At Żabka Group, we are constantly developing and professionalizing the way our organisation operates, with particular emphasis on corporate governance and the implementation of responsible management practices. We present selected codes and policies that define the way we operate in specific thematic areas.
Code of Conduct and Ethics for Employees
The Code of Conduct and Ethics for Employees is a tool that can support you when you are faced with a choice and want to make sure you are making the right one. The standards and guidelines set forth in the Code are to facilitate your everyday work and be a signpost for appropriate and ethical behavior, in line with Żabka’s values. The Code merely supplements the legal regulations which, of course, apply to every employee.
Code of Conduct for Business Partners
The Code of Conduct for Business Partners is a set of rules that shape the company’s relationships with its surrounding community. In addition to laying grounds for our cooperation and setting standards, it defines ambitions and directions of development that Żabka Polska intends to follow together with its business partners. The purpose of the Code is to build a sustainable value chain based on partnership and mutual responsibility.
Biodiversity policy
This Policy sets out the general principles of conduct for the protection of biodiversity, and also indicates the main directions of Żabka Polska’s activities in this scope, aimed at ensuring the protection of ecosystems and preventing the loss of biodiversity. The policy applies to both Żabka Polska and its Franchisees, as well as suppliers of Own Brands.
Plastic Circularity Policy
Żabka Polska strategic commitment is to create conditions for a green and sustainable living for everyone, every day. This is why one of the core pillars of our Responsibility Strategy is the Green Planet. Żabka focus on actions that allow us to minimize our environmental impact across the whole value chain to protect Green Planet. Our goal is to achieve plastic neutrality – after 2025 we want to recover and recycle 100% of plastics introduced to the market by Żabka. We are sure that the actions we take today and the close cooperation with our business partners bring us closer to achieving this goal. We have created the Plastic Circularity Policy, because we need to close the loop on plastics for the sake of ecological responsibility. Our efforts to obtain circularity are guided by a set of clear rules. We take responsibility for the entire process, from design to recycling and environment regeneration. This policy, as it currently reads, deals with plastics. However, in the future it will be expanded to include other materials, as well.
Decarbonisation policy
The decarbonisation policy sets out general guidelines to achieve the climate goals described in our Responsibility Strategy. This policy also responds to commitments arising from Żabka’s participation in initiatives to address climate change.
Animal Welfare Policy
The policy sets uniform standards in relation to animal and animal-derived products in the Żabka Polska Own Brand range and indicates the direction for standards in producer brand products.
Ecodesign Policy
Żabka Polska strategic commitment is to create conditions for a green and sustainable living for everyone, every day. This is why one of the core pillars of our Responsibility Strategy is the Green Planet. Żabka focus on actions that allow us to minimize our environmental impact across the whole value chain to protect Green Planet. Our goal is to have 100% of own-brand packaging that is recyclable or recycled by 2025. To achieve this goal, we must learn how to design processes and packaging in a way that ensures sustainable and economically reasonable resource management. As a responsible business, we want to use ecodesign to make sure that today’s waste becomes a resource that shapes the future. This Ecodesign Policy is meant as a reference point for clear rules on designing and selecting appropriate resources for own-brand packaging and point-of-sale materials.
Energy Policy
The Energy Policy indicates a course of action aiming to increase energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy sources, both in the Żabka’s own operations (scope 2) and in value chain (scope 3).
Corporate Philanthropy and Sponsorship Policy
Żabka Polska wants to address significant social challenges in a conscious and responsible manner and positively influence various stakeholder groups. In accordance with the adopted Social Engagement Strategy, three pillars have been set to ensure the fulfillment of the above commitment, i.e. (1) taking actions aimed at improving the mental and physical health of society, (2) strengthening neighborhood ties, and (3) minimizing the risk of exclusion. We realize that the implementation of the above tasks requires reliability and regularity. We plan to put them into practice by, among other things, engaging in philanthropic as well as sponsorship activities. To ensure compliance with the priorities indicated and transparency in the benefits granted by Żabka Polska, this Corporate Philanthropy and Sponsorship Policy has been adopted.
Corporate Philanthropy and Sponsorship Policy – download PDF
The Travel Policy
The Travel Policy is a set of principles and good practices for travel in the performance of professional duties by Żabka Polska Employees and Associates. It aims to facilitate informed and more environmentally friendly management decisions regarding travel and means of transport.
