Brand Addition will continue to maintain our support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

Our belief is to continuously improve in all areas, measure our improvements where possible and share expertise across our business.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. Brand Addition will also commit to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

An internationally recognised standard of Social Accountability, SA8000 provides us with a clear direction regarding the fair treatment of people and the environment in which we work. The requirements for certification are aimed at our business but also apply to our suppliers and how we work we them.

In addition to independent audits being carried out twice a year at multiple Brand Addition sites we carry out our own internal audits of the systems. The ultimate aim is to ensure that we remain compliant and also to improve our systems.

Employee Forums
Business Ethics Policy

Our European and Far East Factory Audit programs are well established & continue to ensure that factories and suppliers we are using in high risk countries do not contravene the principles of the ETI, ILO and SA8000. We audit factories, distributors and importers every 2 years or more frequently depending on risk. Corrective action plans are issued and followed up after each audit. Our partner in Turkey also continues to monitor suppliers in this territory.

The Brand Addition Code of Practice highlighting these principles continues to be issued to all suppliers, worldwide, on an annual basis.

Brand Addition operates an Employee Forum which compromises of a cross section of employees from across Manchester, London and Dublin. Towards the end of February 2016 the current forum will ‘step down’ and voting will commence to elect new members for a term of 3 years.

All staff, during induction are notified of their rights with regard to freedom of association.

Brand Addition has been re-accredited the Investors in People status for the UK Operations in Manchester and London. The sites have been re-assessed against the standard on 25th -27th January and we were successfully awarded the IIP accreditation again.

This standard provides a simple and flexible framework that is versatile, flexible, non-prescriptive, outcome based and recognises that every organisation is different and therefore needs to reach their end goals in their own way

Within our supply chain we continue to audit factories in the Far East and other risk countries such as Turkey, Bangladesh & India using SA8000 and the ETI Gap as guides to ensure compliance is met. This is actively encouraged and reiterated during the European vendor audit programme through our tier 2 supply chain. This is an ongoing process and Corrective Action Plans are monitored.

Brand Addition have a policy on Equality and Diversity

Brand Addition is committed to promoting diversity and equal opportunities in employment. We will not support any form or unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, religion and/or belief, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, HIV status, marital or family status, disability or age.

Brand Addition develops and implements procedures and practices that provide equality of opportunity for both current employees and those applying for positions within the company. Brand Addition believes that its future success is dependent upon its workforce reflecting the composition, talents and skills of the community in which it operates.

Diversity and equality of opportunity within the company are consistently reflected in our decisions relating to the recruitment, selection, training, promotion, transfers, benefits and terms and conditions of our employees. All decisions will be made on the basis of objective and job related criteria.

Brand Addition continues to take a precautionary approach to environmental challenges via the Environmental Legislation Update Service. Brand Addition is notified by ELUS well in advance of changes to legislation and as such is well prepared to take on new challenges

Brand Addition have an Environmental Policy and an Ethical and Sustainabilty policy

The Brand Addition Group is currently revising its processes and practices around energy management with a view to achieving ISO 5001 certification in July 2016. We are currently ISO 14001 accredited. The focus on using energy efficiently will result in cost savings in addition to helping to conserve resources and tackle climate change.

Due to the success of a project aimed at improving the office lighting 2014, we have now replicated this good practice in the warehouse and also the floodlights on the front of the building this involved replacing 250W Metal Halide lamps with 80W Cool White LED lamps in these areas.

Measurement :-
CO2 output was reduced by:-
Offices – 26.35 to 5.85
Outside lights – 2.76 to 0.74
Warehouse lights – 11.94 to 4.94

Our Code of Practice communicates this message to our supply chain. Our Internal Policy is held on a shared drive and the Intranet for all employees to access.
All supplier gifts are saved and used for a staff Christmas raffle once a year. Proceeds raised are given to our nominated charity in that year.

Anti Corruption is managed internally by our Group CSR Manager.

Brand Addition have a Bribery and Corruption Policy which is issued to all employees.