Three things we hold ourselves to.
Most of a consumer product’s impact is settled before anyone unwraps it: in how it is specified, how it is made, and how it reaches the door. Product compliance, delivery methods and responsible sourcing are where that gets decided.
Product compliance
Built to the strictest standard that applies.
A product sold in several markets is specified once, to the toughest requirement among them, rather than certified down to each local minimum.
Powered products are tested against the standards that apply in every country we sell into, and test reports, declarations of conformity and technical files are held for each line. Conformity marking, labelling and instruction requirements are settled before a product is listed, not after somebody raises a question.
Market-by-market testing
Every powered line is tested against the standards in force in each country where it is sold.
Documentation held per line
Test reports, declarations of conformity and technical files retained for every product in the range.
One specification, toughest bar
Multi-market products are built to the strictest applicable requirement rather than to each local minimum.
Traceability
Batch and supplier records kept so a specific production run can be identified and acted on quickly.
Delivery methods
The journey to the door is part of the product.
How a suitcase or an appliance reaches a customer accounts for a large share of its footprint, and most of that is decided by where the stock sits.
Inventory is positioned inside the markets we sell into, so a typical order travels a domestic leg rather than an international one. Packaging is sized to the product, which cuts both transit damage and the volume of air being moved with it.
Stock held in market
Inventory positioned locally, so most customer orders travel a domestic route rather than crossing a border.
Right-sized packaging
Packs built around the product, reducing damage in transit and the empty volume shipped with it.
Consolidated freight
Full-load movements into each market in place of frequent part-loads.
Responsible sourcing
We know who makes our products.
Every tier-one manufacturing partner is assessed before the first order and re-audited on a recurring cycle.
Supplier code of conduct
Labour standards, working hours, wages, health and safety, and environmental management.
Audited before the first order
No tier-one partner is given an order before assessment, and audits repeat on a cycle thereafter.
Obligations cascade
Suppliers must apply the same standards to the subcontractors they use.
Questions
The detail behind the three.
What buyers, auditors and regulators ask us most often.