Compliance and Integrity
All Committed, All Compliant!
Complying with legal and regulatory requirements is a challenge we meet in all countries where we operate. However, we not only rise to this challenge but go beyond it, because we make compliance and integrity a core, daily priority for our associates.
Sonepar is committed to the highest ethical, social, and environmental standards. We aim to be a responsible corporate citizen in all countries where we operate.
In 2019, Sonepar became the first group in France to be officially declared compliant with all the requirements of France’s Sapin II anti-corruption law. This decision was formalized on July 4, 2019 by the Enforcement Committee of the French Anti-corruption Agency (Agence Française Anticorruption – AFA).
Sonepar has rolled out all of the eight measures and procedures the law requires: a code of conduct, a whistleblowing scheme, a risk map, third-party due diligence procedures, accounting control procedures, a training program, an internal disciplinary procedure, a procedure for internal monitoring, and an assessment of these measures.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Read our CSR report based on the Sonepar Group’s long-term strategy.
"Since Sonepar’s creation in 1969, complying with the rules set on ethics and good governance, a value personified and passed down by our founder, has always been a priority for the Group."
Marie-Christine Coisne-Roquette, Permanent representative of Colam Entreprendre, Sonepar Chairman
“Compliance is everyone’s responsibility at Sonepar – every day and in everything we do.”
Philippe Delpech, Sonepar CEO
Sonepar’s Code of Conduct
The Group's Code of Conduct is the reference document for global compliance and integrity within Sonepar. It is regularly updated with the latest regulatory developments, best practices, and Sonepar’s corruption and influence peddling risk mapping.
All Sonepar Regions and support functions have played their part in creating this reader-friendly Code of Conduct, which sets out the principles and rules of good conduct that all Sonepar’s associates must use as a guide to their daily business – everywhere and every day.
Each associate has access to a copy of the Code of Conduct in their own language. To ensure it is understood and used by all, the code is available in 20 different languages.
Supplier Code of Conduct
Sonepar expects its business partners to commit to the same high ethical standards. To ensure this, we use a dedicated Supplier Code of Conduct that sets out clearly defined expectations; and the Group uses specific procedures and tools to assess the integrity of its business partners.
Download Code of Conduct in English
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Download Code of Conduct in French
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Download Code of Conduct in all other 18 languages
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Download Supplier Code of Conduct in English
DownloadConflict Minerals & Human Rights Policies
Conflict Minerals Policy
Sonepar is deeply committed to responsible sourcing, as an important part of its CSR strategy. We do our best to ensure that our suppliers’ products and components do not contribute to adverse impacts on human rights.
Human Rights Policy
As the world leader in the B-to-B distribution of electrical products and related solutions and services, Sonepar is an influential player throughout its value chain.
As set out in its Code of Conduct, Sonepar is committed to providing a working environment that ensures that all associates are treated fairly, equally, and decently. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Our Human Rights Policy further detail our commitments. It applies to all Sonepar operating subsidiaries. It can also be made available to our external stakeholders to provide guidelines for everyone and to make our expectations of our Suppliers Code of Conduct clear.
Sonepar’s Compliance Program
Sonepar’s Code of Conduct, and its related Policies and Procedures, all form part of a comprehensive Group Compliance Program. This also includes educational and information campaigns, risk mapping, reporting, whistleblowing, assessments, and audits.
Speak Up!
Sonepar has also established a whistleblowing policy. This enables individuals to share any concerns about circumstances or behaviors which they believe, in good faith, could represent violations of Sonepar’s Code of Conduct, its Supplier Code of Conduct, its Policies and Procedures, and/or any applicable laws and regulations.
How to raise a concern
For associates, referring the matter to their manager is the preferred option. They can also contact Sonepar’s Head Office, the Local Human Resources Department, or the Group General Counsel’s Office at groupcompliance(at)sonepar.com.
A confidential, external whistleblower reporting system is also available for third parties or associates who want to make a report without directly interacting with Sonepar’s personnel.
Raise a concern
This platform is provided by an independent third party that has been selected by Sonepar. Suspicions and incidents can be reported in 20 different languages at any time – 24 hours a day. The reporting process is encrypted, and password protected, and all communication with the whistleblower takes place on this secure platform.
Sonepar Whistleblowing Policy
What can be reported?
Violations or possible violations may relate to the following, non-exhaustive, areas:
human rights, fraud, corruption, influence peddling, data privacy, harassment, international sanctions and embargoes, health and safety, the environment, discrimination, crimes, and other offenses.
What information should be provided?
All reports should be as factual and complete as possible. Although the whistleblower’s opinion may be requested during the process, they should avoid speculation.
Reports should contain information that answers the following questions:
What happened? When did it happen? Who was, or is, involved? Are the circumstances ongoing? What is the risk or urgency of the situation? How do you know about these circumstances? Are there witnesses or any other people affected by the situation?
If a whistleblower has documentation or other supporting evidence, they should share this via the platform too.
Confidentiality
The identity of the whistleblower, of those affected by the circumstances, and any document shared in connection with a report, will be treated as strictly confidential, unless Sonepar has a duty to report all or part of the information to an authority.
No retaliation
Sonepar, its business partners and their associates won’t take any action in retaliation against any person for making a good faith report or participating in an investigation.
Any person found to have retaliated against another for making a good faith report or participating in an investigation will be subject to a disciplinary procedure, up to and including the termination of employment.
Sonepar also reserves the right to take disciplinary action against any associate who violates the whistleblowing policy by knowingly making false and/or malicious statements against another, with the intent of misleading or wrongfully initiating an investigation.
Protection of personal data
Data collected through Sonepar’s whistleblowing system is processed by Sonepar acting as data controller in accordance with the requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (The GDPR).
All necessary precautions are adopted to preserve the security of the data during their collection, processing, or retention. If you want to learn more about the processing of personal data by Sonepar’s whistleblowing system and if you want to use your rights, please go to the privacy policy on the dedicated website.
Platform access
Reports can be created and accessed via this link.