Sourcing for sustainable growth policy

Building shared success will require working in partnership with our Business Partners. We recognise the commitment and dedication of our Business Partners and believe that as we strive for excellence together, we can achieve a sustainable and successful future for all.

Our Third-Party Code of Conduct and Sourcing for Sustainable Growth Policy outlines our approach to supply chain due diligence and explains how our expectations of Business Partners align with our commitments.

Reckitt fully supports delivery of the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030

Our business and brands positively impact several SDGs. Through our supply chain we believe we can have the greatest impact on nine of the goals.

SDGs 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 17

Reckitt expects all Business Partners will:

Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and in the absence of those laws, with international standards.
Work to implement the recommended practices outlined in the supporting technical standards, demonstrating continuous improvement.
Operate due diligence processes appropriate to their size and risk profile and demonstrate risk-based action.
Communicate these requirements to their suppliers, monitoring and strengthening compliance as far as is practical.

Responsible sourcing principles

Reckitt’s six responsible sourcing principles reflect the areas and issues that matter most to internal and external stakeholders. They put sustainability at the heart of our operations. More detail on Reckitt’s sustainability ambitions and activities can be found here.

The principles set out Reckitt’s overall expectations for responsible sourcing. Each principle is either supported by a separate technical standard or policy describing how Business Partners are expected to put those expectations into practice.

Diagram of Reckitt's six responsible sourcing principles, explained in detail below

Working in partnership

Reckitt expects Business Partners to continually improve their performance – from meeting the minimum requirements in the first instance; to achieving good and eventual best practice – and to demonstrate progress.

Reporting breaches

We are an organisation with strong values of responsibility and integrity. We always seek to do the right thing.

We have a Speak Up service available, where anyone can confidentially raise concerns.

Partnership

Woman working in a factory setting

We achieve more together as trusted partners, through collaboration we can collectively drive systemic, long-term positive change.

Reckitt invests in activities to facilitate a more collaborative approach with our Business Partners. These include support and guidance to strengthen understanding of and capability to implement this Policy’s Principles. Further information on our sustainability activities can be found on Reckitt.com, or by email from sustainability@reckitt.com.

Sourcing for sustainable growth policy (full PDF)

Labour and Human Rights Standard (PDF)

Workplace Health and Safety Standard (PDF)

Environmental Protection Standard (PDF)

Natural Raw Materials Sourcing Standard (PDF)

NRM Sourcing Standard Appendix A - Palm Oil (PDF)

NRM Sourcing Standard Appendix B - Dairy (PDF)

Mill List – palm derived surfactants July 2023

Sourcing forest commodities: A nature and people positive approach (PDF)

Reckitt Grievance Log June 2024 (PDF)

Reckitt Palm Oil Grievance Procedure July 2023 update

Thailand Hria Action Plan (PDF)

Soap Noodles And Fats Blends Mill List 2023

Reckitt is committed to ensuring labour and universal human rights are respected

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Reckitt expects Business Partners to respect the rights expressed in the International Bill of Human Rights, and the ILO core and other applicable conventions in their own operations and business relationships across their supply chain.

This means Business Partners will develop human rights due diligence processes that include: avoiding directly or indirectly causing negative human rights impacts; providing access to grievance mechanisms; and, providing remedies where it is proven that a business has caused or contributed to adverse impacts.

For further details, see Reckitt’s Labour and Human Rights Standard.

Reckitt is committed to the provision of a safe and healthy work environment

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Business Partners to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers by providing a safe working environment, in compliance with applicable occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations, or in the absence of regulation with ILO standards on OHS in their own operations and business relationships across their supply chain.

This means Business Partners maintain an effective health and safety policy and management system; assessing and mitigating risks; and providing training to workers.

For further details, see Reckitt’s Workplace Health and Safety Standard.

Reckitt is committed to sourcing natural raw material responsibly

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Reckitt expects that natural raw materials (NRMs) Business Partners use in Reckitt products and product packaging are, where possible, traceable back to production origins and are monitored regularly.

Reckitt’s greatest focus is on priority NRMs, where supply chain risk is greatest: latex; dairy; natural fragrances; palm oil (and other tropical oils); and timber.

This means Reckitt Business Partners collaborate with their upstream suppliers to ensure – and demonstrate – that the NRMs they source, and use are produced responsibly, with respect for protection of the environment and the needs of local communities.

For further details, see Reckitt’s Natural Raw Materials (NRMs) Sourcing Standard.

NRM Sourcing Standard Appendix A – Palm oil

NRM Sourcing Standard Appendix B – Dairy

Reckitt is committed to protecting the environment and reducing environmental impact

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Reckitt expects Business Partners to seek to eliminate harmful environmental impacts from their operations and their products by collaborating to prevent pollution and conserve natural resources across the supply chain. Business Partners are expected to set environmental performance targets, and track and monitor how their progress against these targets affects environmental impact.

This means Business Partners demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and biodiversity, reducing the environmental impact of the sourcing.

For further details, see Reckitt’s Environmental Protection Standard.

Reckitt is committed to using ever safer and more sustainable ingredients

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Reckitt expects Business Partners to ensure the quality of products that our consumers trust; this means that the ingredients and packaging are safe for people and the environment. We expect our Business Partners to provide Reckitt with comprehensive, clear, and honest ingredient information. We also expect our partners to help improve the green chemistry credentials of product innovation; reducing the water and carbon impacts of products and responsible plastic use.

This means that to safeguard consumers and workers, Business Partners manufacturing Reckitt products are expected to:

provide details on raw materials and comply with the Master Packaging specification;
comply with Reckitt’s Restricted Substances List (RSL);
incorporate green and sustainable chemistry principles in the development and manufacture of products; and
build knowledge and understanding of Reckitt’s product sustainability and stewardship commitments at a level appropriate to their responsibilities.

For further details, see Reckitt’s Restricted Substances List Policy, Alternatives to Animal Testing Policy and Product Safety Policy.

Reckitt is committed to conducting business with honesty and integrity

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Reckitt expects Business Partners to exhibit high standards of business conduct in their operations; in relationships with their Business Partners; and with the local communities in which we and our Business Partners operate.

This means Business Partners must have policies and procedures in place to ensure good corporate governance in their business and supply chain; and must be able to demonstrate this readily. This includes maintaining full compliance with the law including anti-bribery, conflicts of interest, gifting and anti-Competition legislation; sound accounting and financial management; strong Board oversight; accurate business records; respect for data protection, and privacy and corporate security.

For further details, see the Reckitt’s Third-Party Code of Conduct.