Corporate Social Responsibility

Version 8, 01.09.26

As a successful member of the international business community, DAS Business Furniture Limited (DAS) believes that “No Company is an Island”. Consequently, we recognise our corporate responsibility to the global community in the following ways:

• Delivering ‘on time and within budget’ for each and every contract

• Respecting the rule of law in all countries in which we operate

• Supporting the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Adhering to the principal requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 throughout all points of our supply chain

• Supporting DAS’ environmental policy

• Supporting DAS customers’ own environmental, ethics and corporate fiduciary responsibilities policies

Guidelines for employees and suppliers

This includes the following guidelines for DAS employees and suppliers:

• Environmental Policy

• Behaviour and Conduct

• Business practice and contracts

• Confidentiality

• Conflicts of Interest

• Protection of corporate assets, including the use of assets only for furthering company business

DAS ensures that its preferred suppliers also share such values and beliefs. It asks that they provide policies and credentials on Corporate Social Responsibility, including the environment, the use of sustainable resources, maintenance of records in using environmentally responsible suppliers and Health and Safety and Quality Assurance processes. We work with a small, trusted number of global suppliers with whom we have an on-going business relationship built on trust, strict control and continued commitment to change and improvement.

Responsible Supply Chain Standard

The DAS Responsible Supply Chain Standard incorporates guidelines on the following:

• Human rights

• Labour rights including a total ban on the use of child labour or slavery, as set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015

• Environmental and anti-corruption principles set out in the UN Global Compact, derived from the Universal Declaration on Human Rights

• The International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

• The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

• The United Nations Convention against Corruption

DAS recognises their responsibility to both global and their own local communities and is committed to the requirements of their clients’ Social Responsibility Policies and the needs of the communities within which their clients operate. As well as applicable local social legislation, DAS respects the conventions of the International Labour Organisation, in particular with regard to the minimum age of workers and child labour practices, freedom to participate in unions, the right to organisation and collective bargaining, opposition to forced or obligatory labour, equal pay for male and female workers, and opposition to any form of employment discrimination, in particular working hours and minimum salary.

DAS recognises that there are different legal, competitive and cultural environments in which it operates throughout the world; the Responsible Supply Chain Standard serves as a benchmark for assessing employment practices and environmental compliance.

DAS regards sustainable development as a fundamental aspect of sound business management and strives to adhere to high ethical standards in all decisions it makes and when interacting with its stakeholders. DAS expects the same from its suppliers.

Environmental commitment

Compliance is achieved by conforming to DAS’s Environmental Policy Documents. DAS maintains an effective environmental policy and environmental management system that supports environmental protection, prevention of pollution and prudent management of natural resources.

Directors and Senior Management are committed to ensuring that company activities, small and large, reduce the impact upon the environment throughout all our manufacturing processes. In all areas of our business we are keen to recycle or go green. Our production model aims to ensure efficiencies by the following means:

• Avoid unnecessary waste generation

• Recycling of scrap materials

• Environmentally sound and sustainable product design

• Alternative recycling options

• Energy recovery programmes

• Minimising landfill

Wherever possible we adhere strictly to the prescribed model. Each stage of our manufacturing operation is considered with care.

Ethical business and anti-bribery

DAS believes that bribery is not only illegal, but also bad for business. A culture of corruption is a disincentive to trade and investment and payment of bribes is unacceptable behaviour for both the company and any of its employees. By upholding the law and promoting transparency in business activities, DAS enhances their own reputation and staff morale.

DAS has an excellent reputation for openness and honesty. In line with UK Government Policy, DAS ensures there are no acts of bribery associated with its work. DAS works in line with Part 12 of the UK Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act (2001), which includes legislation on bribery and corruption.

Involvement in the Community

DAS are involved with several local charities in Saffron Walden where our finance and administration office is based. We support the Saffron Walden Round Table, an organisation that supports local causes and charities, Saffron Walden Rotary, which supports local and national charities, and PhysioNet, a charity that identifies, collects, repairs and packs equipment such as wheelchairs, mobility, and medical items to countries all around the world and in particular Ukraine.

We also support sixth form students in local schools by providing career interview training and we offer work experience to both high school and university students in both our Saffron Walden office and London showroom.

Support to Charity and Cycling

DAS has a long history of sponsoring teams in the world of sport from racing cars to racing bikes. Our drive to constantly improve and be the best we can be is perfectly mirrored with highly focussed athletes and we currently support one women’s cycling team. The DAS Cycling Initiative has been set up to support young riders to help them develop, to promote British cycling and to encourage a healthy lifestyle focussed on wellbeing.

As part of this initiative, we have been raising funds for our chosen charity this year, Great Ormond Street Hospital. Through our four DAS Interior Challenge cycling events held in our showroom and our annual VeloPark event at Lee Valley VeloPark, we have raised money through raffles and the generous donations of attendees.