ETHICAL POLICY
OF
BLUE BOX BATTERIES LTD
1 INTRODUCTION
This Ethical Policy serves as a guideline for all the company's business practices.
Through its business practices the company seeks to support the principles of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The company's position on Human
Rights reflects the core requirements of the UDHR, such as freedom from torture,
unjustified imprisonment, unfair trial and other oppression. It also includes freedom of
expression, religion and political or other representation. The company is also
committed to eliminating bribery and corruption.
2 HUMAN RIGHTS
On the basis of this policy the company will not provide support or work with:
2.1 businesses or organisations which fail to uphold basic human rights within their
sphere of influence. The company recognises that businesses have the opportunity
to ensure that human rights are upheld in all those aspects of their operations that
they could reasonably expect to control. These can include:
• direct control, such as labour conditions within their factories, for example, or use of
land for their operations;
• more indirect influence, for example, companies occupying positions of strategic
importance within a country often have opportunities to affect positive social change
beyond their own operations.
2.2 businesses or organisations with links to an oppressive regime - regimes where basic
human rights, as set out in the UDHR, are denied in a systematic manner over time.
By "links to an oppressive regime" the company means:
• businesses operating in states governed by oppressive regimes, whose activities are
considered to support or benefit the regime, usually at the expense of the indigenous
population;
• businesses using state security forces or supplying arms to state security forces
within an oppressive regime.
3 ARMS TRADE
3.1 The company will not provide support or work with businesses or organisations
involved in the manufacture or transfer of armaments to oppressive regimes,
including:
• companies which manufacture for or sell to oppressive regimes systems (or products)
that kill, maim or destroy;
• companies who issue licences for the production of armaments for oppressive
regimes;
• individuals or organisations involved in the brokerage of armaments to oppressive
regimes;
• companies which export products to oppressive regimes that, while not designed to
kill, maim or destroy, are parts for equipment which have a battlefield application or
are essential to the operation of a weapon, such as radar and electronic warfare,
military communications and armour.3.2 The company will not provide support or work with businesses or organisations
involved in the manufacture of torture equipment or other equipment that is used in
the violation of human rights, including business which:
• manufacture torture equipment, including electroshock batons and leg irons;
• manufacture equipment used for execution purposes;
• manufacture and export to oppressive regimes equipment that could be used in the
violation of human rights, including water canons, security equipment and
surveillance equipment.
4 GLOBAL TRADE
The company advocates and supports the Fundamental International Labour
Organisation Conventions. These Conventions are the most widely-accepted
standards for minimum labour rights and cover the use of forced labour, use of child
labour, collective bargaining and freedom of association. The company will seek to
support businesses or organisations that take a responsible position with regard to:
• fair trade;
countries.
• labour rights in their own operations and through their supply chains in developing
The company will not support businesses or organisations whose activities include:
• irresponsible marketing practices in developing countries, including inappropriate
marketing to children;
• inappropriate financial trading methods;
• tobacco product manufacture or distribution.
5 GENETIC MODIFICATION
The company will not provide support or work with businesses or organisations
involved in the development, distribution or marketing of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) where, in particular, the following activities are evident:
• uncontrolled release of GMOs into the environment;
• any negative impacts on developing countries such as the imposition of "Terminator"
technologies - technologies that genetically engineer sterility into crop plants, for no
other purpose than to protect and enforce corporate patents on GM seeds;
6 ECOLOGICAL IMPACT AND ANIMAL WELFARE
The company actively seeks ways to reduce the ecological impact of its own activities
in terms of energy and materials usage. The company will encourage the
organisations it works with to take a pro-active stance on the environmental impact of
their own activities to avoid repeated damage to the environment and will actively
support organisations involved in:
• recycling and sustainable waste management;
• renewable energy and energy efficiency;
• sustainable natural products and services including timber and organic produce;
• the pursuit of ecological sustainability;
• the development of alternatives to animal experimentation;
• farming methods which promote animal welfare.7 CONFIDENTIALITY
Information received by employees, contractors or agents of the company will not be
used for any personal gain, nor will it be used for any purpose beyond that for which it
was given. The company will at all times ensure that it complies with all applicable
requirements of data protection legislation in force from time to time.
8 BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
The company is fundamentally opposed to any acts of bribery and to the making of
facilitation payments as defined by the Bribery Act 2010. The company will:
• carry on business fairly, honestly and openly;
• not make bribes so as to gain a business advantage nor condone the offering of
bribes on the company’s behalf;
• not accept bribes to influence business nor agree to bribes being accepted on the
company’s behalf;
• avoid doing business with others who do not accept the company’s values and who
may harm the company’s reputation; and
• as far as possible ensure that all company staff and business partners are aware of
the company’s bribery policy.
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