BellRing Brands, Inc.’s Disclosure under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010
September 2019
The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) (the “Act”) requires retailers and manufacturers doing business in California to disclose their efforts to eradicate forced labor and human trafficking from their direct supply chain to tangible goods offered for sale. To that end, the following is BellRing Brands, Inc.’s disclosure under the Act on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively “BellRing”).
BellRing is committed to observing fair labor practices and treating everyone with dignity and respect. Accordingly, in order to be considered for BellRing’s direct supply chain, suppliers are expected to operate in such a fashion and in accordance with BellRing’s Supplier Code of Conduct (“Supplier Code of Conduct”). This Supplier Code of Conduct requires that BellRing’s suppliers not engage in any labor practices that violate the laws and regulations of the country where the products are manufactured or obtained. Specifically, it prohibits suppliers from employing, using or otherwise benefiting from involuntary labor, forced labor or labor that results from slavery or human trafficking. The Supplier Code of Conduct also prohibits engaging in any unsanitary or unsafe labor conditions.
To this end, BellRing requires all suppliers to ensure that neither forced labor nor human trafficking is utilized to source, produce or manufacture any product supplied to BellRing. BellRing mandates compliance by entering agreements and/or issuing purchase orders requiring each supplier’s acceptance of and adherence to BellRing’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which can be found on BellRing’s website at https://cdn.bellring.com/assets/pdf/brbr-supplier-code-of-conduct.pdf, and/or by obtaining confirmation from the supplier of the same. Although BellRing does not engage in third-party verification or conduct independent, unannounced audits to evaluate compliance with BellRing’s Supplier Code of Conduct, suppliers are directed to promptly report violations to their contact at BellRing or through BellRing’s Corporate Compliance Speak Up line (“Speak Up line”). This Speak Up line is staffed by an independent third-party provider at the phone numbers available at https://bellring.com/investors/corporate-governance or online at https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/67900/index.html. The Speak Up line is available 24/7 and accessible in the countries where we operate. All reports are promptly and thoroughly investigated and addressed as appropriate.
Belling has not established a certification process solely targeted at incorporated materials, but its suppliers are required to warrant that all phases of the manufacturing process are compliant with the applicable laws of the country or countries in which they conduct business.
In order to drive supplier ability, Belling expressly reserves the right to impose a broad range of penalties on suppliers who fail to comply with local, state, or federal laws, including without limitation, the laws pertaining to forced labor and human trafficking. These penalties include the right, in BellRing’s sole discretion, to terminate entire business relationships. Similar penalties may be imposed for a supplier’s failure to comply with its obligation to establish controls that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or child labor.
BellRing employees are trained on the importance of complying with all applicable laws and are provided avenues to report any behavior that deviates from applicable laws and other company policies. Employees with direct responsibility for supply chain management are made aware of BellRing’s Supplier Code of Conduct, including the document’s significance to the organization.
Any report or discovery of a violation of law(s) pertaining to forced labor or human trafficking would be subject to the most rigorous scrutiny. Substantiated violations of these laws (whether by suppliers, supplier employees or BellRing employees) would result in the severest penalties. Improving compliance in a global supply chain is an ever-evolving and challenging process. Nevertheless, BellRing will never tolerate forced labor or human trafficking. BellRing will not hesitate to disqualify and cease doing business with suppliers who do not share its commitment to providing a safe, healthy and ethical work environment.