Audits, best practice and value chain risk
Our approach to managing value chain risk focuses on responsible sourcing, supplier audits and continuous collaboration to drive high standards across its global supply chain.
Conflicts Minerals policy
Our Conflict Minerals policy is part of our commitment to ensure that the materials that are used in the products we buy (such as tungsten), or in the manufacturing process (such as tin), are responsibly sourced.
We also became the first in our sector to join the Responsible Minerals Initiative and will use the insights and connections this gives us to encourage our suppliers to make a positive difference in this area.
Site audits
To ensure our suppliers’ compliance with our requirements, our sustainable procurement team conducts its programme of assessments and audits, performed both remotely and on site at production, distribution and service delivery locations.
This programme continues to be supported by our external partners to ensure that it runs in the most productive, cost effective and sustainable way possible.
In 2025 we met our objective of having all our strategically important suppliers covered by a valid assessment or audit. Review periods for these suppliers are updated quarterly according to their risk profiles and scores.
Audit results
Our audit results of our global suppliers were strong in 2025, 85% of our supplier sites achieving one of the top two ratings.
55% of our supplier sites audited achieved the highest possible ‘Platinum’ grade, meaning that no risks were identified, and only good practices found, and 30% achieved ‘Green’ grade, meaning only low risks were identified.
Health and safety continued to be one of the primary risks identified. We address this by focusing on safety in our dialogue with suppliers and the expertise provided by our Safety team.
Managing value chain risk
In 2025, we used a range of systems to assess risks in our value chain and get real-time information about events requiring attention.
We reviewed the full supply chains of more of our key strategic suppliers, tracing back to raw materials and assessing a broad range of risks and sustainability impacts at each stage, including their emissions.
We applied our Business Continuity Framework to review the ability of our partners to provide goods and services in case of adverse events or any other contingencies.