Setting Sustainability Standards
Bayer has developed a Supplier Code of Conduct which sets forth key social, ecological and ethical standards that the Bayer Group expects its suppliers and subcontractors to share.
The Supplier Code of Conduct is based on the principles of the U.N. Global Compact and our Human Rights Position. Our human rights policy for procurement places particular value on the prevention of child labor, a practice that we categorically reject. We have launched a program specifically to deal with this issue.
The principles expressed in Bayer’s Supplier Code of Conduct comprise an important component of supplier selection and evaluation. Moreover, we expect our suppliers to replicate these standards further down the supply chain. The Code of Conduct is therefore made available to our suppliers with the goal of strengthening our mutual understanding of how sustainability should be practiced in day-to-day business.
Current version as of December 2022
To meet social responsibilities, suppliers are expected to conduct their business in an ethical manner and act with integrity.
Suppliers are expected to protect the human rights of their employees and to treat them with dignity and respect.
Suppliers are expected to provide a safe and healthy working environment and, if applicable, safe and health company living quarters, and to operate in an environmentally responsible and efficient manner. Suppliers will integrate quality into their business processes.
Suppliers are expected to implement management systems to facilitate compliance with all applicable laws and to promote continuous improvement with respect to the expectations set forth in the Supplier Code of Conduct.
To help our suppliers practice sustainability in their daily business, we have developed a “Supplier Sustainability Guidance,” which is based on the Supplier Code of Conduct. This document aims to provide concrete examples of good practices and benchmarks which suppliers can use, and references such as the regulatory framework and standards governing Bayer’s sustainability efforts.
Update as of December 2019