Code of Conduct

Appli-Tec’s Supplier and Customer Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behavior we expect of all suppliers doing business with Appli-Tec, wherever they are located in the world. We expect our suppliers to adhere to our business principles, as set out in this Code, and to share our commitment to sound and ethical business conduct.

Suppliers and customers are encouraged to share the Code of Conduct with their employees, partners, sub-contractors and suppliers that are involved in the supply of goods or services to Appli-Tec and to emphasize the importance of compliance with the standards set out in the Code.

1. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS

All Appli-Tec suppliers, customers, and their employees must, as a minimum standard, comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate.

Suppliers and customers must:

• Not engage in anti-competitive behavior, bribery or corruption, tax evasion, nor must they permit anyone acting on their behalf to engage in such activities.
• Ensure that all the products, services and shipments for Appli-Tec adhere to all applicable international trade compliance and export laws, rules, and regulations.

2. EMPLOYEES

Appli-Tec suppliers and customers are expected to provide an inclusive working environment in which their employees should feel respected and valued, and in which they are able to make the best use of their skills, free from discrimination.

Suppliers and customers must:

• Employ only workers who meet the minimum applicable legal age requirement. Suppliers must comply with all applicable child labor laws and, irrespective of local practice, must not employ any person under the age of 16.
• Set employees’ working hours and pay in compliance with all applicable laws. Employees should be paid at least the minimum legal wage or a wage which reflects local industry standards, whichever is greater.
• Not engage in or support the use of forced or compulsory labor. Suppliers and customers must not procure work or service from any person under the threat of any menace. Suppliers and customers’ employees must be free to leave their employment with reasonable notice, and they must not be required to surrender any passports or work permits as a condition of employment.
• Not discriminate against employees on the ground of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, political belief, disability, or age.
• Treat their employees with dignity and respect, and not display behavior which offends, humiliates or threatens others.

3. HEALTH AND SAFETY

Appli-Tec is committed to ensuring the safe and responsible operation of its business at all times. Appli-Tec expects its suppliers and customers to demonstrate a similar regard for the health and safety of their employees and to users of any materials supplied to Appli-Tec.

Suppliers and customers are expected to:

• As a minimum, comply with all applicable health and safety laws, regulations and standards, and any additional health and safety requirements stipulated by Appli-Tec as a condition of supply.
• Ensure a safe work environment, and minimize physical and chemical hazards through proper design, engineering and process controls, preventative maintenance and safe work procedures.
• Provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment, and adequate training.

4. ENVIRONMENT

Appli-Tec believes that protecting the environment by minimizing its environmental impact will help to secure the long-term future of its business. Appli-Tec expects environmental protection to be a similar priority for its suppliers and customers in all significant aspects of their activities.

It is our policy to seek continual improvement throughout our business operations to lessen our impact on the local and global environment by conserving energy, water, and other natural resources; reducing waste generation; recycling and reducing our use of toxic materials. We are committed to environmental excellence and pollution prevention, meeting or exceeding all environmental regulatory requirements, and to purchasing products which have greater recycled content with lower toxicity and packaging that reduce the use of natural resources.

Appli-Tec, Inc is committed to protecting the environment, the health and safety of our employees, and the community in which we conduct our business. The goal of this policy is to ensure that products and services purchased or contracted for conform to the goals of our company’s environmental policy. We will strive, where feasible, to purchase environmentally preferable products and services to meet the company’s office and operational needs.

Preference will be given to purchasing products and services that have the following environmentally friendly attributes with acceptable parameters for price, quality, and delivery:

• Maximizes post-consumer recycled content.
• Minimizes packaging and other wastes.
• Reduce the use of toxic materials hazardous to the environment, employees, and public health.
• Are made from sustainably produced materials.
• Are compostable, biodegradable or recyclable.
• Are made with renewable energy.
• Reduce pollution from all discharges (releases to air, water, and land).
• Are energy efficient.
• Serve several functions (for example, copiers/printers, multipurpose cleaners) to reduce the overall number of products purchased.

Environmentally preferable products and services that are comparable in quality to their standard counterparts will receive a purchasing preference. Environmentally preferable purchasing is part of our long-term commitment to the environment. By sending a clear signal to producers and suppliers about this commitment, we hope to support wider adoption of environmentally preferable products and practices.

