Code of conduct

SEM AB wants to be a competitive, fair, respectful, and trusted partner to our customers, our current and future colleagues, our suppliers, and our other stakeholders as well as being a good corporate citizen wherever we conduct business. Employees, officers, and directors, all our suppliers, distributors, agents, consultants, and others who temporarily perform work or services for SEM are expected to follow our Code of conduct and observe the highest standards of business and personal ethics, social and environmental performance.

We kindly ask that you familiarize yourself with the Code and that you sign the following Code of Conduct Declaration and return it to us.

Core values
Our core values, customer first, respect for the individual and resource efficiency have been a great part of our past success and will help us shaping our future.

Understanding the need of our customer is the base for our business and requires that we have the flexibility to adapt and adjust to a world of change regarding legislations and trends that affects our customers. This also mean that we need to have the competence to translate the need of our customers to solutions.

Respect for the individual is of greatest importance because the individual stands at the centre in all that we do. Showing respect is taking responsibility for the work we are all doing and the work we are passing on should be done right and in time. Everything that we do in our company should be done professionally.

Waste of resources, irrespectively of what they are, are costs, either for the environment, customers, co-workers, or other stakeholders. Therefore, SEM AB is committed to the highest degree of resource efficiency and continuously reduce waste in any form. Being determined in this undertaking benefits all our stakeholders.

UN Global Compact
SEM is supporting UN Global compact and is committed to operating in a way that we meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. See https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles

Code of Conduct Declaration
We hereby declare that we will adhere to and comply with the following principles:

1. Compliance with laws and regulations
We will always comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the country where we conduct our business. This applies for example wages and benefits, working hours and privacy and data protection.

2. Ethical recruiting
We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals, ensuring fair and unbiased practices in recruitment, and promoting diversity at all levels. We commit to fair and transparent compensation practices, providing employees with just and equitable remuneration. We will not employ children below the age of 15 except as part of a governmental approved job training, apprenticeship, or similar programs. We will not engage or employ people against their own free will, nor will employees be required to lodge “deposits” or identity papers in connection with the employment.

3. Gender equality
We promote and uphold gender equality in the workplace ensuring equal opportunities for career advancement.

4. Diversity, equity and inclusion
We foster a diverse and inclusive workplace that celebrates differences and values the unique contributions of every individual. We also respect the rights, traditions, and cultural heritage of minorities and indigenous peoples in all our operations, and we will actively engage with and involve minority and indigenous communities in decisions that may affect them, respecting their autonomy and rights.

5. Freedom of association including collective bargaining
We see consultation and cooperation between the company, its employees and union representatives as a natural part of development. We will respect the basic right of employees to freely, voluntarily and without interference establish and join, or not join, unions and employee representation of their own choice and to bargain collectively.

6. Discrimination and harassment
We do not accept any discrimination due to background like race, colour, national belonging, age, gender, marital status, disability, citizenship status or religion. Further, we will treat all persons with dignity and respect, and they shall not be unreasonably interfered with in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities.

7. Health, Safety and Environmental standards
We are familiar with and will recognize and adhere to SEM’s environmental and work environment requirements which are based on national laws and regulations together with ISO14001 and ISO45001.

8. Resource Efficiency and Environmental impacts
We understand that GHG emissions are impacting our climate, and we will run our operations, design our products and processes in such a way that energy and raw materials are used efficiently.
We have the objective to minimize waste, water contamination, air pollution and residual products in our operations and over the products’ life cycles. We strive to utilize renewable energy and minimize water consumption. We prioritize reuse and recycling initiatives to minimize waste and promote a circular economy. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and working towards carbon neutrality. We recognize and respect the inherent rights of local communities, indigenous peoples, and stakeholders over land, forests, and water resources. We recognize the right of animals to live free from cruelty, neglect and unnecessary suffering. We want to contribute to the protecting and preserving of diverse ecosystems, plant and animal species, habitats, and genetic diversity. We also recognize that soil is a finite and valuable resource. We will avoid activities that contribute to soil erosion, degradation, desertification and the clearing of natural forests for non-sustainable purposes. We manage and control noise emissions to minimize disturbances to local communities and ecosystems.

