Avery Dennison is a global company, and we’re committed to being good global citizens. Across borders, we build our reputation with every encounter, from dealing with governments to meeting someone online through a shared professional interest. We respect all cultures as part of our ethical standards. Together, we strive to create the kind of inspired world we want to live in and leave behind for future generations.
Global Footprint
Sustainability
At Avery Dennison, we believe in achieving sustainable business success through responsible economic, social and environmental practices that help build healthy communities around the world. We are striving to make sustainability integral to everything we do. Our aim is to balance business activities that benefit our shareholders, customers and employees with improving the quality of life for our communities and conserving the world’s natural resources. With a focus on continuous improvement, we seek to increase shareholder value, engage in social improvement programs that have real impact, and uphold responsible stewardship of our environment.
Environment
We are committed to responsible environmental practices in our manufacturing operations, supply chain and product development. We strive to manage and mitigate the environmental impact of our business activities by implementing plans to improve the energy efficiency of our processes, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and waste we generate, produce and promote eco-friendly products, and protect and conserve our natural resources. We have programs to ensure that applicable environmental regulations are effectively communicated, understood and followed.
Environmental Protection, Health and Safety (Principle 1.4) and Environmental Protection and Compliance (Policy 4.2) underscore our promise to protect the environment, safeguard human life and manufacture safe products.
Community and social responsibility
Your awareness and caring enable Avery Dennison to be a trustworthy member of the communities in which we operate, as well as the global community. We want to be recognized as an exemplary corporate citizen – active in our communities; committed to employee diversity, development, health and safety, and labor standards; and contributing to society in both developed markets as well as the developing regions of the world where we operate. Our sustainability efforts and goals are detailed in our biennial Sustainability Report, which is available on our corporate website.
Avery Dennison encourages individual memberships in civic, charitable and philanthropic organizations. Charitable Contributions (Policy 6.7) explains how the company makes charitable contributions.
My location has an Environment, Safety and Health professional. Does that mean I don’t have to worry about sustainability?
Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility. It’s one of our core values. Each of us can contribute ideas, and by acting responsibly, each of us can have a positive impact. It will take the sum total of everyone’s contributions to living and working more sustainably to make a difference for the future.
Governments
Trade compliance
Various governments around the world have established trade controls that restrict business transactions with certain countries and parties, and regulate the movement of goods across national borders. We abide by all trade controls applicable to our business and take care not to conduct business with prohibited parties or to import or export prohibited goods. As a U.S. company, we must abide by all U.S. trade controls. We also follow the laws of the places that may apply wherever we do business.
The laws in this area are complex and subject to frequent change. Consult Export Restrictions (Policy 7.22) and Global Trade Management or the Law Department if you have concerns about any company trade activity.
We also do not take part in international boycotts directed against nations friendly to the United States. We will not agree to refuse to do business with or in a boycotted country, or to provide boycott-related information (for example, concerning race, religion, national origin or boycott compliance) to a boycotting company or country. We report all boycott-related requests to the Law Department, as required by International Boycotts (Policy 7.11).
Government inquiries and investigations
We cooperate fully with any government requests for information. We provide truthful, complete and accurate information to the government upon request. We follow the procedures detailed in Response to Government Investigations (Policy 7.8) and inform the Law Department promptly of any government requests for information. The Law Department coordinates requests and ensures that Avery Dennison’s rights are protected, while providing an accurate and complete response.
Bribery and corruption
Bribery is offering or giving something of value to influence the action of a government official or other third party in order to gain a business advantage. Bribery is illegal in many countries. Cash, cash equivalents, the promise of future employment, and lavish gifts or entertainment are examples of items of value that, if offered or given, may be considered a bribe.
We win business on the merits of our work, never through the bribery or corruption of officials or others with whom we do business. This also means we never offer anything of value to any government official to influence an official act, including:
- the issuing of a permit,
- obtaining better tax or customs treatment, or
- avoiding enforcement of a law.
We never use a third party, such as a subcontractor, consultant or agent, to pay a bribe. To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, consult the Law Department before giving any business courtesies or gifts of any kind to government officials, customers or suppliers.
Laws and regulations similar to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions, and the UK Bribery Act are growing in number and complexity. You’ll find more about these laws and how they affect our worldwide operations in Legal and Ethical Conduct (Principle 1.1).
How do I uphold our ethical principles in a country where bribing customs officials is common practice, and our competitors maybe doing it?
Even when it seems difficult, it is always possible to do business without bribery. Contact the Law Department to help you find the competitive, ethical approach.
How can I find out whether a potential customer is a prohibited party?
Contact your regional Global Trade Management representative to get you the answer or direct you to the right resources.
Who is a “government official”?
By law, government officials include government employees at all levels, employees of government-controlled entities and state-owned enterprises or companies, as well as political parties and candidates for political office. In some countries it can be difficult to understand which companies are government-owned. If you are uncertain, consult the Law Department.
Media
Social media
We have a shared identity as Avery Dennison employees, but we are also individuals with our own thoughts, opinions and interests. Outside of work, we may blog, post on social networks, play in virtual worlds or contribute to wikis. Even in these personal pursuits, our social media engagement must be consistent with our obligations to the company and its employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners.
This is simple to put into practice through these general guidelines:
- On personal pages, don’t speak on Avery Dennison’s behalf unless you are a designated spokesperson.
- Never disclose the company’s confidential information or refer to our customers, suppliers, business partners or employees without their approval.
- Respect the Avery Dennison Global Brand Guidelines.
- Follow all trademark, copyright, fair use, trade secrets and financial disclosure laws.
- Be careful not to post on social media about emergency events at your location.
- Identify yourself as an Avery Dennison employee and clarify that you are speaking for yourself and not the company when mentioning Avery Dennison or its business.
See Internet Social Networking (Policy 6.9), our Social Media Guidelines, and our Global Brand Guidelines for more information.
News media
Part of our company’s value depends on the consistent, accurate message the world hears from us. To make sure that our message is always on target, only designated spokespersons may provide information about the company to news media, the investment community or any other outside person. This is particularly important in emergency situations. Refer information requests from the media to Corporate Communications.
See Communications to the News Media (Policy 6.2) for more detail.
I post on blogs related to my professional expertise. Should I be up front about my connection to Avery Dennison?
In the online world, being transparent about company connections is good etiquette. Simply add this line to your blog, chat or other online entries: “The opinions expressed are my own and do not represent the views of Avery Dennison.”