URW strives to reduce payment times for small and medium enterprises in its supply chain, as part of its broader commitment to fostering strong, mutually beneficial relationships with its suppliers.

The sustainability roadmap of the Group encompasses a much wider footprint than the Group itself. Being a substantial buyer, URW is aware of the importance of driving industry standards and works on integrating sustainability further in its supply chain. Given the size of its portfolio, the Group works with a large number of suppliers and contractors, and ensures it is not exposed to the risk of depending on only a few strategic suppliers. The Group has designed a Responsible Procurement Roadmap and performed a mapping of sustainability risks in its supply chain in 2021. URW became a signatory to the UNGC in 2004, thus committing to adopting, upholding and enacting within its sphere of influence the 10 universally recognised principles relating to human rights, labour laws, environmental protection and anti-corruption. In addition to this, URW annually issues a Modern Slavery Statement and has a Responsible Purchasing Charter and a Human Rights Policy covering its interactions with suppliers.

General Purchasing Conditions apply for all the countries in which URW operates, although they vary between Continental Europe, the UK and the US, according to local requirements. A clause is also automatically included in these conditions, requiring suppliers to abide by the Group’s Code of Ethics provisions, including complying with applicable laws and regulation, prevention of all forms of corruption and discrimination, respect for human dignity and for employees’ work, preservation of the environment, and reporting practices that are in breach of these principles using the contact procedure provided by the Group.