YOU ARE HERE:
 

SUPPLIERS

 

CASE STUDY INDEX

Use of recycled products, Nedbank South Africa
As part of our drive to make as much use as possible of recycled products, Nedbank Group have engaged with a number of suppliers to effect change.

At both Group and business unit level we work with many different suppliers. By acting fairly in our dealings with suppliers, we ensure that where possible we can build long lasting and mutually beneficial relationships.

As part of this we have a set of commitments related to the suppliers we work with  that are part of our Responsible Business Policy. Business units must:

  • Where appropriate treat suppliers as partners to create long term relationships.
  • Act fairly and honestly in all its dealings with suppliers.
  • Factor the environmental and social impact of our suppliers into their procurement decisions, where practical.
  • Work with their suppliers to create awareness and progress understanding of the social and environmental impacts on them.
  • Have adequate procurement controls including but not limited to, segregation of authorisation of expenditure and selection of vendors/suppliers. (Note: It is important that Business Units procurement activities reflect ethical considerations, security of supply, future costs, efficiency savings, local legislation and are in line with the Group's values and the Old Mutual Group Anti Bribery, Corruption & Conflicts of Interest Policy)

Developing a Group-wide procurement policy

We recognise that our procurement activities have an impact on the environment and the wider community. So it is important that they not only reflect our values as a company, but also consider ethical implications, security of supply, future costs, efficiency savings and local legislation. Our business units are responsible for managing their own procurement policies that should include criteria relating to the social and environmental impacts of suppliers, where this is practical. In South Africa, we are also committed to using black empowerment partners.

However, to ensure there is a greater degree of standardisation for all the procurement activity, in 2009 we introduced a set of procurement commitments that apply across the Group as part of the Responsible Business Policy.  Across the Group we will:

  • Not engage in bribery.
  • Not become involved in corrupt activity.
  • Avoid any activities that might lead to an actual or perceived conflict of interest.  Where an employee believes that an actual or potential conflict of interest has arisen or could arise, the employee must promptly disclose this and seek approval for this to continue.  Where this is refused, the employee will be responsible for withdrawing from the activity that caused the conflict.
  • Have adequate procurement controls including but not limited to, segregation of authorisation of expenditure and selection of vendors/suppliers.

Nedbank Group, for example, have been running a number of procurement initiatives and through their commitment to encouraging suppliers to reduce their own consumption of environmentally unfriendly products, the Nedbank has helped to motivate the uptake of consolidated and electronic invoicing options, with a consequent reduction in paper consumption and associated storage requirements.

Case Studies

Use of recycled products, Nedbank South Africa

As part of our drive to make as much use as possible of recycled products, Nedbank Group have engaged with a number of suppliers to effect change. We now source recycled envelopes and 50% recycled- and triple-green paper. We also continued our engagements with our suppliers regarding the use of remanufactured toner cartridges for all Nedbank Group office equipment.

Developing strong relationships with suppliers

Making sure we have strong relationships with our suppliers is important for us, as it ensures we have a reliable, high-quality and fairly priced source of goods and services. If these relationships benefit our suppliers as well as us they will grow and thrive.

As part of this process we have adopted a Code of Business Conduct/Ethics. The Code sets clear standards for our relations with not only our suppliers but also our customers, intermediaries, shareholders and investors, employees, government and the local community, as well as competitors. The Code supports the International Labour Organisation's Core Labour Standards, which covers issues such as equal opportunities,  freedom of association, collective bargaining. As part of this we have a clear commitment not to support forced labour or child labour in any of our operations.