1. Introduction
Global supply chains require worldwide regulating laws. In order to protect human rights and the environment, the German Supply Chain Act came into force on 1 January 2023. Since then, all companies based in Germany with at least 3,000 employees have been obliged to comply with human rights due diligence obligations in their own business operations and along the supply chain. From 1 January 2024, this law will also apply to companies with 1,000 or more employees, including Reply Deutschland.
In this context, the Reply Executive Board adopted a declaration of principles.
In it, Reply undertakes to respect human rights and environmental concerns within its own business activities and in its global supply chains and to ensure that human rights and environmental violations are prevented. At the same time, those affected can report such violations to Reply and demand remedial action.
The measures for implementing human rights and environmental due diligence obligations are currently being established within the company.
2. Declaration of Principles
We are an international company committed to improving the global human rights situation along our supply chains and promoting sustainable social development. We recognize the opportunities and challenges of increasing integration into global markets and respect the human rights of individuals, regardless of whether states demonstrate a willingness and ability to protect these rights.
Reply is therefore committed to respecting human rights and the environment and to taking responsibility for its supply and value chain. We are committed to respecting human rights and environmental concerns within our own business activities and in our global supply chains, and to ensuring that human rights and environmental violations are prevented and that those affected have access to remedy.
With our risk management, we want to recognize human rights violations in our supply chains in good time and take measures to ensure compliance with human rights. For us, this means: fair wages, appropriate working conditions and the prevention of child exploitation. Equal rights and non-discrimination are a matter of course for us. We reject corruption, forced labour, and human trafficking and sensitize our employees accordingly.
Our established processes enable us to be aware of violations of these principles and to deal with them appropriately. We accept information from third parties at all times in order to recognize problems at an early stage and further improve the sustainability of our supply chains.
Reply has created the position of Human Rights Officer for the fulfilment of and compliance with human rights and environmental due diligence obligations. This officer monitors risk management in accordance with the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) and ensures operational implementation through coordination and monitoring activities.
If you have any questions about this policy statement or other human rights or environmental law-related issues, please contact our Human Rights Officer by e-mail at hro@reply.de.
You can report possible violations or questionable behavior at any time via our confidential reporting system (https://reply-whistleblowing.integrityline.com/?lang=en).