Responsible Procurement

Sika’s supply chain varies depending on the business segment. The company sources direct materials, trading goods and packaging, both locally and globally. Some materials are only available from international suppliers and must be imported into the country of production. Due to Sika’s diverse purchasing portfolio, with around 65,000 materials from more than 18,000 suppliers, there are no primary brands.  Sika strives to work with local suppliers wherever possible, to reduce lead time, risk, and transport, and to increase availability and control quality.

Sustainability is a core element of Sika’s Growth Strategy and procurement plays a key role making sure to select vendors according to the highest standards related to environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. In alignment with this strategy, and with a strong focus on sustainable supply and cost and efficiency improvement, our Sika procurement policies and activities are implemented accordingly. 

Sika additionally implements stringent controls to ensure responsible sourcing and compliance with sustainability and quality standards within Sika procurement and the supply chains.  Activities and contributions to Supplier Code of Conduct and the Together for Sustainability (TfS) initiative and are some of the key pillars supporting responsible procurement at Sika. 

Following a pre-evaluation phase, the supplier qualification process is initiated with all selected business partners. Suppliers need to meet the minimum requirements designed to ensure compliance with international human rights and labor standards as well as prescribed quality, environmental, health and safety criteria.

The Sika Supplier Code of Conduct is an integral element when qualifying Sika’s tier 1 suppliers, and sets out the company’s expectations for its supplier network, reflecting the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact initiative, the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the global chemical industry’s Responsible Care® program, and the Conflict Minerals Regulations. It is the expectation of Sika that the supplier network embraces the same set of values and commit to Sika’s zero–tolerance policy regarding the respect of basic human rights including child labor, forced labor modern slavery and the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Sika thereby ensures that suppliers are informed of Sika’s ethical, environmental, and social expectations and guidelines and that they conduct their processes and enforce the same standards and commitments to their respective supply chains. As a minimum obligation, Sika requires that all suppliers sign and agree to meet the standards set out in the revised Sika Supplier Code of Conduct.