Skip to main content

We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. Click here to find out more about our usage.

MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT

Introduction

Modern slavery is a heinous crime and a morally reprehensible act that deprives a person's liberty and dignity for another person's gain. It is a real problem for millions of people around the world, including many in developed countries, who are being kept and exploited in various forms of slavery. Every company is at risk of being involved in this crime through its own operations and its supply chain.  

 
Vaiopak Ltd (the “Company”) acknowledges the provisions of the modern slavery act 2015 and will ensure transparency within the organisation and with suppliers of goods and services to the organisation. The Company is satisfied from its own due diligence that there is no evidence of any act of modern day slavery or human trafficking within our own organisation.  As part of the Company’s due diligence processes into slavery and human trafficking, the supplier approval process incorporates a statement of compliance. 
  
At Vaiopak, we have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, and are fully committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in our operation and supply chain. We have taken concrete steps to tackle modern slavery, as outlined in our statement. This statement sets out the actions that we have taken to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to our business, and to implement steps to prevent slavery and human trafficking during the financial year 2018.   
  

Our business and supply chains

Vaiopak provides a one stop shop for all your packaging supply needs in the UK.
  
We establish a relationship of trust and integrity with all our approved suppliers, which is built upon mutually beneficial factors. Our supplier selection and on-boarding procedure includes due diligence of the supplier's reputation, respect for the law, compliance with health, safety and environmental standards, and references.   
  
We haven't been made aware of any allegations of human trafficking/slavery activities against any of our suppliers, but if we were, then we would act immediately against the supplier and report it to the authorities.  

Policies

Vaiopak operates the following policies for identifying and preventing slavery and human trafficking in our operations:

  • Whistleblowing Policy - we encourage all employees, customers and suppliers to report any suspicion of slavery or human trafficking without fear of retaliation.
  • We provide an open door policy to protect the identity of the whistleblowers. 
  • Code of Conduct - our code encourages employees to do the right thing by clearly stating the actions and behaviour expected of them when representing the business. We strive to maintain the highest standards of employee conduct and ethical behaviour when operating abroad and managing our supply chain.
  • Purchasing Code - we have updated our approved supplier SAQ to make explicit reference to slavery and human trafficking.  

Supplier due diligence

Vaiopak conducts due diligence on all new suppliers during on-boarding and on existing suppliers at regular intervals. This includes:

  • Assessing risks in the provision of particular services
  • Auditing the suppliers, and their health and safety standards
  • Requiring improvements to substandard employment practices
  • Sanctioning suppliers that fail to improve their performance in line with our requirements

We require all suppliers to attest that:

  • They don't use any form of forced, compulsory or slave labour
  • Their employees work voluntarily and are entitled to leave work
  • They provide each employee with an employment contract that contains a reasonable notice period for terminating their employment
  • They don't require employees to post a deposit/bond and don't withhold their salaries for any reasons
  • They don't require employees to surrender their passports or work permits as a condition of employment  

Awareness

Vaiopak has raised awareness of modern slavery issues and given advice on How employees should report suspicions of modern slavery  
  

Training In addition to the awareness program. Vaiopak has given advice to staff on:

  • Various forms of modern slavery in which people can be held and exploited
  • The size of the problem and the risk to our organisation
  • How employees can identify the signs of slavery and human trafficking, including unrealistically low prices
  • How employees should respond if they suspect slavery or human trafficking 
  • How suppliers can escalate potential slavery or human trafficking issues to the relevant people within their own organisation
  • What external help is available for the victims of slavery
  • What terms and guidance should be provided to suppliers in relation to slavery policies and controls
  • What steps Vaiopak will take if a supplier fails to implement anti-slavery policies or controls
  • An attestation from employees that they will abide by Vaiopak’s anti-slavery policy  
   
This statement covers 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 and has been approved by Vaiopak Management team.