Preamble
Considering that A-Sense Sp. z o.o. conducts its business activities in a responsible and transparent manner, in accordance with the highest legal and ethical standards, and that A-Sense Sp. z o.o. expects similar attitudes and standards from all its business partners within the framework of cooperation, a Code of Conduct for Business Partners of A-Sense Sp. z o.o. is hereby established. .
§ 1. Definitions and abbreviations
The company – A-Sense Sp. z o.o. with its registered office in Poniatowa.
Management – Board of Directors and Senior Management
Code of Ethics – Ethical Conduct Policy based on the international ETI standard
Code of Conduct for Business Partners – this Code of Conduct for the Company’s Business Partners.
Corruption – promising, offering, giving, demanding, or accepting, directly or indirectly, financial gain or personal benefit for oneself or another person, as well as accepting a proposal or promise for an action or omission in the performance of official duties (in the exercise of public functions or in the course of business activities).
Financial gain – items or actions that lead to obtaining any undue or unjustified financial benefits (whose value can be expressed in monetary terms) for oneself or for another person, including gifts, meals, invitations to sporting or cultural events, donations, debt relief, or winning a tender.
Personal gain – undue or unjustified non-material benefits improving the situation of a person or other persons associated with them, including a promise of employment or promotion for a close relative, a foreign scholarship, an award or sexual relations.
Compliance Management Coordinator – a person appointed by the Management Board within the Company’s structure, responsible, among other things, for conducting or coordinating internal investigations into reported irregularities or abuses.
Business partner – any contractor (i.e., supplier, service provider, or recipient of products or services), representative (i.e., an entity or person representing the Company in contacts with contractors or state authorities, e.g., a consultant, law firm), intermediary (i.e., an entity or person who supports the Company in acquiring contractors or sells products or services on behalf of the Company), or another entity with which the Company has any business relationship.
Gift policy – Policy on giving and accepting gifts in the Company.
Whistleblowing Policy – Policy for reporting irregularities in the Company.
Employee – Management and any person employed by the Company on the basis of an employment contract or cooperating with the Company on the basis of a civil law contract.
President – President of the Company’s Management Board supervising the Compliance Management Coordinator.
§ 2. Purpose of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners
- The purpose of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners is to present the standards and principles of business conduct expected by the Company from its Business Partners. These are the basic requirements for Business Partners, primarily in the areas of respect for human rights, labor law principles and regulations, environmental protection, competition and consumer protection, as well as the principles of integrity and transparency in business conduct.
- In order to achieve the above objective, the Company’s Management hereby provides its Business Partners with the Code of Conduct for Business Partners for their review. The rules contained in this Code should form the basis for cooperation between Business Partners and the Company, which will be based on partnership, mutual respect, and trust.
§ 3. Principles and values applied by A-Sense Sp. z o.o.
- The foundation of all activities and an element of the Company’s strategy is to conduct business in a responsible manner – in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and social responsibility. The Company minimizes its impact on the environment, improves management systems, pursues an open information policy and dialogue with the local community, and cares for the safety of its employees.
- The company operates in accordance with generally applicable laws and internal regulations, as well as with respect for commercial principles and customs.
- The company effectively combats discrimination in employment, eliminates human rights violations, combats corruption, and cares for the environment.
- The company operates based on the values described in detail in the Code of Ethics: Economy, Professionalism, Cooperation, Respect, and Transparency.
- All Company Employees, including Management, as well as Business Partners, shareholders, and other stakeholders, are required to comply with these and other values set forth in the Code of Ethics.
§ 4. Rules of conduct for Business Partners
Bearing in mind the above principles and values, the Business Partner is obliged to:
- compliance with all generally applicable laws throughout the supply chain within the scope of its operations,
- respect for human rights and prevention of human rights violations throughout the supply chain within the scope of its operations,
- not participating in corruption (regardless of its form or type) in accordance with the “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” principle,
- respecting the rules and principles set out in the section on giving gifts to Company Employees,
- conducting sponsorship activities in a transparent manner, which cannot be aimed at obtaining financial or personal benefits,
- complying with the principles of fair competition (including competition law),
- counteracting money laundering and terrorist financing,
- avoiding any conflicts of interest (including potential ones),
- treating people fairly, with respect and dignity,
- observing fundamental employee rights, in particular caring for the health and safety of employees, as well as ensuring employees’ right to associate and organize,
- non-discrimination of employees,
- not employing children or using their labor,
- not using slave or forced labor,
- caring for the natural environment, including minimizing the negative impact of its activities on the natural environment, which should consist primarily of:
- applying a rational environmental management system,
- possession of current permits and licenses required by law to conduct business,
- fulfilling all registration obligations,
- minimizing emissions of pollutants into the air, water, and soil,
- reducing environmental risks by taking effective preventive and intervention measures,
- using natural resources sparingly, respecting the rights of other entities to use the same resources,
- avoiding the use of raw materials, products, and materials originating from conflict zones,
- promoting the rules of conduct set out in the Code of Conduct for Business Partners among its own business partners.
§ 5. Company expectations and reporting irregularities
- The Company expects its Business Partners to be committed to complying with the specified rules of conduct and ethical standards, at least to the extent specified in the Code of Conduct for Business Partners or equivalent.
- The Company expects its Business Partners to apply at least the same rules and ethical standards to their business partners as those set out in the Code of Conduct for Business Partners.
- The Company has a system for reporting irregularities. It also protects whistleblowers, i.e., persons who report (potential) irregularities in good faith. Anyone can be a whistleblower, including Employees and Business Partners. Information about suspected or actual irregularities in the Company’s activities should be directed to the Compliance Coordinator by email at: zgłoszenia.naruszen@a-sense.pl or by traditional mail to the following address:
A-Sense sp. z o.o., Przemysłowa 46, 24-320 Poniatowa, Poland with the note “report violations”