2021 Universal Registration Document

NON-FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE STATEMENT: OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY

Ethics and business conduct across the value chain [NFPS]

ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT ACROSS 3.5. THE VALUE CHAIN [NFPS]

The challenges faced by BIC include maintaining control over its entire value chain, recognizing the importance of its suppliers and subcontractors involvement in meeting its corporate responsibility to uphold ethics and Human Rights in the workplace and to combat corruption. To meet these challenges, the Group’s operations and subcontracting activities incorporate its: new general Code of Conduct; ● Code of Ethics; ● Anti-Corruption Policy; and ● since 2020, its Supplier Code of Conduct. ●

3.5.1

THE RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING

In a spirit of ongoing improvement, BIC is committed to working with its suppliers and supporting them in their efforts to meet and exceed the standards of the Supplier Code of Conduct. This Code is one component of the overall BIC Code of Conduct, which also emphasizes the importance of the Group’s responsible purchasing approach. The Supplier Code of Conduct is included with the calls for tenders issued by BIC and is appended to its contracts. #4 Proactively involving suppliers BIC has set the goal of making its responsible purchasing approach a central element of its Purchasing function. This ambition is codified in the following commitment: by 2025, BIC will work responsibly with its strategic suppliers to ensure the most secure, innovative and efficient sourcing. The ambition of the purchasing strategy is to maximize purchasing’s contribution to the creation of value for BIC, its suppliers and subcontractors by: securing the created value: ensuring continuous supply and ● consistent quality, consumer safety, regulatory compliance, brand protection; increasing the created value: performance and costs, ● manufacturing processes, the development of new customer benefits with no technological or material disruption; creating additional value: innovation that benefits ● consumers, overhaul of the processes. Writing the Future, Together – 3.5.1.2

APPROACH

In the course of its operations, BIC works with over 15,000 suppliers and subcontractors. For the Group, being a responsible company means maintaining control over the entire value chain. The Purchasing Department analyzes all risks related to the sourcing of products and services:

inventory levels; ● sourcing zones; ● single sourcing, etc. ●

The Supplier Code of Conduct 3.5.1.1 In 2020, BIC created a new Supplier Code of Conduct. This Code, which has been shared with all suppliers, explains the Group’s responsible purchasing approach, its commitments to its suppliers and the commitments that it requires from them. The latter encompass all aspects of sustainable development:

integrity in business conduct; ● human rights and labor laws; ● health and safety; ● environmental impact; and ● the development of a sustainable supply chain. ●

The Supplier Code of Conduct also incorporates the former Responsible Purchasing Charter, which codifies the Group’s six basic Values: Ethics, Responsibility, Teamwork, Simplicity, and Sustainable Development. All suppliers and subcontractors, as well as their suppliers and subcontractors, must comply with the Supplier Code of Conduct. All suppliers must also comply with all national and local provisions, laws and regulations in force on their respective markets. When local laws or standards differ from the current Supplier Code of Conduct, BIC requires that its suppliers comply with the stricter standards and principles.

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• BIC GROUP - 2021 UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT •