As a Procurement Manager, Antoine regularly visits suppliers. Sometimes he notices things, such as employees working very long hours or working in slippers where safety shoes should be worn. “And not just in Asia,” he says. “Recently, I visited a factory close to home where an employee was operating a machine with a cigarette in his mouth. That’s not acceptable to us at Quooker, so I speak up about it.” What we do expect is now clearly defined. The Quooker Way of Working outlines our standards and values when it comes to responsible practices for people and the environment.

Creating a positive impact “To make our products, we need people and raw materials,” says Sam, explaining why the document was created. “To minimize negative impact, and preferably create a positive one, we believe it’s important to make careful choices. We’ve always been critical of how we operate ourselves. Now that we’ve grown, we can also set expectations for our suppliers.”

Commitment “Partners who sign The Quooker Way of Working are committing to us,” says Antoine. “Do we strictly monitor them? Not yet, as we’ve only just introduced it. The first step is a light scan, where we engage suppliers in conversations about topics like working hours, wages, waste, and water use. Over time, we may involve a specialized agency for more in-depth assessments.” Ultimately, the goal is for suppliers to operate in the same responsible way as Quooker. “Growing together and creating a positive impact, that’s what we aim for. It doesn’t happen overnight, but step by step. And every step counts. During our most recent visit to a factory in Taiwan, employees were wearing safety shoes.”

Published on 13-01-2025