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Free template · Supplier code of conduct

A supplier code of conduct you can issue with confidence.

A free, editable supplier code of conduct covering the standards buyers are expected to set: labour rights, health and safety, environment, anti-bribery, data protection and the right to audit. Download it, adapt it, and issue it with your onboarding pack.
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Set the standard before you trade.

A supplier code of conduct is where you state, up front, the ethical, legal and operational standards you expect. Larger customers increasingly require you to have one and to flow equivalent standards down your own supply chain, particularly around modern slavery and anti-bribery.

This template gives you a complete, sensible starting point with ten sections and a signature block. It is generic best practice, not legal advice, so have your final version reviewed before you issue it.

What's in the template

  • Ten ready-to-edit sections
  • Modern slavery and anti-bribery clauses
  • A flow-down clause for subcontractors
  • A right-to-audit clause and signature block
Download the template

Markdown (.md) file, opens in any text editor or Word. Free, no sign-up.

The clauses, at a glance.

Section 2

Legal and regulatory compliance

  • Comply with all applicable laws in every country of operation and with the standards relevant to the goods or services supplied.

Section 3

Labour and human rights

  • No forced, bonded or child labour
  • Compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Fair wages, hours and freedom of association
  • No discrimination or harassment

Section 4

Health and safety

  • Provide a safe working environment and hold the accreditations and insurance appropriate to the work.

Section 5

Environment and sustainability

  • Operate within environmental law and provide emissions (including Scope 3) and ESG data on request.

Section 6

Business ethics and anti-bribery

  • Zero tolerance of bribery and corruption under the Bribery Act 2010; declare conflicts of interest.

Section 7

Quality, documentation and traceability

  • Meet specifications, keep records, and keep certifications and insurance current, notifying you before they lapse.

Section 8

Data protection and confidentiality

  • Comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 and protect confidential information.

Section 10

Monitoring, audit and non-compliance

  • Reserve the right to audit, require prompt reporting of breaches, and set out consequences for non-compliance.

Then collect the sign-off in one place.

Issuing a code is step one. Getting every supplier to acknowledge it, and keeping that record, is where it usually falls down. With Supplio you send the code as part of onboarding through a branded portal, collect the response, and hold the acknowledgement against the supplier record with an audit trail.

See supplier onboarding software

Questions, answered.

What is a supplier code of conduct?+
A supplier code of conduct is a document that sets out the ethical, legal and operational standards you expect suppliers to meet, covering areas like labour and human rights, health and safety, environment, anti-bribery, data protection and the right to audit. Suppliers typically accept it as a condition of doing business, and are asked to flow equivalent standards to their own supply chain.
Is this template legally binding or legal advice?+
The template is generic best practice, not legal advice. It becomes contractually meaningful when you incorporate it into your supplier agreements or onboarding terms. Because your obligations vary by sector and jurisdiction, have your final version reviewed by a suitably qualified adviser before you issue it.
How do I get suppliers to sign it?+
Include the code in your onboarding pack and require acknowledgement before approval, then keep a record of who accepted and when. Supplio does this through its onboarding flow: the supplier receives and acknowledges the code in their portal, and the acknowledgement is held against their record with an audit trail.
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Suppliers · Compliance · Scope 3

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