9. Forced eviction
We have a zero-tolerance policy towards forced eviction and commit to respecting the rights of communities to their homes and lands, ensuring that our operations do not contribute to or benefit from such practices.

10. Personal safety
We provide appropriate personal protective equipment to our employees, and we train them to handle chemicals, machines, and other equipment in a safe way. We will conduct recurring safety patrols and pay special attention to ergonomic aspects when designing new workstations and equipment. We work preventively with ongoing risk assessments and have an incidence and accident reports system in place to reduce the risk of injury.

11. Emergency preparedness and fire protection
We will work systematically to guarantee good preparedness in the event of fire and other unforeseen situations, ensuring that there are evacuation plans, exits and signs, fire-fighting equipment, first aid stations and routines in place. We will carry out regular exercises and train dedicated staff in CPR and fire protection work.

12. Responsible chemical management
Before we bring chemicals into the property, these must be risk assessed and approved. We give our employees easy access to safety data sheets for every chemical listed in the company’s chemical register. We will also work actively with substitution to replace harmful chemicals with less harmful ones.

13. Fair dealing
We always engage in fair dealing practices. Those of us involved in selling, advertising promoting and marketing our products and services as well as staff working in procurement, must ensure that our business conduct is always guided by honesty and integrity with no disclosure of confidential information to third party.

14. Improper payments
We will not directly or indirectly offer, promise, accept or receive bribes, facilitation payments or other undue advantages in the purpose to obtain advantages in business.

15. Hospitality and gifts
Hospitality and gifts shall be modest and infrequent. Gifts may not exceed a value of USD 50. Hospitality and gifts may under no circumstances be offered or received under or in connection with contract bidding, evaluation, or award.

16. Conflict of interest
We will not take part in, influence or attempt to influence any decision which can give rise to any actual or perceived conflict of interest.

17. Use of private or public security forces
Any security forces engaged by our organization adhere to ethical conduct, respect human rights, and are accountable for their actions.

18. Financial Responsibilities/Accurate Records
We will maintain accurate and complete financial records that reflect our financial position and performance transparently. Financial reports will be prepared and presented in a timely manner, providing all stakeholders with up-to-date and accurate information. We will strive for efficient resource allocation, ensuring that funds are used effectively to support our organizational goals. Employees are expected to exercise prudence in managing expenses and seek cost-effective solutions whenever possible. We will consider the social and environmental impacts of financial decisions, aiming to contribute positively to the community and the environment. We have a zero-tolerance policy for fraud, embezzlement, or any other financial misconduct.

19. Disclosure of information
We provide clear and accurate information to stakeholders and the public, while respecting the confidentiality of sensitive information.

20. Export/import control and economic sanctions
We are committed to conducting our business in compliance with all relevant export controls and economic sanctions to ensure ethical and legal behaviour in our international operations. We regularly monitor changes in export control and sanctions laws and adjust policies accordingly to ensure ongoing compliance. We refrain from engaging in any business transactions with entities or individuals subject to economic sanctions.

21. Counterfeit parts and intellectual property
We strictly adhere to laws and regulations regarding counterfeit parts and intellectual property, both in our products and in our business operations. We respect and protect our intellectual property while respecting the intellectual property rights of others. We utilize non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when sharing confidential intellectual property information with employees, partners, or third parties.

22. Whistleblowing
We protect and encourage stakeholders to report any unethical practices or violations of this code without fear of retaliation.

23. Business Partners
We aim to only retain suppliers, subcontractors and other business partners that live up to the ethical standards reflected in this declaration or other similar code of conduct that sets standards equal to SEM’s Code of Conduct and which is found satisfactory to SEM. We require our Tier-1 suppliers to adhere to the same ethical and sustainability standards outlined in this document. We expect transparency from our suppliers and encourage them to pass on these standards along the entire supply chain.

Violations
Violations of our code, Company policy and the law have serious consequences for the individuals involved, including disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Disciplinary action will be applied consistent with local law. Such violations may also subject the individual and our company to civil and/or criminal prosecution.
Conclusion
By adhering to this Code of Conduct, we collectively contribute to a sustainable, ethical, and responsible business environment. This code reflects our commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, respecting human rights, and preserving the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.