Australia’s Modern Slavery Act requires businesses to be transparent about their operations and supply chains. As part of the Bunzl Group, Interpath is committed to eliminating modern slavery from its supply chains globally.
What is Modern Slavery in the Supply Chain?
According to the International Labour Organisation, Global Estimates indicate that 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021. With forced labour being found to affects more than 27.6 million of men, women and children around the world.
With a current demand in the market by research institutions and universities asking for transparency and fair working conditions from the businesses they purchase from, and concurrently an extensive global trade that stretches across every corner of the planet, large-scale organisation's are increasingly responsible for ensuring the suppliers that they source from are ethical and lawful - especially when it comes to importing from high-risk regions.
Stamping Out Modern Slavery
As a company operating as part of the Bunzl Group, Interpath Services adopts Bunzl's zero tolerance for unethical practices and commitment to eliminating modern slavery practices. Bunzl works across more than 30 countries with supply chains operating in about 70, and takes a hands-on approach to ensure businesses and individuals within the supply chain are complying with communities’ and workers’ rights.
While the majority of Bunzl’s direct suppliers are based in countries with low- or medium-levels of social risk, around 15% of the company’s procurement-spend takes place with suppliers in higher-risk regions, such as China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Our Approach to Responsible Sourcing
Interpath Services is committed to working with suppliers that meet adequate standards and value transparency. Under Bunzl's Code of Conduct, suppliers are expected to meet the same internationally recognised human rights, environmental and quality standards that is expected of all Bunzl businesses.
Bunzl has zero tolerance for unacceptable practices, including the use of child, forced or bonded labour; illegal discrimination; wages not meeting local minimum requirements; not providing adequate days of rest; and any other breach of local or applicable international requirements for workers’ welfare and conditions of employment.
Respecting Human Rights
We understand that modern slavery is a pressing global challenge that demands concerted actions worldwide. As a company working within the Bunzl Group, Interpath Services is fully dedicated to the mission of eradicating modern slavery and upholding human rights throughout the supply chain.
To support both our customers and suppliers in this mission, Bunzl conducts in-country audits that are carried out by an internal global team specialising in responsible and ethical sourcing. Our clients can trust in our unwavering commitment to ethical and responsible sourcing practices, with a strong focus on protecting workers’ rights in our auditing and assurance processes.
We are actively implementing measures to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking have no place in our supply chain or within any aspect of our business and maintain:
- A zero tolerance policy for unethical behavior.
- A zero tolerance stance on child labor, forced labor, and any unethical practices.
- A zero tolerance approach against unfair discrimination, subminimum wages, and the imposition of continuous work without adequate breaks.
We firmly believe that every individual deserves safe and dignified work conditions.