Fair working conditions in the supply chain

In some countries, working conditions are not adequately protected by legislation, or there is a lack of proper enforcement. This can lead to social risks such as child labour.

At Van Loon Group, we take our responsibility to mitigate social risks within our supply chain seriously. We ensure strict compliance with labour legislation and monitor working conditions at our direct suppliers via the Sedex platform.

From 2026, we will systematically include Sedex scores in our supplier assessments. In doing so, we encourage responsible business practices and actively work to prevent and reduce social risks in our supply chain.

CEO

In 2024, we (re)assessed the quality of our temporary staffing partners across the entire Van Loon Group. As a result, we have significantly reduced the number of suppliers in 2025. Together with the selected partners, we will work to improve the deployment and engagement of temporary staff. We have therefore laid down clear agreements in the new partnership agreements covering, among other things, accommodation, certifications, transport and equal pay.

By 2025, we had connected our key suppliers to Sedex. Currently, 84% of these suppliers are successfully connected to this platform. A risk analysis was carried out based on the available data, classifying suppliers into low, medium and high-risk categories. It is important to emphasise that this risk classification does not imply that there are actually abuses taking place at these suppliers. The classification is based on a combination of factors, including country risks, sector-specific risks and general indicators relating to working conditions, the environment, health and safety, and business integrity.

The results therefore primarily provide an indication of where in the supply chain increased attention is required. This serves as a starting point for further dialogue with suppliers and for prioritising due diligence activities, such as requesting additional information, conducting audits or implementing improvement programmes.

In 2026, we will take further steps to enhance transparency and responsible supply chain management by onboarding our meat suppliers onto the Sedex platform. This platform will give us greater insight into social and environmental performance within our direct supply chain.

From 2026, we will systematically include Sedex scores as a criterion in our supplier assessment. In doing so, we will integrate social and environmental aspects more explicitly into our procurement processes and actively work to identify and mitigate risks relating to working conditions, human rights, health & safety and the environment. Where the results of the assessment give cause to do so, we will engage with suppliers to discuss areas for improvement and determine appropriate measures.

Where necessary, we will commission independent audits in accordance with the SMETA methodology. These audits help to further verify risks, draw up improvement plans and achieve structural improvements within the supply chain.