Sustainability guidelines for suppliers

Balzer & Co GmbH

Code of Conduct

and sustainability guidelines

for suppliers

foreword

For more than 40 years, sustainability has been an undisputed success factor of Balzer & Co GmbH, alongside the high quality of the products. This also applies to their suppliers to the same extent.

The new sustainability guidelines for suppliers unequivocally point out to the business partners of Balzer & Co GmbH the need for sustainable management. This forms the basis for economic, ecological and social responsibility.

This document, which is based on guidelines and principles that are recognized and valid worldwide, contains all the basic principles and standards of Balzer & Co GmbH, which the company also places on all of its suppliers of goods and services.

Joachim Balzer
managing Director

subjects

General Principles

Ecological Responsibility

business relationships

Compliance with the Code of Conduct

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

PRINCIPLE OF STRICT LEGALITY

Balzer & Co GmbH always acts n

According to the principle of strict legality in all activities, measures, contracts and other processes. Balzer & Co GmbH expects the same from its suppliers. Applicable laws and this code of conduct must be observed when doing business with Balzer & Co GmbH. It is also expected that third parties who are involved in the fulfillment of the contract with Balzer & Co GmbH are required to comply with this code of conduct as well.

DEALING WITH EMPLOYEES

All applicable and fundamental employee rights are observed by our suppliers on the basis of current legislation.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Our suppliers respect and uphold internationally recognized human rights.

CHILD LABOR

Our suppliers only employ employees who have reached the required minimum age based on the applicable national legislation. The rights of children are also observed and respected.

FORCED LABOR

Our suppliers reject any form of forced labor and respect the principle of freely chosen employment.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Our suppliers respect freedom of association and the right to form interest groups. Your employees have the right to represent their interests based on national legislation.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Our suppliers reject any kind of discrimination against employees based on skin color, ethnic origin, gender, age, nationality, social background, disability and sexual orientation as well as religious affiliation or world view.

FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS

Our suppliers pay remuneration and social benefits that at least correspond to legal standards, regulations or agreements. The applicable regulations on working hours and vacation are observed.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROTECTION

Our suppliers comply with at least the applicable national standard for safe workplaces and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to ensure safety and health in the workplace.

RESPONSIBLE SOURCING OF RAW MATERIALS

Our suppliers are obliged to exercise the necessary care when procuring and extracting raw materials, including conflict minerals, and to check their origin if necessary. Raw materials from conflict-affected regions, as well as the use and procurement of raw materials that have been obtained illegally or through unethical measures, are to be avoided.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

TREATMENT AND DRAINAGE OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER

Wastewater from operating procedures, manufacturing processes and sanitary facilities must be checked before discharge or disposal and treated if necessary. In addition, measures should be taken to reduce wastewater in general.

DEALING WITH AIR EMISSION

General emissions from operational processes (air and noise emissions) and greenhouse gas emissions must be monitored, verified and, if necessary, treated before they are released. The supplier is also obliged to monitor its emission control systems and find economical solutions to reduce any type of emission.

HANDLING OF WASTE AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Supplier shall use a systematic and planned approach to identify, manage, reduce and responsibly dispose of or recycle waste generated. Chemicals or other materials that can have an environmentally harmful effect must be identified and treated in such a way that there are no safety risks whatsoever when handling, transporting, storing, using, recycling, reusing and disposing of these substances.

REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF RAW MATERIALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

The use and consumption of resources during production and the generation of waste of all kinds, including water and energy, must be reduced or avoided. This happens either directly at the point of origin or through suitable measures such as changes in the production and maintenance processes or other processes in the company such as the use of alternative materials, savings, recycling or the reuse of materials.

DEALING WITH ENERGY CONSUMPTION/EFFICIENCY

Energy consumption must be monitored and documented. Economical solutions must be found to improve energy efficiency and thus reduce energy consumption.

BUSINESS RELATIONS

AVOIDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Our suppliers make factual decisions and are not guided by purely personal interests.

FREE COMPETITION

Our suppliers practice fair competition and comply with the applicable legal regulations that protect free competition. Our suppliers do not enter into any agreement or consult in advance with other companies that intends or causes the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition under applicable antitrust laws and do not unlawfully exploit a potential dominant position.

INTEGRITY/BRIBERY, BENEFITS

All business activities are subject to the highest standards of integrity. Our suppliers must have a zero tolerance policy for all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion or embezzlement. Procedures for monitoring and enforcing the standards shall be used to ensure compliance with anti-corruption laws.

CONFIDENTIALITY/PRIVACY

Our suppliers are committed to protecting private information while meeting the reasonable expectations and interests of their clients, suppliers, customers, consumers and employees. Supplier shall comply with data protection and information security laws and government regulations when collecting, storing, processing, transmitting and disclosing personal information.

MONEY LAUNDERING

Our suppliers observe the relevant legal provisions on money laundering prevention.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual property and the rights to it are to be respected; Transfer of technology and know-how only takes place within a protected framework and in compliance with intellectual property rights.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE OF CONDUCT

Our suppliers pass this code of conduct on to third parties who are selected to fulfill the contractual relationship with Balzer & Co GmbH, take this code of conduct into account when making their selection and, for their part, endeavor to oblige them to comply and to check this on a regular basis. Violation of this code of conduct leads to impairment of the business relationship between Balzer & Co GmbH and the supplier. Irrespective of possible further rights, Balzer & Co GmbH reserves the right in this case to demand clarification of the facts and initiation of countermeasures from its supplier. If the supplier demonstrably fails to initiate suitable countermeasures within a reasonable period of time or if the violation of the code of conduct is so serious that a continuation of the business relationship cannot be reasonably expected of Balzer & Co GmbH, regardless of other rights, Balzer & Co GmbH reserves the right to terminate the contractual relationship with the to terminate the supplier without notice or to withdraw from the contract concerned.

Balzer & Co GmbH

Lower Meadows 1

D-76669 Bad Schoenborn

Phone: 49 7253 80294-10

Fax: 49 7253 32830

info@balzer-co.de

www.balzer-co.de

Status: 08/2022

* For reasons of better readability, the simultaneous use of the language forms male, female and diverse (m/f/d) in the text is avoided.

All personal designations apply equally to all genders.