Business ethics and legal compliance

Our Code of Conduct – available in 27 different languages – is the framework for business ethics and legal compliance; we expect all employees to comply with the principles laid down in the Code of Conduct, as well as legal requirements and other internal regulations. This is reinforced by the fact that all employees and new members of the company have to complete mandatory related training, which are available in 23 different languages, in order to facilitate a unified understanding of our values and principles.

We also adhere to the Ethical Trading Initiative’s (ETI) Base Code, and conduct more than 50 social audits annually, involving our plants on a representative and risk-based approach. Following up on any nonconformity identified during the audits ensures a continuous improvement in our business ethics performance.

As our business relies heavily on suppliers (primarily providing raw materials), their sustainability performance is a key factor to our success. Therefore, our Supplier Code of Conduct is a mandatory document for all third parties wishing to have a business relationship with ALPLA. Derived from our own Code of Conduct, it presents the principles and requirements towards our suppliers, related to topics such as environmental protection, anti-corruption, human rights, labour standards and intellectual property.

Our dedicated Compliance department is responsible for preventing non-compliant behaviour by establishing internal policies and providing training to all employees. They are also acting as a contact point for any concerns regarding compliance. Since December 2021, our Reporting channel is accessible to all employees and third parties, while preserving confidentiality and anonymity. In 2022, we had a total of 37 non-compliance cases reviewed and closed, and none of them were confirmed as ethical misbehaviour.