Supplier & Customer Code of Conduct

The Isle of Wight Distillery

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

This Code outlines the ethical, social, and environmental standards expected of all suppliers, customers, service providers, contractors, and partners (“Partners”) of The Isle of Wight Distillery (“IOW Distillery”).
It reflects internationally recognised best practice, including the B Corp Standards and the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code.

1.2 Scope

This Code applies to all Partners and to all parts of the supply chain and value chain associated with the manufacture, distribution, sale, or promotion of IOW Distillery products.
Partners must ensure that their own suppliers, subcontractors, and labour providers also comply with these requirements.

2. Compliance with Laws and Ethical Standards

Partners must comply with:

All applicable local, national, and international laws
Human rights, labour, and environmental regulations
Anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and fair competition laws
Data protection and consumer protection requirements

All Partners must act with integrity, transparency, and accountability in their business dealings with IOW Distillery.

3. Ethical Business Conduct

Partners are expected to:

Conduct business honestly and responsibly
Avoid corruption, bribery, fraud, or facilitation payments
Maintain accurate records and transparent communication
Declare any potential or actual conflicts of interest
Maintain whistleblower protection and non-retaliation policies

Behaviour must reflect the values of a socially and environmentally responsible business in line with B Corp principles.

4. Confidentiality & Intellectual Property

Partners must protect all confidential information entrusted to them, including:

Trade secrets, formulas, specifications, designs
Branding, trademarks, and proprietary product or process information
Commercial, operational, or strategic information

Confidential information may only be used for legitimate business activities and must not be disclosed without permission.
This obligation continues after the business relationship ends.

5. Human Rights & Labour Standards

Aligned with the ETI Base Code, ILO Conventions, and B Corp Workers Standards.

5.1 Employment Conditions

Partners must:

Provide clear and lawful employment terms
Respect legal limits on working hours, rest breaks, and overtime
Pay fair wages meeting or exceeding legal minimums
Provide statutory benefits and ensure all payments are accurate and timely
Maintain accessible and confidential grievance mechanisms

5.2 Prohibition of Modern Slavery

Partners must not engage in or tolerate:

Forced labour
Child labour
Human trafficking
Withholding of identification documents
Illegal recruitment fees or coercive hiring practices

5.3 Non-Discrimination & Fair Treatment

Partners must not discriminate on any unlawful basis including:

Race, colour, ethnicity
Age, gender, sexual orientation
Religion, belief, disability
Marital status, national origin, or other protected characteristics

All employees must be treated with dignity and provided equal opportunities for development and progression.

5.4 Freedom of Association

Where permitted by law, workers must be free to:

Join or form trade unions
Participate in collective bargaining
Engage in worker committees or representation dialogues

6. Environmental Responsibility

Aligned with B Corp Environment Impact Area.

Partners are expected to:
6.1 Reduce Environmental Impact

Commit to minimising emissions, waste, pollution, and resource consumption
Implement environmentally responsible operational practices
Prevent environmental harm and manage materials responsibly

6.2 Track & Report Improvements

Monitor relevant environmental performance metrics
Share reasonable data with IOW Distillery when requested
Support transparent communication about environmental progress

6.3 Commit to Sustainable Practices

Use responsible, renewable, or recyclable materials where feasible
Reduce packaging and support circular economy principles
Consider long-term environmental goals and climate-related risks

7. Health & Safety

Partners must provide a safe and healthy workplace by:

Identifying and controlling hazards
Maintaining clean and safe physical conditions
Providing appropriate training, protective equipment, and supervision
Ensuring safe storage, handling, and transport of materials
Implementing emergency preparedness plans
Reporting and investigating incidents and near misses

A culture of safety must be actively maintained in all Partner operations.

8. Responsible Marketing & Customer Standards

Aligned with the B Corp Customer Impact Area.

Partners who act as customers, distributors, or retailers must:

Market and sell IOW Distillery products responsibly
Comply with laws regarding alcohol advertising, labelling, and age restrictions
Ensure safe handling, storage, transportation, and presentation of products
Avoid misleading claims or practices
Protect the reputation and integrity of the IOW Distillery brand

9. Sustainable Sourcing & Community Responsibility

Aligned with B Corp Community Impact Area.

Partners should:

Support ethical sourcing of materials
Consider social and environmental impacts when making purchasing decisions
Promote fair and equitable economic participation across their supply chain
Avoid materials or services tied to conflict, deforestation, or harmful practices

10. Auditing, Monitoring & Due Diligence

IOW Distillery may conduct due diligence to verify compliance, including:

Pre-engagement assessment
Review of documentation and policies
External or internal audits
Site visits where appropriate
Modern slavery and risk assessments

Partners must:

Self-monitor and correct any violations
Inform IOW Distillery of significant changes or non-compliance
Share audit findings upon request
Cooperate fully with investigations or remediation processes

Failure to comply may result in corrective actions, suspension, or termination of the business relationship.

11. Continuous Improvement

Partners are encouraged to:

Innovate to reduce environmental and social impacts
Provide training and development for workers
Set goals to improve their ethical, social, and environmental performance
Share best practices with IOW Distillery

Continuous progress is a core component of being part of a responsible and forward-thinking supply chain.

12. Acceptance of this Code

By working with The Isle of Wight Distillery, Partners agree to:

Comply with this Supplier & Customer Code of Conduct
Cascade these requirements throughout their supply chain
Act in good faith to support ethical and sustainable business practices

A signature block or digital acceptance form can be provided as required.

Supplier & Customer Code of Conduct

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