Coke Facts - The Coca-Cola Company - Around the World: Supplier Guiding Principles

The reputation of The Coca-Cola Company is built on trust. Those who do business with us around the world know we are committed to managing our business with a consistent set of values that represent the highest standards of quality, integrity, excellence, compliance with the law and respect for the unique customs and cultures in communities where we operate. We seek to develop relationships with suppliers that share similar values and conduct business in an ethical manner.

As part of our ongoing effort to develop and strengthen our relationships with suppliers, we have developed the Supplier Guiding Principles Program for direct suppliers to The Coca-Cola Company. The Supplier Guiding Principles Program is based on the belief that good corporate citizenship is essential to our long-term business success and must be reflected in our relationships and actions in the marketplace, the workplace, the environment and the community. We also developed "Principles of Citizenship" to assist in the understanding of our core values.

Recognizing there are differences in laws, customs and economic conditions that affect business practices in various parts of the world, we believe that shared values must serve as the foundation for relationships between The Coca-Cola Company and our suppliers. The Supplier Guiding Principles restate our requirements and emphasize good workplace policies that comply with applicable environmental laws and with local labor laws and regulations.

At The Coca-Cola Company, we support fair employment practices in our workplace, and we seek to provide a safe environment in which to work. We abide by all applicable labor laws in the countries in which we do business, including local laws addressing working hours, compensation, employees' rights to choose whether to be represented by third parties and to bargain collectively, working conditions, and other such workplace practices. We seek to create a workplace where individuals are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. We recognize, value, respect, and celebrate the cultural differences and diversity of background and thought of our employees.

We expect our suppliers to follow applicable laws and similar standards and principles in the countries in which they operate.

We expect our suppliers to judge their employees and contractors based upon their ability to do their jobs and not upon their physical and/or personal characteristics or beliefs, affirming the principle of no unlawful discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

We expect our suppliers to provide a safe workplace with policies and practices in place to minimize the risk of accidents, injury, and exposure to health risks.

We expect our suppliers not to employ anyone under the legal working age nor to condone physical or other unlawful abuse or harassment, or the use of forced or other compulsory labor in any of their operations.

We expect our suppliers to compensate their employees fairly and competitively relative to their industry in full compliance with applicable local and national wage and hour laws, and to offer opportunities for employees to develop their skills and capabilities.

In the event their employees have lawfully chosen to be represented by third parties, we expect our suppliers to bargain in good faith and not to retaliate against employees for their lawful participation in labor organization activities.

We expect our suppliers to conduct business in ways that protect and preserve the environment. At a minimum, we expect our suppliers to meet applicable environmental laws, rules and regulations in their operations in the countries in which they do business.

We expect suppliers to communicate these "Guiding Principles for Suppliers to The Coca-Cola Company" to their employees. These principles should be provided in the local language and posted in an accessible place. We also expect suppliers to develop and implement appropriate business mechanisms to monitor compliance with these Guiding Principles.

At a minimum, suppliers to The Coca-Cola Company and suppliers authorized by The Coca-Cola Company are required to meet the following standards with respect to their operations as a whole:

Laws and Regulations	Supplier will comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements in the manufacture and distribution of our products and supplies and in providing services to the Company.
Child Labor	Supplier will not use child labor as defined by local law.
Forced Labor	Supplier will not use forced or compulsory labor.
Abuse of Labor	Supplier will not physically abuse labor.
Collective Bargaining	Supplier will respect employees' rights to choose whether to be represented by third parties and to bargain collectively in accordance with local law.
Wages and Benefits	Wages and benefits will comply with local law.
Working Hours & Overtime	Working hours and overtime will comply with local law.
Health and Safety	Working conditions will comply with local regulations.
Environment	Supplier will comply with all applicable environmental laws.

These minimum requirements are part of all new or renewed commercial agreements between The Coca-Cola Company and its direct suppliers. Suppliers must be able to demonstrate their compliance with these requirements at the request of and to the satisfaction of The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company has the right to inspect any site involved in work for The Coca-Cola Company, and any supplier that fails to satisfy The Coca-Cola Company of its compliance is subject to termination of any agreements between it and The Coca-Cola Company.