Vitux Group AS (Vitux) is not only committed to producing first-class nutritional supplements. We are also committed to conducting our business in a way that best cares for our planet and its inhabitants.
We operate along the entire value chain, from raw material procurement to production and distribution of nutritional supplements, which gives us a unique insight and opportunity to implement sustainable practices in all our operations.
Sustainability has long been on our agenda, and we therefore aim to integrate sustainability into all our work processes. A common understanding of basic ethical principles is crucial to creating the culture we want at Vitux. These principles are not only for our internal function, but are an expression of what our employees, business partners, and society expect from us.
Vitux uses many raw materials in its products and is dependent on various suppliers both within and outside Norway. A key aspect of our commitment is to ensure that our suppliers comply with the same standards that Vitux requires from its own operations.
We consciously choose raw materials and packaging produced in a sustainable way. As a customer, you can be sure that our products are produced with the greatest consideration for people, animals, and the environment, as well as safety for consumption. With the principles set out in the Transparency Act, our efforts to secure raw materials from suppliers who take basic human rights and decent working conditions seriously will be further intensified.
The Transparency Act and due diligence assessment
The Transparency Act, which came into force on July 1. 2022, requires increased openness and transparency in our operations and the wider impact of our business.
The law is aimed at reducing the risk of companies causing or contributing to violations of human rights. It emphasizes the need to ensure decent working conditions with our suppliers, as well as within our own operations.
The law requires companies to carry out due diligence assessments to understand the risk of possible breaches, and to take measures where necessary. This also means that the companies have a duty to inform about the basis and results of these assessments.
It is of great importance to Vitux to make sure that both our own business and the practices of our suppliers do not come at the expense of basic human rights and decent working conditions. This means that Vitux carries out due diligence assessments of both its own and its suppliers’ operations.
Different parts of our organization are involved in carrying out due diligence assessments. Our procurement team has primary responsibility for our suppliers, but other functions also perform due diligence assessments in connection with various business decisions.
We have developed a process for how Vitux should conduct due diligence assessments. This method involves selecting our suppliers based on the volume of purchases we make from them. It is then verified that the suppliers only operate in countries that fall within categories 1-3 on the risk scale, which is a requirement for our suppliers. The criteria for selecting suppliers are under continuous review and update, considering any new issues related to human rights and working conditions.
Usually, due diligence assessments will be repeated annually, or in the event of significant changes.
Conclusion
Our thorough due diligence assessments have not identified any suppliers who have failed to provide satisfactory information in accordance with our ethical and sustainable standards. Vitux will continue to strengthen our due diligence processes by updating our risk models and tools as needed. Our goal is to ensure that our entire value chain supports sustainable and ethical business practices. We greatly appreciate our customers’ trust and are dedicated to maintaining this trust by ensuring that our products are produced in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Oslo, June 30, 2024
Vitux Group AS