Lieferkette und Menschenrechte

Declaration of Principle

Globally interlinked value chains pose many challenges in terms of human rights and nature conservation. The JAB ANSTOETZ Group with its affiliated - JAB Josef Anstoetz KG, JAB Teppiche Heinz Anstoetz KG, BW Bielefelder Werkstätten Heinz Anstoetz Polstermöbelfabrik KG, Golf House Direktversand GmbH - as an internationally operating group of companies is aware of its responsibility within the global flow of goods. We therefore commit to strengthening human rights, preventing human rights violations, and implementing human rights and environmental due diligence obligations within our own business operations and along our supply and value chains through risk analyses, preventive measures, grievance mechanisms, and regular reviews.

The background

We at the JAB ANSTOETZ Group are aware that we can only be successful as a business in the long term if the impact of our business activities is in harmony with mankind and the environment. We also know that the implementation of human rights and environmental due diligence in our own business activities and in supply and value chains is an ongoing process. We therefore continuously review where there are particular risks of violations of human rights and harm to the environment in our supply chains. In doing so, we rely on risk analyses carried out to review child and forced labour, income, working hours, discrimination, respect for freedom of association, occupational health and safety and environmental protection.

Our goals

We base our business activities on internationally applicable standards and guidelines, such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on working and social standards. We also comply with the guidelines of the "UN Global Compact" and the "Alliance for Development and Climate". As the JAB ANSTOETZ Group, we have derived guidelines and policies from these standards and the findings of our own risk analyses. They form the binding framework for action for all employees and business partners and define specific goals (please see www.jab.de).

In addition, the JAB ANSTOETZ Group has installed an overarching complaints procedure system through which both employees and third parties can report violations of human rights and applicable law at any time (please see compliance regulations at www.jab.de). The JAB ANSTOETZ Group expects all employees and business partners to comply with applicable laws and human rights conventions. The JAB ANSTOETZ Group reserves the right to terminate the co-operation if the Code of Conduct is violated.

The measures

In order to fulfil our responsibility for fair trade, we rely on a variety of measures. Employees are trained, audits are carried out at suppliers by ourselves or by third parties in accordance with e.g. additions to the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) requirements are included in our general terms and conditions of purchase, questionnaires regarding the criteria of the LkSG are sent out, support is offered for the implementation of corrective measures, our own (auxiliary) projects are implemented and concrete requirements are formulated for suppliers and service providers. All our business partners are obliged to comply with minimum requirements such as internationally and nationally applicable laws and the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO). In addition, the challenges in the globally interlinked value chains require approaches that will change entire sectors in the long term. This is why we are involved in industry initiatives, some of which we help to launch ourselves. The aim behind this is to involve as many players as possible along the value chain and work together to find approaches for lasting positive developments. We also work together with recognised certification organisations. The complaints procedure system also enables us to recognise negative developments in the supply chain at an early stage. This and the results of the risk analyses enable us to develop measures to reduce and, if possible, eliminate risks.The JAB ANSTOETZ Group is implementing measures to improve its environmental and social corporate performance. Examples include the operation of a photovoltaic system at the Bielefeld site since 2004—generating up to 450,000 kWh of electricity annually—and the operation of a biogas combined heat and power plant since 2012. Furthermore, the group is involved in various social support projects and educational initiatives. (please see also our sustainability report at www.jab.de):

1. Social commitment

- Matthias Anstoetz Foundation for handicapped people (since 1979)
- Association for the support of international students in Bielefeld
- Lichtblicke campaign
- Bielefelder community foundation
- We donate fabrics
- We support KAUSA with jobs for refugees
- Our own daycare centre for employees' children (since 2009)
- 50 apprenticeships in ten professional fields
- Job Ticket 2021 (climate-friendly travel to work)
- Gold sponsorship with the Bielefeld community foundation for civic engagement

2. Ecological engagement

Efforts to increase energy efficiency and the share of green and renewable energies in energy consumption at our company locations. A large-scale photovoltaic installation has been producing green electricity at the Bielefeld site since 2004. This means that up to 450,000 kilowatt hours of environmentally friendly energy can be generated each year. In addition, our modern biogas cogeneration plant has been in operation since 2012, saving around 871 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to fossil fuels.The JAB ANSTOETZ Group takes into account the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the further development of its sustainability activities. Furthermore, the group is a member of the UN Global Compact Network as well as the Alliance for Development and Climate. These memberships do not constitute a certification of the company’s environmental or sustainability performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS and ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE AT THE JAB ANSTOETZ GROUP

The management of the JAB ANSTOETZ Group is responsible for the implementation of and compliance with the JAB ANSTOETZ Group Declaration of Principle to respect human rights and the environment. In the various sales channels (e.g. showrooms) of the JAB ANSTOETZ Group, the managing directors monitor the operational implementation of the declared corporate principles. The procurement departments of affiliated companies are of particular importance in the implementation of human rights and economic due diligence in the supply and value chains.

OUTLOOK

For the JAB ANSTOETZ Group, respect for human rights and the environment is an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. In this respect, we are aware that the implementation of environmental and human rights due diligence in our own business activities and in supply and value chains is an ongoing process. We accept this challenge and regularly review our strategic approaches and measures with the aim of continuous improvement. We provide regular and transparent information on implementation and strategic developments as part of our sustainability reporting.