1. STATEMENT OF CONTINUED SUPPORT BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Date: 3-6-2022

To our stakeholders:

I am pleased to confirm that Planex Sales Pty Ltd reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely yours,

Dr Jean-Pierre Jardel

Managing Director, PhD.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIONS

Human Rights

Planex makes available to its stakeholders its policies that address human rights. The policies are audited regularly by the independent third parties SGS, Bureau Veritas, Good Environmental Choice Australia, AFRDI-Furntech, and are part of Planex’s ISO14001 certification. Examples of these policies are: Health and Wellbeing Policy; Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy; Modern Slavery Policy; No Bullying Policy.

Planex has a Business Partner Code of Conduct Policy which is also available to stakeholders, and is based upon upholding and supporting the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. Planex actively encourages the mutual exchange and co-signing with our business partners of both the Code of Conduct and Modern Slavery Policies.

These policies ensure workers are provided with a safe, suitable and sanitary work facilities, protect workers from workplace harassment, including physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment, abuse or threats, are our measures to eliminate ingredients, designs, defects or side-effects that could harm or threaten human life and health during manufacturing, usage or disposal of products.

Labour

Planex makes available to its stakeholders its policies that address human rights. Important is its Modern Slavery Policy, among its other ones. The policies are audited regularly by the independent third parties SGS, Bureau Veritas, Good Environmental Choice Australia, AFRDI-Furntech, and are part of Planex’s ISO14001 certification. Examples of these policies are: Health and Wellbeing Policy; Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy; No Bullying Policy; Working from Home Policy and a Workplace Alcohol and Drug Policy.

Planex staff are all based around Hallam, Victoria. They have entered into an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement scheme which is reviewed regularly. Employees have collectively renegotiated EBAs that provide our staff with conditions that are above the legal entitlements of the relevant National Modern Awards. The EBA passes the BOOT test (Better Off Overall Test) as determined by the Australian Fair Work commission, https://www.fwc.gov.au/better-off-overall-test. The agreement is also review by the Australian Government’s Australian Building and Construction Commission to ensure that it is Code Compliant.
https://www.abcc.gov.au/building-code.

Planex has a Business Partner Code of Conduct Policy that is also available to stakeholders, and is based upon upholding and supporting the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. Planex actively encourages the mutual exchange of such a policy with its business partners.

Environment

Planex updates its yearly Sustainability Report and makes it available to all stakeholders. Our company maintains its ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 that commit it to avoiding environmental damage via regular maintenance of production processes and environmental protection system (air pollution control, waste, water treatment systems, etc.). Our Emergency Procedures Manual provides emergency procedures to prevent and address accidents affecting the environment and human health. Planex minimizes the use of, and ensures safe handling and storage of chemicals.

Our Environmental Claims Declaration, Environmental Policy and Risk Management Policy are aimed at protecting people and the environment.

Anti-Corruption

Planex shares Business Partner Code of Conduct Policies with partners in its supply chain. These have been either initiated by Planex or by the business partners.

Planex’s Statement on Corporate Ethics is available to all stakeholders. The contents are in accordance with all Australian laws and regulations, and as well, are in accordance with high ethical standards.

3. MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOMES

In the box below, please include the most relevant indicators to measure outcomes. Examples include:
• Planex has approximately 45 employees with diverse cultural backgrounds. These groups are catered for in a variety of ways including leave requests, dietary needs and respect of cultural and religious beliefs.
• Planex maintains a very good record with respect to occupational diseases, injuries, and absenteeism via its Occupational Health and Safety Policy and OHS Manual. Staff qualifications as first aiders are maintained, as are regular internal audits by staff representatives.
• Percentage of recycled materials – Planex uses materials with maximum recycled content as possible. Our main material is mild steel which makes up 95-98% by weight of our products. It is sourced from Bluescope steel which has a maximal recycled steel content. Our recyclable packaging is FSC-sourced cardboard, as is our paper. Polymers are purchased with imprinted and visible recycled codes to allow for correct recycling by polymer type. Planex uses powder coating on our furniture surfaces. Like practically all powder coat users and manufacturers of these powders, a portion of the amount sprayed is wasted, and if it cannot be reused, is then sent to landfill. Several years ago, Planex initiated its own reuse in-house by making a counterweight for our furniture out of this waste material (which is a particularly small-sized and long-lasting microplastic). These “home-made” counterweights allowed us to replace the new steel counterweights, thereby saving several tonnes of new steel bought per year. We continue to explore more initiatives with assistance from industry stakeholders, university R&D laboratories, and State and Federal Government granting bodies to encourage more ways of diverting this waste from landfill and into the circular economy.