Code of Conduct

We pride ourselves on working responsibly in partnership with all our suppliers, whether they be an individual artisan or a larger maker. All suppliers must read, sign and agree to the TOAST Code of Conduct before carrying out any production.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE

This Code of Vendor Conduct applies to all factories that produce goods for The Company.

While TOAST recognises that there are different legal and cultural environments in which factories operate throughout the world, this Code sets forth the basic requirements all factories must meet in order to do business with TOAST.

In order to make our position clear to our Suppliers, our own staff, as well as any other parties, we have set up a Code of Conduct. It is a non-negotiable requirement from our side that all our Suppliers and their subcontractors, without exception, should follow this code.

We intend to work only with reputable Suppliers and manufacturers so that when customers buy goods from the TOAST, they can be assured that they have been produced under acceptable conditions.
“Acceptable Conditions” means lawfully, through fair and honest dealing, without exploitation of the people who made them, in decent working conditions and with regard to the environment.
The Code of Conduct is a statement of our most basic requirements, which must be met in order to trade with TOAST. A process of self-evaluation and independent inspection is in place, to assure its proper and practical application.
The Code of Conduct is designed to be ethical, achievable, auditable and universal in the ongoing development of TOAST’s sources of supply.
The Code of Conduct applies to all Suppliers of goods to TOAST including any involved in subcontracted processes, referred to as ‘Suppliers’. It is the minimum standard that TOAST will accept.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The provisions of the Code of Conduct constitute minimum and not maximum standards and the Code of Conduct must not be used to prevent companies from exceeding these standards.
Companies applied the Code of Conduct are expected to comply with national and other applicable law and where the provisions of law and the Code of Conduct address the same subject, to apply that provision which affords the greater protection.
Where there is no national law suppliers must refer to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

ENVIRONMENT

Suppliers must manage all waste that they generate in accordance with local laws or in such a way as to avoid harm to the environment or the local population. We expect and encourage that every attempt is made to recycle any waste produced as a result of manufacture.
Suppliers must follow and comply with the current REACH Restricted substances list.
All chemicals and hazardous waste must be handles, transported and disposed of according to local law, with detailed records kept and a MSDS in the local language must be available where chemicals are used. Suppliers must treat and dispose of waste water according to local law or the benchmark guideline in the industry, whichever is higher.
Suppliers should work to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas footprint. All emissions that are produced during production must be monitored, controlled and treated as required by local law.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

Our definition of child labour is based on the conventions and recommendations of child labour by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and refers to work that;

is likely to be hazardous, or to interfere with the child’s or young person’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s or young person’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s or young person’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

No child under the age of 15 can be employed in factories producing TOAST. If the law states higher minimum age, then the law must be followed.
Young workers below the age of 18 can only undertake light work in the factory, all laws concerning the treatment of young workers must be followed.

The use of child labour is not acceptable and we will not work with suppliers that use child labour in any of their facilities, or who do not have efficient systems in place to ensure that child labour cannot occur on the production premises,

WAGES AND HOURS

Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be high enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.
All workers shall be provided with written, signed and understandable information in their about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid. The contract must be written in a language that is understandable to the employee.
Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
Working hours should be kept within the legal limits and benchmark industry standards. Working hours should not on a regular basis exceed 48 hours per week.
Suppliers must provide sufficient rest days to employees, classified as at least 1 day off in a 7 day period.
Overtime should be voluntary and shall not exceed 12 hours per week. Overtime shall not be demanded on a regular basis and must always be compensated at a premium rate. Employees are entitles to refuse overtime without incrimination.

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT

Suppliers must not use any illegal workers, or any forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.
Workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.
No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed. Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.
There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
Workers, without distinction, have the right to join of form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.
The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their organisational activities.
Workers’ representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.
Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.
Employees must have permission to leave the factory under reasonable circumstances, and should have free access to water, toilets and religious facilities while at work.
Suppliers must declare use of any small workshop subcontractors, temporary workers or homeworkers to TOAST. These groups must be employed according to legal requirements. The supplier should ensure that any third party agent providing employees is complying with this Code of Conduct and all relevant laws.
Suppliers should set up their own internal policies in regards to ethical production and environmental responsibility and have efficient systems in place to ensure these policies are effectively implemented throughout the organisation and effectively monitored.

FACTORY AND WORKING CONDITIONS

A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimising, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.
Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.
Access to clean toilet facilities and potable water, and if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.
Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe and meet the basic needs of the workers.
The Company observing the Code of Conduct shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.

ETHICS AND INTEGRITY

Suppliers should provide anonymous method for workers to report workplace grievances and ensure policies are in place to protect workers when complaints and grievances are reported in good faith.
Suppliers should show the highest level of ethical integrity when dealing with workers, suppliers and TOAST employees.
Suppliers should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT
The Principle of Trust and Co-operation:

TOAST expects all its Suppliers to respect the above Code of Conduct and to actively do their utmost to achieve our standards. We trust our own staff to take a lot of responsibility in their work, and we expect from our Suppliers that they do the same. We believe in co-operation and we are willing to work with our Suppliers to achieve workable solutions in each individual case.
We are willing to take into consideration cultural and other factors, which may vary from country to country, but we will not compromise on basic requirements regarding safety and human rights.

Monitoring:

All Suppliers are obliged to always keep TOAST informed about where each order is being produced. TOAST reserves the right to let any independent third party of our choice make inspections, to ensure compliance with our Code of Conduct.

Non- Compliance:

Should we find that a supplier does not comply with our Code of Conduct, if corrective measures are not taken within an agreed time limit, we will terminate our business relationship with this supplier.
If we find repeated violations, it is our policy to immediately terminate the co-operation with the Supplier and cancel our existing orders