Sustainable Supply Chains

For us to achieve our long-term ambitions in sustainability, we recognise that the management of and support from our suppliers will be vital to ensure they are responsible for conveying the same level of compliance to their supply base as we are. When we consider a new supplier to provide products or services, a supplier survey must be completed before they can be approved which includes evidence that they have implemented a comprehensive Quality Management System, or progress towards developing one with the goal of the Sub-Supplier conformity to ISO 9001.

Following the acquisition of 3M’s ballistic protection business and Team Wendy, we have undertaken projects to rationalise our supply chain to create manufacturing efficiencies and reduce the monitoring burden.

Our supplier Code of Conduct provides a minimum set of requirements for our suppliers to adhere to and also encourages suppliers to implement their own Code of Conduct for their employees and to cascade this throughout their supply chain. If suppliers have concerns regarding any of the matters covered in this Code of Conduct, we expect them to bring these to our attention.

Product safety and quality is at the core of all our business practices. The majority of our products are approved to customer or industry safety standards which involves rigorous testing. Our production employees receive mandatory product safety training, and all of our products undergo internal safety and quality testing programmes. Where standards require, external safety audits are conducted on our products.

We recognise it is essential to develop products that generate long-term value for the business and do not compromise the environments and community in which we operate or influence through cradle to grave. As we work towards our net zero GHG target, we will be reviewing our products’ scope 3 emissions which will inform our transition over time to reduce the GHG emissions generated through the life cycle of our products.