June 2021
Supplier code
of conduct
Delivering our promises
Rio Tinto’s core values of respect, integrity, teamwork and accountabili-
ty serve as a foundation of doing business the right way with custom-
ers and communities and you, our suppliers.
In everything we do, we hold ourselves accountable to the highest
industry standards and our own stringent requirements for ethical
conduct. This is not only the right thing to do, it is, critical to maintain-
ing trust and our social license to operate.
At Rio Tinto, we find, mine and process the Earth’s mineral resources
with a relentless drive for improvement through innovative thinking
and disciplined delivery. Our activities span the world and our products
include aluminium (and bauxite and alumina), copper, diamonds, gold,
industrial minerals (borates, titanium dioxide, salt) and iron ore. The
metals and minerals we supply help make modern life work and help
the world to grow.
You, as one of our suppliers, play a vital role in helping us deliver the
promises we make. We all rely on the trust of each other, our host
communities, governments, customers, investors and others. We will
only succeed if we collaborate and can build trust together.
This Supplier code of conduct, which draws upon internationally
recognised standards and Rio Tinto’s The way we work, sets our
expectations of you, your subsidiaries and subcontractors. We may
elect to not work with or cease to work with suppliers who do not meet
our expectations.
Working together, all of us will ensure we do business the right way.
If you have questions regarding this Supplier code of conduct, or about
our expectations of our suppliers and business partners, please email
Suppliercodeofconduct@riotinto.com.
01
1.
Health and safety performance
We commit to the goal of everyone going home safe and healthy
every day. We work with suppliers who share this commitment
by:
• Providing a safe and healthy working environment for
employees and subcontractors including provision of
appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Taking all practical and reasonable measures to eliminate
workplace fatalities, injuries and disease.
• Ensuring any worker housing, if provided, is safe, healthy
and sanitary, while respecting workers’ dignity and right to
privacy.
2.
Governance and legal compliance
We compete ethically and lawfully in all activities. We work with
partners and suppliers who commit to:
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ensure personal activities and interests, and those of
employees and subcontractors, do not conflict with their
responsibilities to Rio Tinto.
• Not commit, or become involved in, bribery or corruption of
any form, including facilitation payments.
• Maintain policies and practices to allow violations, miscon-
duct, or grievances to be reported by workers and addressed
without fear of retaliation.
02
3.
Labour and human rights
We support the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. We work with suppliers who uphold fundamental human
rights including:
• Ensuring all work is freely chosen; without the use of forced
or compulsory labour.
• Ensuring all workers are of local legal age; and preventing
the use of illegal child labour.
• Ensuring fair remuneration and work conditions for all
workers.
• Promoting humane treatment and preventing harassment
and unfair discrimination.
• Respecting workers’ rights to lawfully and peacefully form or
join trade unions of their choosing and to bargain collectivly.
• Respecting the privacy of employees and customers and
complying with all laws in the collection, use and protection
of personal information.
03
4.
Environmental performance
We are committed to protecting the environmental values of the
regions where we operate and maintaining good product
stewardship for the long term. We work with suppliers who share
our commitment as demonstrated by:
• Promoting a culture that values the environment and acts to
protect the environment in which they operate.
• Continuously improving environmental and resource
management – reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Measuring, managing, and reporting environmental data in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Ensuring products manufactured or contracted to manufac-
ture do not contain conflict minerals.
5.
Emergency preparedness
and business resilience
We work with suppliers who have adequate emergency
preparedness and response plans for safeguarding their
employees, operations, and security of supply in times of natural
events, major catastrophe, pandemic disease, and unforeseen
events.
04
6.
Host communities
We develop strong and lasting relationships with our local and
regional host communities based on respect, a desire to learn
and mutual benefit. We work with suppliers who support social,
economic, and institutional development of communities by:
• Supporting community engagement initiatives aimed at
employing, procuring, and building capacity within host
communities where they operate.
• Participating in relevant disease prevention programs, such
as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria prevention, when
applicable to their operations.
7.
Information and reporting
We build trust by communicating openly and honestly. We work
with suppliers who provide information that is timely, accurate
and relevant including:
• Maintaining accurate financial books and business records,
including invoicing, in accordance with all applicable legal
and regulatory requirements and accepted accounting
practices.
• Reporting on economic, social and environmental perfor-
mance to meet regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Ensuring the intellectual property rights of other parties
(patents, trademarks, copyright, and confidential
information) are respected.
05
8.
Management commitment
Suppliers who work with Rio Tinto share our commitment to the
principles raised in this Supplier code of conduct by adopting
and promoting the commitments in the code and encouraging
their subcontractors to do the same.
06
We are committed to a culture of transparency and
encourage employees, contractors, suppliers and other
stakeholders to speak up about their issues and concerns.
As a supplier to Rio Tinto, you and your workers have access
to myVoice, Rio Tinto's confidential and independently
operated multilingual whistleblowing service.
myVoice is a confidential, independent and safe way to report
concerns or misconduct directly to us. It offers an avenue for
reporting concerns about the business or an individual’s
behaviour. This can include suspicion of violations of Rio
Tinto’s policies and procedures, human rights, safety,
environmental, financial reporting, fraud or business integrity
issues in general. All information received is managed
securely and confidentially. We strongly encourage any
supplier (including their workers) who becomes aware of any
circumstance or action that may not comply with this
Supplier code of conduct or Rio Tinto’s The way we work to
discuss these concerns with their Rio Tinto contact or report
it via myVoice.
If you have a concern, don’t ignore it; let us know via myVoice
at myvoice@riotinto.com.
Rio Tinto plc Rio Tinto Limited
6 St James’s Square 120 Collins Street
London SW1Y 4AD Melbourne, Victoria 3000
United Kingdom Australia
T +44 (0)20 7781 2000 T +61 (0)3 9283 3333
riotinto.com
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