­­­The Nelson Family of Companies

Sustainable Procurement Policy

1/15/2024  

V.2:2024

As referenced in the ISO 26000 Standard:

In its purchasing decisions, an organization should take into account the environmental, social, and ethical performance of the products or services being procured, over their entire life cycles. Where possible, it should give preference to products or services with minimized impacts…(6.5.2.2)

The Nelson Family of Companies (including both Nelson-Jameson, Inc. and Next Logistics)  is dedicated to partnering with suppliers that not only reflect our “Golden Rule” philosophy, operating with the highest ethical standards and practices, but also is intent on working together with suppliers to make a positive impact on our industry, communities, and the environment.  Doing so will allow us to better address our ESG goals, and work towards our associated UN Global Compact Sustainable Development Goals that are referenced in our targets.     

This policy has been adopted and approved by the Board of the Nelson Family of Companies (including both Nelson-Jameson, Inc. and Next Logistics) to align our purchasing with food safety & quality, environmental, labor, working conditions, and ethical/responsible business practices targets.   Focusing on our role as a wholesale distributor to the dairy and food industries, the policy will apply to all departments conducting product procurement practices, with specific roles described below.  Operations will also work with corporate compliance when necessary to ensure best practices for business operations matters.   

We commit to the following actions: 

1. Working together, product department leadership (and operations leadership when applicable) and corporate compliance will have the authority to implement and assess programs of supplier engagement.   
2. Supplier engagement leadership will promote, ensure, and coordinate sustainable procurement practices.  Leadership will meet at least twice a year to discuss updates, case studies, and other business.     
3. Ensure that 95% of suppliers and manufacturers are updated yearly and made aware of our Supplier Requirements & Expectations.          
4. Ensure that 95% of Nelson-Jameson employees are trained on issues of forced labor/human trafficking training.
5. Provide a clear methodology for procurement staff to report concerns on suppliers and manufacturers. 
6. To score core suppliers and manufacturers on food safety/quality, environmental, labor, working conditions, and ethics/responsible business expectations as described in our Supplier Requirements & Expectations.
7. Report on progress in our annual corporate responsibility reviews.   
8. Utilize the United Nations Global Compact to guide our efforts.