UPM updates the Supplier and Third-Party Code regularly to reflect evolving requirements and changes in the operating environment. The latest update was made alongside the growing prominence of EU-level responsibility regulation and a changing business environment.
”Above all, we wanted to ensure that our responsibility principles are as clear as possible, up-to-date and aligned with the evolving EU legislation and stakeholder expectations. The updated Code supports our partners in preparing for regulatory changes and understanding what responsible conduct means in everyday operations, such as responsibility risk assessments, promoting social responsibility or advancing human rights,” Vainikka says.
The update clarifies responsibility standards
The update included a full review of both the Supplier and Third-Party Code and the accompanying practical guide. The Code defines the minimum requirements for responsible business conduct, and suppliers and other third parties must agree to them before starting cooperation with UPM. The practical guide helps to translate the requirements into concrete actions, offering examples and good practices for implementation.
“Responsible business practices must not be a privilege for the few; they must be possible for all actors in a value chain. The practical guide is one way to support especially small and medium-sized companies in this development. When the requirements are understood, it becomes easier to implement them further down in the suppliers’ own supply chain,” Vainikka emphasizes.
The content of the Code was clarified especially in the areas of social and environmental responsibility. The language was simplified, and the guide is now available in an easily accessible online version. Both the Supplier and Third-Party Code and the practical guide are available in six languages on UPM’s website.