Essity´s Code of Conduct is inspired by the company´s Beliefs and Behaviors that we are committed, we collaborate, we care and we have the courage to take the lead. Aligned with universal standards of business conduct as defined by the International Bill of Human Rights, ILO Core Conventions and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the Code serves as a compass on individual and collective behaviour when employees are making business decisions or are faced with ethical dilemmas. The Code provides guidelines for Essity and its employees regarding business practices, health and safety, employee relations, human rights, nature and community. In addition to the Code of Conduct, Essity also has a Global Supplier standard in place.

Targets

  • We will maintain compliance with our Code of Conduct. All employees will receive regular training in the Code.

  • We evaluate all our supply streams from a total risk perspective. The target for 2020 was that 100% of all strategically important sourcing categories and sourcing from high-risk areas, which corresponds to 90% of Essity’s total purchase cost, is to be from suppliers that comply with Essity’s Global Supplier Standard. 

Monitoring

For Essity’s own and wholly owned production facilities, compliance with the Code of Conduct is ensured through audits under SA8000 conducted by the Internal Audit unit.

The preferred audit format is SMETA, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange’s (Sedex) social auditing methodology, which is the most widely used format in the world for social and ethical audits. Essity’s own and wholly owned production facilities that have conducted self-assessments in Sedex are available to Essity’s customers who are also part of Sedex. Customers conduct audits in accordance with SMETA at Essity’s production facilities.  

Essity applies a systematic approach to secure that our suppliers globally operate in line with our Supplier Code of Conduct. Essity requires that the company’s suppliers use Sedex to conduct a self-assessment linked to working conditions, environment, business ethics and health and safety. Audits at the suppliers’ sites, in accordance with OECD guiding principles for Multinational Enterprises and UN Global Compact, are used to verify compliance and to identify and address potential social and ethical issues.