Supplier Code of Conduct
Hisco is committed to its role as a trusted chemical/MRO product and inventory solution provider with profitable growth through investment, innovation, and operational excellence.
Our purpose at Hisco is to be a preferred distributor to our customers; to be a fair and caring employer; and to have an honest,respected relationship with our customers and suppliers.Thus, we are proud to live a work culture governed by our core values: Integrity, Customer Urgency, Accountability, Respectful and Environmentally Responsible. We feel a strong commitment to people, including every person at Hisco and with whom we have contact. Therefore, we strive to be ethical, honest, environmentally responsible, and compassionate.
Hisco delivers quality products and exceptional customer service. Over the years, the types of products and the value-added services have evolved. Still, customer satisfaction has remained at the heart of our business philosophy. At Hisco, we understand the global pressures of our industry and the need to create and define value for our customers
Hisco expects our suppliers to exemplify these ambitions, as well as uphold our values of being trustworthy, inclusive, innovative, competitive and results oriented. Suppliers should also show environmental, social and governance responsibility in all areas of their operations. Hisco is supply partner to many of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) member companies, the world's largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains.
Overview
The Hisco Supplier Code of Conduct (Code) expresses the expectations we hold for our suppliers and mirrors the standards we set for our own employees, board of directors and other business associates. Establishing a standard to ensure that working conditions are safe, that workers are treated with respect and dignity, and that business operations are environmentally responsible and conducted ethically. Thank you for your shared commitment to meeting these principles.
Fundamental to adopting a Code of Conduct is the understanding that a business, in all its activities, must operate in full compliance with the laws, rules, and regulations of the countries in which it operates. The Code also encourages Participants to go beyond legal compliance, to advance social and environmental responsibility and business ethics. The provisions in this Code are derived from and respect internationally recognized standards on Business and Human Rights.
Laws, Regulations, and Contracts
Our suppliers must, at a minimum, perform all duties and expectations in compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to their business. Suppliers must follow all flow down terms, conditions, and other provisions specified in the Hisco purchase order. When performing international business, or if the primary place of business is outside of the United States, suppliers must follow local laws and regulations.
Conflicts of Interest
We expect our suppliers to avoid all conflicts of interest or situations giving the appearance of a potential conflict of interest in their dealings with Hisco. We expect our suppliers to report to Hisco, any situations of potential or apparent conflicts between their personal interests and the interests of Hisco.
Anti-Corruption
We have a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, and prohibit anyone conducting business on our behalf, including suppliers, from offering or making any improper payments of money or anything of value to government officials, political parties, candidates for public office, or other persons. This includes the offer and/or receipt of any bribe or kickback to and/or from any customer, supplier or others. We expect our suppliers not to make any illegal, improper or corrupt payments. Except to the extent inconsistent with U.S. law, our suppliers must comply with the anti-corruption laws that govern operations in the countries in which they do business, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and other similar laws prohibiting bribery and corruption in business dealings.
Gifts/Business Courtesies
We compete on the merits of our products and services and do not use the exchange of business courtesies to gain an unfair competitive advantage. We expect the same of our suppliers in the offering or receipt of any gift or business courtesy, including cash and cash equivalents. In any business relationship, our suppliers must ensure that the offering or receipt of any gift or business courtesy is permitted by law and regulation; does not violate the rules and standards of the recipient's organization; is consistent with reasonable marketplace customs; and will not adversely impact the reputation of Hisco.
Fair Competition/Antitrust
We expect our suppliers to conduct business in accordance with all applicable antitrust or competition laws and regulations. This includes avoiding business practices such as entry into arrangements that unlawfully restrain competition; improper exchange of competitive information; price fixing, bid rigging, or improper market allocation.
Export/Import Control
We expect our suppliers to ensure that their business practices are in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations governing the export and import of domestic and foreign origin parts and components and related technical data. Suppliers shall provide complete and accurate information and obtain export licenses and/or authorizations when necessary.