Suppliers and customers are expected to:

• At a minimum, comply with all applicable environmental laws, regulations and standards, and maintain all required environmental permits and licenses.
• Control pollution, consume resources effectively and use materials that minimize the environmental impact of operations.
• Endeavour to reduce or eliminate solid waste, wastewater and air emissions by implementing appropriate conservation measures in their production and facility processes.

5. ETHICS

Appi-Tec expects its suppliers and customers to commit to the highest standards of ethical behavior when dealing with their employees, their own suppliers and their customers.

Suppliers and customers are expected to:

• Prohibit all forms of fraud, deception, corruption and extortion by their employees, officers, directors or agents.

Not partake in, facilitate or assist in tax evasion.

• Adhere to standards fair business and competition.
• Accurately report information regarding their business activities and performance in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Respect intellectual property rights and safeguard third parties’ confidential information.
• Access, collect, store and process personal data about individuals only in accordance with the laws of the country in which they operate.
• Uphold all internationally recognized human rights wherever their operations are based.
• Ensure their product do not use “conflict minerals” (minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses, and which are sold or traded by armed groups), and perform sufficient due diligence on their own supply chains to ensure that any materials sold to Appli-Tec containing tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold are sourced from conflict-free smelters.

6. ANTI-CORRUPTION

Appli-Tec is committed to complying with all anticorruption laws that prohibit bribes, kickbacks and other corrupt actions to obtain or retain business or obtain any improper advantage.

Suppliers and customers must:

• As a minimum, comply with all applicable anti-corruption laws, with particular regard for the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977, when conducting business with Appli-Tec.
• Not, directly or indirectly, accept or offer any form of bribe, kickback or other corrupt payment from or to any person or organization, including government agencies, private companies and their respective employees.
• Ensure any gifts or hospitality are customary and reasonable in terms of value and frequency, and not intended to improperly influence a business decision or impair independence or judgment.
• Ensure any third parties who provide goods or services on their behalf operate at all times in accordance with these standards.

7. SALES

Appli-Tec and its representatives agree to:

1. Maintain the highest standards of integrity in all business relationships.
2. Provide our customers with a buying experience in which we “do the right thing and thereby get the right results.”
3. Promote and protect good sales practices.
4. Always act within the law.

Fundamental principles

The Appli-Tec Sales Code of Conduct is made up of three fundamental principles:

1. Integrity: being straightforward, honest and truthful in all professional and business relationships. Avoiding conflicts of interest and not being associated with any information that you believe contains a materially false or misleading statement, or which is misleading by omission. This includes, but is not limited to:
a. Rejecting any business practice which might reasonably be deemed improper.
b. Operating with honesty and accountability in all duties.
c. Never using authority or position for my own improper financial gain.
d. Declaring to the responsible person(s) within Appli-Tec any personal interest that might affect, or be seen by others to affect, impartiality in decision making.
e. Ensuring that the information I give in the course of my work is accurate and not misleading; avoiding being misleading by omission of materially important information.
f. Never breaching the confidentiality of information I receive in a professional capacity.

2. Solution appropriateness: ensuring that you are configuring and selling customers solutions that are absolutely appropriate for their needs and in their best interests. Including:
a. Striving at all times to provide an excellent and honest experience for Appli-Tec customers, including the accuracy of disclosures and taking responsibility for the veracity of all claims made about the product or service supplied.
b. Using plain language wherever possible to provide clear and concise descriptions of the product, solution or service being offered.
c. Taking responsibility for the appropriateness of products and solutions offered.

3. Promote and protect good sales practices: committing to continuous development of your level of professional knowledge, skills and ability to exercise judgment. We live this standard by:
a. Optimizing the responsible use of resources which I have influence over for the benefit of my organization.
b. Not providing inducements or gifts that would cause customers or employees of my organization to be in breach of the Appli-Tec code of ethics.
c. Responsibly managing any business relationships where unethical practices may come to light, disclosing improprieties and taking appropriate action to report and remedy them

RAISING CONCERNS

Suppliers and customers who have a serious concern regarding any issue which may breach this Code should raise the matter with Appli-Tec by calling 603-685-0500.