Sustainability and Responsible Business

Sustainability and Responsible Business

An intricate logistics system known as a supply chain comprises business units that turn raw
resources into completed goods that are then distributed to end users or end customers.

It’s a multi-field service that covers all the aspects involved in the supply chain, such as:

1. Labour and human resources: it aims at the reduction of inequality and pay parity
between males and females and targets non-discrimination.

  • Disciplinary action refers to activities that avoid harassment, torture, coercion, or
  • abuse.
  • No forced or compulsory labour, and specifically no child labour
  • Setting up minimum wages and suitable working hours

2. Safety arrangements: adequate and appropriate health and safety arrangements

  • Ensuring the well-being of the workers

3. Ethics and Integrity: Governance and Policies
4. Environment and Climate Change:

  • Reduce pollution and contamination.
  • Reduce water and energy consumption.
  • Reduce G-emissions
  • Waste management, segregation of waste, and responsible disposition

5. Biodiversity: The flora and fauna should be unharmed and protected.
6. Robust Management System: This includes the OECD five-step management system.

HOW CAN WE HELP?
  1. Supply chain review mapping
  2. Risk assessment and rating
  3. Policy, procedures, and compliance
  4. Manual/book development
  5. Documentation and reporting
  6. Training and capacity building
  7. Consulting service for obtaining certifications such as RJC, SA8000, etc.
  8. Sustainability and responsible business advisory:
    • ESG advisory
    • CSR advisory
    • EHS advisory
    • SDG advisory
    • Ethics, integrity, and governance advisory
  9. Fact-finding supply chain compliance and integrity investigation
  10. CSR investigation: ethics, integrity, and governance investigation
How Can We Help


AKW specializes in assisting businesses to create ethical supply chains for metals and minerals. Our team has conducted several Supply Chain process reviews in line with the OECD Guidelines for Gold & Precious Metals sector companies performing thorough due diligence & continuous monitoring of the client’s suppliers & supplier’s suppliers. The scope of reviews includes aspects such as health & safety, labor, ethics, & environmental compliance

A Brief of AKW’s Gold Supply Chain Audit Process

  • Ascertain the type of risks – Geographical risks associated with the origin of gold/precious metals and/or Transactional risk etc
  • Identify and assess risks in the supply chain on the circumstances of extraction, consolidation, transport, trading, and export of gold from conflict-affected and high-risk areas that may be contributing to conflict or serious human rights violations
  • Conduct a risk assessment on every counterpart included in the supply chain from the mines (mined gold and precious metals) to the intermediary companies including suppliers, exporters, and transporters (mined/recycled gold and precious metals), using a risk-based approach
  • Conduct in-depth research, and review exercises to respond to red flags in the above-listed risk areas
  • Design and implement a strategy to respond to the risks identified in order to prevent/mitigate the adverse impacts and generate annual reports by hosting them publicly on the company’s website to generate public confidence
  • Our reports make specific references to Annex II of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and highlight the need to assess risks with respect to :

a). Systematic or widespread human rights abuses associated with the extraction, transport, or trade of gold

b). Direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups or public or private security forces

c). Fraudulent misrepresentation of the origin of gold & Bribery

d). Money Laundering and Terror Financing

e). Contribution to conflicts

Precious Metals Supply Chain

Professional support for your business

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