We uphold RE values in our supply chain by requiring our suppliers to meet the same high standards we set for our own behaviour. Suppliers must adhere to all laws, embody and promote best practice in business operations, treat employees well and respect the environment, as indicated in the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact to which Reed Elsevier is a signatory. These principles are reflected in our Supplier Code of Conduct, which we ask suppliers to sign and to post prominently in the workplace. The Supplier Code contains standards on child labour, involuntary labour, wages, coercion and harassment, nondiscrimination, freedom of association, environment, and health and safety. It also precludes retaliation stating, “Suppliers must not tolerate any retaliation against any employee who makes a good faith report of abuse, intimidation, discrimination, harassment or any violation of law or of this Code of Conduct, or who assists in the investigation of any such report.”
The Supplier Code helps suppliers spread best practice through their own supply chain by requiring subcontractors to enter into a written commitment that they will uphold the RE Supplier Code. The Supplier Code makes clear that where local industry standards are higher than applicable legal requirements, we expect suppliers to meet higher standards.
In this section:
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Given the importance to us of an ethical supply chain, we have a Socially Responsible Supplier (SRS) programme comprised of colleagues with production, distribution and procurement expertise, and a dedicated manager in the global procurement team, supported by all RE divisions.
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We work collaboratively with suppliers and, in 2008, provided training on calculating GHG Protocol Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions and water stress to better understand these impacts (results in the Environment Section).
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Over the last 10 to 15 years, corporate responsibility has been widely discussed and addressed in many business sectors in China.