Atlas Copco recognizes an increasing need to take a more active role in dialogues and assessments of business partners from a sustainability perspective. Group companies select and evaluate business partners partly on the basis of their commitment to social and environmental performance and development. To reinforce the Business Code of Practice, a common ten-point checklist, based on the UN Global Compact, has been developed to clarify the Group’s expectations on its business partners and sub-suppliers, read more on www.unglobalcompact.org.
 
Atlas Copco’s reporting units provide quantitative data of evaluated, approved and rejected suppliers and those requiring development, based on sustainability expectations and/or business expectations. The reporting regarding suppliers is new and is continuously being improved. Training is being given on a worldwide basis. An example of this was in 2007, when Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions division invited business partners and held training sessions.
 
Atlas Copco encourages all business partners to implement an environmental management system similar to Atlas Copco’s. In 2007, 1 270 significant suppliers were evaluated by Atlas Copco teams directly at the suppliers’ sites, through certification, or through verification of the suppliers’ own reports.
 
In certain markets it is necessary to work with suppliers that do not have the same standards as the Group. In such cases, Atlas Copco can contribute positively by providing experience and know-how.