Responsible procurement
At NN Group, we care about contributing to the wellbeing of people and planet, through our investments, products and services and responsible citizenship. This care also extends to the choices we make when purchasing goods and services. We are committed to making responsible procurement decisions as set out in our Responsible Procurement Framework. We encourage our suppliers to do the same. Responsible Procurement means striving for a value chain that is sustainable and socially responsible. Through our purchasing decisions, we aim to minimise our environmental impact, promote fair and safe working conditions, and build mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers. We do business with the future in mind.
Our commitment
Our approach to responsible procurement is grounded in internationally recognised standards, including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the goals of the Paris Agreement.
What we expect of our suppliers
The Responsible Procurement Framework also lays out how we ask our suppliers to meet our sustainability ambitions in three areas:
Environment
Take meaningful action on climate change, work towards net-zero emissions, and be transparent about carbon footprints and reduction targets.
Social
Provide safe and fair working conditions, offer equal pay and equal opportunities, pay a living wage, and uphold the right to freedom of association. We will not accept child or forced labour, modern slavery, or human trafficking anywhere in a supplier's business or supply chain.
Governance
No involvement in activities that conflict with NN's values, including the production of controversial weapons or tobacco, or violation of any of NN’s norms-based RI criteria, in line with NN Group’s Responsible Investment Framework Policy.
Responsible Investment FrameworkHow we assess suppliers
Sustainability is built into our sourcing and contract management processes. We conduct risk and impact assessments at key stages of the procurement lifecycle, as well as ongoing monitoring throughout the contract term. Sustainability performance is an explicit evaluation criterion in our sourcing decisions alongside quality, price, and risk. The weighting of this evaluation criterion may vary by category or risk profile . Suppliers who demonstrate credible progress, such as setting science-based emissions targets, implementing robust human rights due diligence, or transparent reporting, are positively recognised in our selection decisions.
How we engage with suppliers
Assessment is only part of the picture. We invest in understanding where suppliers are, what challenges they face, and how we can support their progress.
Our supplier sustainability programme provides a structured approach: we identify where key suppliers stand on environmental, social and governance matters and tailor our engagement accordingly. Suppliers who do not yet meet our expectations are supported through conversations, practical guidance, and a focus on improvement over time. The sustainability focused engagement is expected to last between 1 and 3 years, depending on risk and supplier maturity level.
Our preference is to work with suppliers towards improvement. Restricting or ending a supplier relationship is a measure of last resort. We believe that driving real-world change requires collaboration, not exclusion.