of human rights. The key areas to be addressed in this regard are:

Anti – Discrimination, and Abuse

Under no circumstance shall a supplier engage in conduct which could be regarded as discriminatory, or abusive based on factors which include, but are not limited to, the other parties:

Race;
Religion;
Sex;
Gender;
Nationality;
Culture;
Union or other trade organization membership; or
Disability.

Suppliers shall provide a working environment that is free from abuse, coercion, and harassment. Furthermore, systems and processes through which any of the above incidents can be reported and investigated shall be established and made known to all employees, subcontractors and other relevant parties.

Child Labour

Suppliers shall not employ or contract any workers who are below the age of 16 or the applicable minimum working age prescribed by legislation or equivalent regulation, whichever is the higher age.

For persons below the age of 18 who are employed, suppliers must implement policies designed to monitor the physical, mental, and social health of such employees and further ensure that these employees are not employed in a manner which can be considered economically exploitative.

Legitimate workplace leanerships, or apprentice programmers, are acceptable if they are consistent with the International Labor Organization Minimum Age Convention.

Working Conditions

Suppliers shall, at all times, follow all applicable laws, regulations, and/or collective bargaining agreements with respect to working conditions, hours, days of rest, wages, and salaries.

Forced Labour

Suppliers shall ensure that all work related to their operations is voluntary. Under no circumstances shall they be involved in the trafficking of persons, nor in the use of bonded, prisoned, or otherwise forced labor.

Employees must be provided employment contracts, in a language that they understand, and which can be reasonably terminated. Employees should never have to surrender personal identification documents as a condition of employment. In the event of any uncertainty regarding Forced Labour, suppliers must refer to the ILO International Forced Labor Protocol or Pure Trade Africa’s policy on Forced Labour.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Protecting the environment, and the communities which reside therein is an increasingly important area of conducting business in the modern world. All suppliers are expected to conduct and manage their operations in a manner which is conscious of their environmental impact, both immediately and in the long term.

Our Standards regarding environmental protection cover:

Resource Efficiency

We look to work with suppliers who consume water, energy, and natural resources in the most conservative way possible.

Waste Disposal and Emissions

Suppliers are expected to implement systems that enable them to identify, manage and reduce the disposal of their waste (both hazardous and non – hazardous) and emissions produced by their operations.

Safe Handling of Materials

Suppliers are expected to implement systems that enable the safe handling, storage, use, transport, and disposal of all materials.

Furthermore, all suppliers are expected to make the standard operating procedures, or other documents relevant thereto, accessible to all interested parties.

Pollution

Suppliers are expected to implement systems that minimize their hazardous material consumption and in turn the amount of pollution they create.