Financial Responsibility/Accurate Records
All business dealings should be transparently performed and accurately reflected on Suppliers' business books and records. Information regarding participant's labor, health and safety, environmental practices, business activities, quality, financial situation, and performance is to be disclosed in accordance with applicable regulations and prevailing industry practices. Falsification of records or misrepresentations of conditions or practices is unacceptable
Protecting Information
Our suppliers should take proper care to protect information, including confidential, proprietary, and personal information. Information maintained on electronic systems should be protected against cyber intrusions and other un-authorized use or access, through appropriate physical and electronic security procedures. Hisco information should not be used for any purposes beyond the scope of the business arrangement with our company, without prior authorization.
Human Rights
We expect our suppliers to treat people with respect and dignity, encourage diversity and diverse opinions, promote equal opportunity for all, and help create an inclusive and ethical culture.
Human Trafficking
Forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labor, involuntary or exploitative prison labor, slavery or trafficking of persons is not permitted. This includes transporting, harboring, recruiting, transferring, or receiving persons by means of threat, force, coercion, abduction or fraud for labor or services. Employers, agents, and sub-agents may not hold or otherwise destroy, conceal, or confiscate identity or immigration documents, such as government-issued identification, passports, or work permits. Employers can only hold documentation if such holdings are required by law. In this case, at no time should workers be denied access to their documents.
Child Labor
We expect our suppliers to ensure that child labor is not used in the performance of work. The term “child” refers to any person under the minimum legal age for employment where the work is performed.
Non-Discrimination
We expect our suppliers to provide equal employment opportunity to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, military veteran status, ancestry, marital status, any characteristic protected by state or local law, or mental or physical disability, when the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
Harassment
We expect our suppliers to ensure that employees may perform their work in an environment free from physical, psychological and verbal harassment, or other abusive conduct.
Drug-Free Workplace
We expect our suppliers to maintain a workplace free from illegal drugs. Such a workplace includes the illegal use, possession, sale or distribution of controlled substances or illegal substances.
Responsible Sourcing of Materials
All suppliers must adopt a policy and exercise due diligence on the source and chain of custody of the tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold in the products they manufacture to reasonably assure that they are sourced in a way consistent with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High- Risk Areas or an equivalent and recognized due diligence framework.
Counterfeit Parts
We expect our suppliers to develop, implement, and maintain methods and processes appropriate to their products and services to minimize the risk of introducing counterfeit parts and materials into deliverable products. Effective processes should be in place to detect counterfeit parts and materials, and mark parts obsolete as appropriate.
Environment
Suppliers should recognize that environmental responsibility is integral to producing world-class products. Supplier shall identify the environmental impacts and minimize adverse effects on the community, environment, and natural resources within their manufacturing operations, while safeguarding the health and safety of their employees and the general public. Chemicals, waste, and other materials posing a hazard to humans, or the environment are to be identified, labeled, and managed to ensure their safe handling, movement, storage, use, recycling or reuse, and disposal.
Employee Safety & Health
We expect our suppliers to comply with applicable safety and health laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of their people, visitors, and others who may be affected by their activities. Appropriate training should be conducted to ensure the safe handling and disposal of hazardous substances.
Emergency Preparedness
Potential emergency situations and events are to be identified and assessed, and their impact minimized by implementing emergency plans and response procedures including emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures, worker training, and drills. Such plans and procedures must focus on minimizing harm to life, the environment, and property.
Reporting
We expect our suppliers to provide their employees with avenues for raising legal or ethical issues or concerns without fear of retaliation.
Supplier Diversity
As supply chain requirements vary by country, our suppliers should be mindful that we often have customer-directed supplier inclusion goals. These may additionally be defined as small business, small disadvantaged business, woman owned small business, HUB-Zone certified business, veteran owned small business, or service-disabled veteran owned small business.
Commensurate with the size and nature of their business, we expect our suppliers to have management systems in place to support compliance with laws, regulations and expectations related to or addressed expressly within the Supplier Code of Conduct. We encourage our suppliers to implement their own written code of conduct, and to flow down the principles of a code of conduct.
If a supplier, distributor, or customer has reason to believe that there has been a violation of a law, a statutory regulation, the Hisco Supplier Code of Conduct or a corporate policy, please report the suspected violation to a Hisco representative or to the Hisco Ethics and Compliance Office.
Last Updated: March 10, 2023