Suppliers
A major share of the sales generated by Addtech companies comes from selling on products and solutions from global and market-leading suppliers. Addtech has a large number of suppliers worldwide and more than 70% of the Group's purchases are made from suppliers outside the Nordics in Europe, the US and Asia. Our relationships with suppliers are often longstanding and involve close collaboration on how the supplier's products can be used in a variety of customer applications. Many suppliers have worked with Addtech subsidiaries for decades. However, there is always a certain amount of supplier turnover, and Addtech is constantly on the hunt for new partners and agency companies that can complement or boost our existing business. This close relationship with our suppliers is highly valuable from both business and CSR perspectives.
As parts of a technology trading group with operations in a large number of countries, business ethics risks pose a potential threat to the Group's companies. Addtech's goal regarding the issue of responsibility linked to our suppliers is clear. In 2010/2011, the Group's Code of Conduct was updated and now includes a section expressly describing the Group's expectations as to how suppliers should act, vis-à-vis both the environment and employees. The Code is available on the Addtech website at www.addtech.com/csr.
The good reputation of Addtech and our subsidiaries is one of our strongest competitive assets. Against that background, any infringements of Addtech's policy on human rights and of the terms and conditions for our employees would have a considerable detrimental impact on the trust of our stakeholders. No incidents concerning infringements of human rights were reported in 2011/2012 or 2010/2011.
Supplier survey
We continuously work on deepening our relationships with suppliers and on ensuring that they meet a good level of requirements in relation to their employees and the environment. As part of this work, we conducted our first supplier survey at the end of the financial year. It covered 18 of the Group's largest suppliers, who together account for more than 15% of the Group's purchasing volume. They work together with eight of our Group companies and represent a relevant cross section of all the Group's suppliers.
The aim of the supplier survey was to ensure that our suppliers are meeting a good level of requirements in relation to their employees and the environment and to evaluate the working method and tool that we produced for the survey. In coming years, our aim is that additional Group companies will conduct regular supplier surveys.