As a large, complex business First Milk has a number of areas where it must consider its corporate social responsibility and it takes this responsibility very seriously. It is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and to conducting all of its trading operations in an ethical manner whilst operating with proper concern for its employees and others connected to its activities.

To fulfil its corporate social responsibilities (CSR) First Milk has established a CSR committee to look at issues, assess performance against responsibilities and develop practice. It has created a CSR policy which covers three key areas:

• Ethical responsibilities

• Environmental responsibilities

• Social responsibilities

CSR Mission

To integrate corporate social responsibility into all of First Milk’s activities and ensure that members are better off through the application of CSR principles across the business. This includes enhancing our reputation; delighting and engaging our customers and the consumer; addressing business risk and enabling sustainable business development.

Our Principles

Sustainable Development

Sustainable business development will underpin First Milk’s activities, partnerships and relationships and due attention will be given to the communities and areas where its activities have an impact.

Commitment to Social, Environment and Ethical integrity

In all its relationships and across its membership, First Milk will apply its commitment to social, environmental and ethical integrity. It will actively seek out the opinions of its stakeholders and involve affected communities on relevant issues.

Building Confidence and Establishing Trust

First Milk will continue to work to be a trusted, highly regarded business in the dairy sector. As a co-operative business First Milk will work to ensure its members are always well served and will conduct its business with partners, customers, regulators and trade associations with integrity and openness.

Ethical

First Milk endorses the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and expects suppliers to ensure working conditions exceed this standard.

First Milk is a member of Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) a secure, web based system providing data on labour practises at First Milk production sites.

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code is a standard which all First Milk suppliers must comply with and First Milk has also implemented an Approved Supplier Assurance Register, including Ethical Trading Questionnaires, to evaluate its suppliers.

Environmental

First Milk encourages and supports all its members to take a responsible approach to the environment. Farmer members participate in the Assured Dairy Farms part of the Red Tractor Scheme which involves managing factors that could impact on the environment. All members operate, or are working towards current Defra guidelines regarding the protection of nitrate vulnerable zones by effective management of slurry.

As a dairy processing business, First Milk utilises significant levels of energy, water and packaging and is committed to reducing its impact regarding energy consumption, carbon emissions, water usage, waste to landfill and waste generation. It fulfills the requirements laid down by the Climate Change agreement.

Social

First Milk is committed to conducting its operations with proper concern for its employees and others and to minimise the risk of damage to or loss of plant, property and product.

It is fully committed to safety, health and environment regulations, working to ensure that the risks which could affect employees and others are fully assessed and that all necessary actions are taken to reduce such risks to acceptable levels. To view First Milk's Safety, Health & Environment policy, please click on the link below.

In addition, First Milk is mindful of the impact its activities can have on the communities where its operations are based and seeks to minimise that impact wherever possible.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Safety, Health & Environment Policy - May 2010		94 Kb