Responsible Communication, Marketing and Advertising Policy
Żabka Polska carries out its mission based on four key values: responsibility, openness, credibility and ambition. They are the foundation of all business processes as well as attitudes and behaviors that shape the organizational culture. All activities carried out in the area of communication and marketing under the Żabka brand are evidence of the implementation of these values and are consistent with them.
Responsible Communication, Marketing and Advertising Policy – download PDF
Human Rights Policy
The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that our employees and associates adhere to internationally recognised human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Labour Organization Conventions, and other relevant international agreements.
Human Rights Policy for Business Partners
The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that our Business Partners adhere to internationally recognised human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Labour Organization Conventions, and other relevant international agreements.
Equity Policy
Given our values: Ambition, Openness, Responsibility and Credibility, Żabka Polska adopts this Equity Policy as its commitment to implement an equal opportunity culture. We recognize diversity and an inclusive organizational culture to be one of the strategic areas present in the Responsibility Strategy of Żabka Polska and its Responsible Organization pillar.
The Transport Policy
The Transport Policy sets out general principles for the transport of goods at Żabka Polska, in line with environmental responsibility and applies to current and future Business Partners responsible for transporting goods. In accordance with the Policy, the development of logistics infrastructure, delivery planning and fleet contracting should seek low-emission solutions and solutions that minimise the negative impact on the environment.
The Water Resources Policy
The Policy sets out the rules relating to the reduction of water use and the protection of water resources.
Public Engagement Policy
The social, economic, environmental and legislative environment in which Żabka Polska operates is changing dynamically and gives rise to significant challenges that require the Company to seek optimal solutions. Public engagement means taking an active role in influencing the environment, i.e. creating conditions for the implementation of changes in a responsible manner and mobilizing others in its favor by taking specific actions that matter. Żabka Polska wants to speak out on issues that are important to it, its customers, Employees, Associates, Business Partners, the local community, and be an important participant in the public debate on important topics. The realization of this goal is an expression of how Żabka Polska wants to be perceived in the public consciousness and of its concern to influence the creation of conditions in which it operates and develops in a sustainable manner in the long term.
The Waste Management Policy
The Policy sets out the guidelines in respect of the recommended waste management methods to reduce waste production at each point in the product’s lifecycle. This Policy applies to Żabka Polska, Franchisees, as well as the suppliers of Own Brand Products and other brand products.
Sustainable Palm Oil Policy
The Company’s ambition is to create conditions that would allow everyone to lead a sustainable life in harmony with the planet every day. We emphasize our environmental and social responsibility. One of our responsibilities is to shape the range of products offered to our customers. We know that the threat to existence of tropical rainforests has negative effects on both nature and people. That is why it is so important for us that new oil palm plantations are not created through deforestation of rainforests, so that they are not cultivated on peatlands or other soils with a high organic carbon content. It is also important to maintain biodiversity in endangered regions. We are well aware of the importance of sustainable development, hence our efforts to reduce the use of palm oil in food products by phasing it out where possible and replacing the uncertified palm oil used in our products with certified oil.
Policy of Sustainable Sourcing of Raw Vegetable Materials Fish
This Policy sets out uniform norms and procedure in respect of Own Brand Products offered by Żabka Polska to the extent concerning coffee, tea, coco, soy, fish and seafood.
Policy of Sustainable Sourcing of Raw Vegetable Materials Fish – download PDF
Żabka Group continues to develop its Integrated Management System (IMS), which consists of 4 international standards: ISO 22000:2018, which guarantees food safety, ISO 14001:2015, which is a guarantee of environmental care, ISO 45001:2018 covering the health and safety management system, and ISO 50001:2018 on effective energy management.
We are pleased to inform about the implementation of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard at the Żabka Company. AWS is an international standard that promotes responsible and sustainable water stewardship. The AWS standard is a set of good practices, principles and criteria that aim to improve the efficiency of water management, protect the water environment and support local communities.
In implementing this standard, we aim to achieve the following objectives:
1. Improve the water efficiency of our storage processes.
2. Minimising the impact of our operations on the water environment.
3. Working with local communities and other stakeholders to conserve and sustainably manage water resources.
4. Strengthening our commitment to the environment and building a positive corporate image as a responsible company.
In implementing the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard, Stakeholders are central to the water stewardship process. We believe that collaboration between different stakeholders, such as NGOs, public institutions, the private sector and local communities, can contribute to better water stewardship and create a more sustainable future for us all. Interested parties who would like to provide comments are invited to contact lead auditor Tanya Christensen tanya@watersas.org
Responsibility Report 2022
