Responsible purchasing
Continually strengthening competition, increasing globalisation of production and a diversification of supply chains are increasing the significance of responsibility in the various aspects of trade. Inex’s sourcing strategy emphasises the evaluation of suppliers both before and during cooperation. In the evaluation of suppliers, the following factors are taken into consideration: product, quality, availability and price as well as environmental and social responsibility. The minimum requirements for social responsibility are based on the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work as well as the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
Inex requires from all products suppliers compliance with and documentation of the following principles and operating practices, as well as open communication.
To authenticate its approach to social responsibility, Inex joined the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) organization at the end of 2006. The BSCI is a joint initiative of European retail chains to promote social auditing in product sourcing from risk countries.
Products suppliers of all risk countries undertake to adhere to Inex’s minimum requirements, and the BSCI Code of Conduct is signed at the agreement stage. In addition, products suppliers are required to submit to BSCI auditing to verify the principles of the Code of Conduct. Moreover, through a certificate according to the SA 8000 standard of Social Accountability International (SAI), a supplier can verify its fulfilment of the principles of Inex’s social responsibility.
Cooperation with the retail trade, products and service suppliers, other sector operators, national and local officials, trade unions and non-governmental organizations constitutes a wider base for enforcing the principles of responsible purchasing. Inex Partners Oy is a founder member of the Finnish Business & Society network, which is a national partner of the European Business Network for Corporate Social Responsibility.