Responsible Supply Chain Management at UBS

Responsible procurement is a key aspect of UBS’s approach to human rights and the environment. Over the years, UBS has established processes to manage environmental and human rights issues in line with our endorsement of the UN Global Compact principles, and in support of the UBS Group Environmental Policy and the UBS Statement on Human Rights. Key areas included:

In 2007 UBS decided to adopt an even more systematic approach and to develop a Responsible Supply Chain Guideline that provides group-wide guidance for identifying, assessing and monitoring supplier practices in the areas of human and labor rights, the environment and corruption. The Guideline will be gradually applied on new contracts and contract renewals with suppliers that are more likely to be exposed to such issues.

A central component of this Guideline consists of the UBS Responsible Supply Chain Standard which defines our expectations of suppliers.

This Standard addresses the following issues:

In 2008, UBS started with the adoption of the Guideline by establishing processes and tools to evaluate and select UBS suppliers and including the Standard in the contractual relationships with UBS suppliers.

Case studies

2007 – London catering supplier
Working with our canteen service provider we introduced new packaging for baguettes, sandwiches, sweets and hot food, which are made from fully recycled materials and are both recyclable and biodegradable. In addition, the 500ml water bottles are made from corn and are the UK's first compostable bottle.

2007 – US Janitorial Supplies
Partnering with UBS’s Janitorial Service providers we have recently transitioned a number of our main US properties to Green Seal paper and cleaning products. To be Green Seal certified there must be a minimum content of 50% recycled paper in the paper products and more environmentally friendly cleaning agents.

2006 – IT Infrastructure Sourcing
ITI Technology Sourcing & Contract Management (TS&CM) is the internal provider in negotiating vendor contracts for all technology related requirements including but not limited to hardware, software, market data and services. In 2006, TS&CM reviewed their standards for writing requests for proposals and included an extended list of environmental questions.

2006 – Catering, Switzerland
In Switzerland UBS requires its caterers to be certified against the ISO 14001 certificate for environmental management systems. In 2006 we assessed their compliance and found that the requirement was met across Switzerland.

2006 – Fair trade coffee, London
UBS employees at the London campus consumed 10,000kg of coffee last year, equaling 1.3 million cups of fresh bean coffee. In November 2006, a new fair trade organic coffee blend with an improved taste and quality was introduced, representing a health benefit to coffee drinkers with lower levels of caffeine and a lack of pesticides. The new blend is purchased from a coffee growers' co-operative called The Gayo Organic Farmers Association in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, an area devastated by earthquakes and the 2005 tsunami. The higher price paid by UBS for the coffee blend from the Sumatra Gayo Mountain region and the recognition the farmers receive for their coffee crop, both assist recovery efforts in the region. Relief projects include repairs to community housing affected by earthquakes and drinking water projects.

2005 – The London Mayor's green procurement Code
UBS signed The London Mayor's green procurement Code. Set up in June 2001, the Mayor's Code aims to stimulate demand for the purchase of recycled content products. It also aims to help organisations identify opportunities to recycle waste and/or buy products manufactured from recycled materials. Signing up to the Mayor's Green Procurement allows UBS to access brokerage services and access information about the providers and services of recycled content products.

2005 – Environmental label for hotels in Switzerland
UBS included in its internal hotel directory information about the environmental performance of the listed hotels. Based on a questionnaire about environmental management and measures taken, the hotels were labeled "green", "amber", "red".

2005 – Tender for office print devices
In 2005 environmental and socially responsible factors were integrated into a tender for office print devices in London (copiers, faxes, printers) and played a major part in the selection process. Specific factors included; integrated paper saving features, use of re-manufactured components, low use of toner and energy saving measures.