Røros Metall’s work with human rights and ethical trade
1. General information, guidelines and routines
Ventilation and cooker hoods have carried Røros Metall through a history of more than 75 years. Røros Metall started as a copper and tinsmith workshop in 1946. During these years, production has been diverse and always with a clear vision of delivering solid, high-quality craftsmanship. Røros Metall now has a wide product range within kitchen hoods consisting of imported goods from other countries in Europe and self-produced goods. We are particularly proud that we can offer Norwegian-made tailoring. The factory, with production and administration, is in Røros. The company is also represented by its own representatives in Sweden, Denmark and the UK. Røros Metall is covered by the Transparency Act. In this connection, we are obliged to carry out due diligence assessments and define areas of our operations that may involve a risk of violations of basic human rights and decent working conditions.
The work has been carried out in line with PwC’s 5-step model.
- Step 1 – Analysis of operations and anchoring of responsibilities in governing documents
- Step 2 – Overall analysis of business relationships
- Step 4 – Risk-based background checks and checks
- Step 5 – Systematize and report
The 5-step model follows the OECD’s guidelines and the requirements of the Transparency Act.
This year we have carried out a survey of our own business and carried out a risk assessment of all suppliers. We work continuously with our routines for purchasing, entering into and following up contracts. Ethical guidelines are communicated and are part of the agreement entered into with suppliers and business partners.
In our further work with the Transparency Act and due diligence assessment process, we make use of Factline’s digital solutions for efficient collection of information from suppliers and subcontractors. Røros Metall collects information from suppliers in the form of its own reporting. The questions in the self-report cover the requirements of the UN’s Global Compact, the suppliers’ chain insight and follow-up practices, in addition to their assessment of risks linked to breaches of ethical guidelines in the relevant production countries. The collection provides a basis for analysis of whether good practice has been established. Our suppliers are made aware of our ethical guidelines and are required to act in accordance with them, including that they themselves must ensure their production, purchases and deliveries. If own reporting or other indicators give signals of awik, these are followed up through inquiries to the supplier.
Depending on the scope and risk, deviations could result in the creation of an improvement project to create changes in collaboration with the supplier and other actors in the chain.
2. Findings from our due diligence assessments
Røros Metall is keen to have good relations with both customers and suppliers. We have written and long-term agreements with our main suppliers. We regularly visit our largest suppliers to confirm good working conditions and routines. We have a complex value chain, with many links and suppliers. That in itself is a risk, because it makes it more difficult to have a full overview of the flow of materials, goods and services. The suppliers are selected based on size, geography and industry.
Through Røros Metall’s due diligence assessments, no negative conditions have been uncovered.
These are areas where particular risks have been uncovered related to Røros Metall’s direct or indirect influence through our value chain:
- Raw materials (steel, lacquer etc.)
- Components (electronics, motors etc.)
- Packaging
- Transportation
3. Our measures
Based on the above priority, Røros Metall has chosen an approach that involves both internal and external measures to follow up the risk of violations of human rights and decent working conditions.
Røros Metall considers effective internal measures to be essential to ensure a sustainable and proportionate approach to the Transparency Act in the long term. In the next year, we will focus on improving routines, updating documents and implementing this in the organisation.
We use the system supplier Factlines for ongoing mapping, gathering of information and dialogue with selected suppliers. We follow the follow-up proposals that the suppliers receive based on the self-reporting. The main objective of the external measures is to obtain more information about the risk picture and possibly uncover actual breaches and/or measures that exist in the supply chain.
4. Contact
People who want further information or insight into the work being done can send a written request to Røros Metall post@rorosmetall.no
Røros, 30 June 2024