Code of Conduct

Introduction

At meshcloud, we are committed to creating a better future and our actions are guided by economic, ecological, and social responsibility. We expect our business partners and employees to share our commitment to ethical conduct, human rights, and environmental sustainability throughout the value chain.

This Code of Conduct is based on internationally recognized principles, including:

meshcloud executes its business in compliance with this code of conduct and extends it to all subcontractors and third parties involved in fulfilling contracts with us.

1. Principle of Legality

Business partners shall comply with all applicable national and international laws, including:

  • Fair competition and anti-trust laws
  • Anti-corruption and anti-money laundering regulations
  • Export control and customs regulations
  • Laws protecting human rights, labor standards, and the environment

2. Social Standards

Human Rights

Business partners must respect and protect internationally recognized human rights. This includes safeguarding local communities, indigenous peoples, and human rights defenders.

Child Labor

Business partners shall:

  • Employ only individuals who meet the minimum legal working age in their country of operation.
  • Comply with ILO Conventions No. 138 (Minimum Age) and No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labor).

Forced Labor

Any form of forced labor, slavery, or human trafficking is strictly prohibited. Employment shall always be freely chosen.

Freedom of Association

Business partners must:

  • Respect employees’ rights to form and join trade unions and collective bargaining agreements (ILO Convention No. 98).
  • Ensure that participation in such activities does not result in discrimination or retaliation.

Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination

Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or political activity is not tolerated. Equal pay for equal work must be applied irrespective of gender or other discriminatory factors.

Fair Working Conditions

Business partners shall provide:

  • Fair wages and benefits that meet or exceed legal minimums.
  • Compliance with working hours, rest breaks, and vacation entitlements.

Occupational Health and Safety

Business partners must:

  • Maintain a safe and healthy work environment that meets national standards.
  • Consider adopting an occupational health and safety management system (e.g., ISO 45001).

Protection from Eviction and Land Deprivation

Business partners shall refrain from unlawful evictions and land appropriation.

3. Environmental Standards

Environmental Protection

Business partners must minimize risks to the environment, adopt sustainable practices, and comply with all statutory environmental requirements. All organizations meshcloud is dealing with are encouraged to implement an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

Climate Action

Business partners shall take proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprint by:

  • Increasing energy efficiency
  • Using renewable energy sources
  • Setting and pursuing carbon reduction targets

Resource and Waste Management

Business partners shall:

  • Use natural resources efficiently and reduce waste.
  • Follow the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, and responsibly dispose.

Water Consumption and Quality

Water use must be minimized, particularly in water-scarce regions. Wastewater standards must comply with local regulations.

Air, Soil, and Hazardous Substances

  • Air and soil pollution shall be minimized, with compliance to local standards.
  • Substances of concern must be managed responsibly, adhering to conventions like the Minamata and Stockholm Conventions.

4. Business Integrity

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Decisions must be made impartially. Conflicts of interest must be identified and communicated to meshcloud.

Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery

Business partners must:

  • Reject any form of corruption, bribery, or unlawful payments.
  • Ensure their employees, subcontractors, or representatives act ethically and transparently.

For more detailed information on anti-corruption and anti-bribery please also see meshcloud’s Anti-Bribery and Anti-Money Laundering Policy.

Gifts

Presenting or accepting gifts to business partners can cause compliance issues. We do not offer gifts to business partners if we are not sure it complies with their compliance policy or if they aren’t compliant with German social norms.

If we receive gifts by business partners which exceed a value of 20 EUR, we inform our supervisor about the gift. We do not accept individual gifts that exceed a value of 100 EUR per person.

Business meals

When we invite clients or other business partner, the amount per participant should not exceed 100 EUR. Same value applies if we get invited by business partners.

Free Competition

Fair competition laws must be adhered to. Anti-competitive practices, including price fixing or abuse of dominant market positions, are prohibited.

Conflict Minerals

Business partners shall ensure that sourcing of raw materials does not contribute to armed conflict, aligning with meshcloud’s policy on conflict minerals.

Data Privacy and Security

Partners shall protect personal and business data in line with applicable data protection laws (e.g., GDPR). Partners shall adopt a basic Information Security Management System and consider adopting a regulated and audited systems such as ISO 27001, TISAX, etc..

5. Whistleblower System

Business partners shall:

  • Establish mechanisms to report violations of this Code of Conduct confidentially and without retaliation.
  • Alternatively, encourage reporting through a whistleblower system.
  • meshcloud provides their own whistleblower system internally.

6. Compliance and Monitoring

meshcloud reserves the right to:

  • Conduct audits and compliance checks with reasonable notice.
  • Require business partners to respond to requests for information within 3 working days and cooperate in investigations.

Remedial Actions:

If a breach is identified, the business partner must:

  • Cease the violation immediately or implement a corrective plan within an agreed timeframe.
  • Document and review actions taken for effectiveness.

Consequences of Non-Compliance:

Severe or unremedied breaches may result in termination of contracts and business relationships.

Conclusion

At meshcloud, we believe that aforementioned values and responsible practices build a sustainable future. By committing to this Code of Conduct, our business partners contribute to ethical operations, environmental stewardship, and the protection of human rights worldwide.