Business ethics

A values-based culture is one of the focus areas of SCA's sustainability agenda, with knowledge and understanding of the Code of Conduct being one of the objectives. SCA has zero tolerance for all forms of corrupt and unethical business practices. Our SCA Supplier Standard is to be used to drive shared values and priorities throughout the supply chain.

Code of Conduct

SCA's Code of Conduct is a framework for putting the Group's core values – responsibility, excellence and respect – into practice. The Code is the Group's foremost steering document in terms of sustainability and constitutes, together with SCA's Sustainability Policy, the basis of the Group's sustainability agenda. The Code, which is adopted by the Board of Directors, details the guidelines for business ethics (including anti-corruption), health and safety, employee relations, respecting human rights, the environment and society which every employee is to follow. The Code was adopted in 2004 and is based on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Core Conventions, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.

The code provides the basis for how we act and deal with our business partners and each other. SCA's "whistle-blower" system also offers the possibility of confidential reporting violations of SCA's code of conduct.

Anti-corruption

SCA is committed to zero tolerance for unethical business behavior. The anti-corruption instruction sets out the rules to be applied to prevent corruption throughout SCA's operations. We have developed methods to evaluate compliance with business ethics. Among other things, SCA conducts internal audits to identify risks in daily work.

Responsibility for corruption is delegated to gain a local focus. SCA's Instructions for anti-corruption establish rules to prevent anti-corruption in all Group operations regardless of country. The Group does not tolerate any form of corruption or bribery – it is forbidden to both accept or offer bribes. Employees with senior positions and those with external contacts are trained in anti-corruption legislation, and the target group in the Group comprises about 1,400 employees. The Executive Management Team and other relevant individuals receive training on these issues in conjunction with mini-seminars. New employees are provided with training through online courses as part of their onboarding program.

Anti-trust

SCA endeavors to comply with competition laws and to combat anti-trust, price fixing, the carving up of customers or geographic markets, bid rigging or abuse of a dominant position. SCA has established programs to increase knowledge among employees of competition law. The target group for the program is employees with market-related contact with competitors.

Supplier and business partner relationships

SCA's ambition is to promote sustainable and responsible business practices throughout its supply chain by selecting and rewarding partners who comply with SCA's Supplier Standard. The objective is to drive shared values and priorities throughout the supply chain in line with SCA's Code of Conduct.

SCA’s process for a sustainable supply chain

It is important that the company’s suppliers share our values. Regular reviews of risk and improvement potential enable us to develop together.

Approved supplier

SCA uses a process to qualify and approve suppliers that includes a review of finances, work environment, environment, quality and, where needed, specific checks.

SCA’s Supplier Standard 

The Standard is based on SCA’s Code of Conduct and international standards. It has been formulated to ensure that suppliers share the company’s values and to minimize risks in the supply chain. The Standard covers areas such as business ethics, human rights, working conditions, environmental impact and product safety.