Management Approach: Supplier Collaboration
Avient’s value extends not only to consumers through specialty products, but beyond the boundaries of our own processes and operations. Strong, transparent relationships with suppliers are key to our success.
Our Supplier Code of Conduct drives interactions with our suppliers and expectations for doing business, and is aligned closely with International Labor Organization (ILO) standards. It includes requirements for child and forced labor, the right to collective bargaining, non-discrimination, employee health and safety, conflict minerals OECD due diligence and ethical treatment of the environment.
Avient includes in its Code of Conduct and Supplier Code of Conduct internal accountability standards related to slavery and human trafficking to which all employees, agents and consultants are required to adhere. Where required by law, we also have specific disclosures and processes in place, including a supplier audit program that focuses on human trafficking. To our knowledge no suppliers have been found to engage in such activity.
Supplier Evaluation
In 2022, Avient accelerated its Sustainable Sourcing Program to further evaluate our prioritized partners. In addition to aligning our suppliers with the Supplier Code of Conduct, the program is designed to address quality, cost and reliability requirements, and a range of sustainability, social responsibility and environmental considerations. The intent is for Avient to increase supply chain compliance, and to make business allocation and sourcing decisions on who we partner with based on sustainability and quality related risk.
In the initial phase of our Sustainable Sourcing Program, our suppliers conducted a best-in-class self-assessment utilizing EcoVadis on environmental, social and governance requirements aligned with the UN Global Compact principles. Based on these self-assessments, we evaluated our top tier suppliers which represents 60% of our total direct spend for sourcing in 2022. 83% of these suppliers reported an EcoVadis rating of Silver or above in their overall scorecard evaluation.
Additionally supplier self-assessments are completed through our Quality Management System (QMS) process that incorporates approval criteria for our most sensitive applications.
Conflict Minerals Process
Avient acknowledges some raw materials are obtained from conflict areas. Avient has elected to utilize the reporting template provided by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI—formerly Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which facilitates the transfer of information through the supply chain regarding mineral country of origin and smelters and refiners being utilized. The template also facilitates the identification of new smelters and refiners to potentially undergo an audit via the Responsible Minerals Initiative Conflict–Free Smelter program. Avient holds this process as a standard with all suppliers, thus reducing third party supply chain risk. It is part of our policy and partnership with our suppliers that they follow the responsibilities and procedure of RMI and are obliged to our Conflict Mineral Policy.
Through the Sustainable Sourcing Program, we expect our suppliers to continuously assess and evaluate their sustainability efforts, improving their performance over time. Avient is committed to continue partnerships with suppliers who align with the following policies:
- Environmental Policy
- Health and Safety Policy
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Avient’s Human Rights Position Statement
- Quality Policy
The initial phase of the Sustainable Sourcing Program is focused on training of our suppliers and evaluation through third party self assessments, including EcoVadis and IntegrityNext. Currently our supplier audit program is focused on quality, with plans to extend across all aspects of our Sustainable Sourcing Program.
Goals and Progress
2022
Established our Sustainable Sourcing Program
Assessed 60% of suppliers in EcoVadis
Provided training to over 200 suppliers at the yearly Supplier Summit on Avient’s Sustainable Sourcing Program, and set expectations from our partnerships in the future.
Plan for 2023
Assess 65% of suppliers for ESG alignment
Include additional sustainability expectations in supplier contracts
Provide training and expectations to suppliers at annual supplier summit