Costrick Sustainability Commitment

Version 1.0 / August 2025 / Business-to-Business Platform / English

Our Vision for a Sustainable Future

At Costrick Ltd, a company registered in Scotland (company number SC806470) at 6 Ristol Road, Glasgow, G13 1UY, we are committed to transforming the UK convenience store sector through sustainability. Our business-to-business (B2B) platform connects retailers with wholesalers, enabling efficient product sourcing while promoting ethical practices, environmental responsibility, and social fairness. This Sustainability Commitment outlines our expectations for all partners—retailers, wholesalers, and logistics providers—and serves as a public pledge to drive positive change in the industry.

Sustainability is integral to our mission of empowering small businesses. Whether you’re a convenience store owner using our comparison tools, a wholesaler supplying products, or a visitor exploring our values, we invite you to join us in building a responsible, transparent supply chain. This Commitment, accessible on our website, is reviewed annually to reflect emerging challenges and evolving standards.

Why Sustainability Matters to Us

The convenience store sector relies on complex supply chains, from product sourcing to delivery. At Costrick, we believe efficiency must align with responsibility. Our platform streamlines stock ordering, but we also aim to reduce environmental impact, promote fair labour practices, and enhance transparency. By working together, we can create a sector that supports local businesses, protects the planet, and meets the expectations of communities and consumers. This Commitment outlines how we, and our partners, contribute to these goals, fostering a collaborative approach to systemic change.

Who This Commitment Applies To

This Commitment applies to all entities engaging with Costrick’s platform, including:

  • Retailers: Convenience stores using our platform to compare products, check availability, or place orders.
  • Wholesalers: Suppliers providing products or services through our platform.
  • Logistics Providers: Companies handling order deliveries or related services.
  • Supply Chain Partners: Subcontractors or suppliers involved in producing or delivering goods for our platform.

For partners, this serves as a formal agreement to uphold sustainability standards. For website visitors, it’s a transparent overview of our values, inviting you to align with our mission. We expect all partners to integrate these principles into their operations, going beyond legal compliance to embrace innovation and fairness.

Fostering Transparency and Collaboration

Transparency is the foundation of sustainable change. It builds trust, ensures accountability, and empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions. We encourage open communication across our supply chain, and we expect our partners to:

  • Share accurate, timely sustainability data, such as environmental metrics or labour practices, when requested.
  • Disclose all locations involved in supplying products or services, including subcontractors, to ensure full visibility.
  • Participate in assessments or audits conducted by Costrick or authorized third parties.
  • Engage in honest dialogue to address challenges in meeting these standards.

On our website, we share high-level insights about our sustainability efforts to inform users and encourage industry-wide accountability. If you have concerns or suspect a breach of this Commitment, you can report them anonymously via our Speak Up channel at www.costrick.com/speak-up. We value collaboration and aim to resolve issues through open communication.

Responsible Data Handling

We handle sustainability data with care, complying with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Data shared with us, such as emissions or sourcing information, is used solely to assess compliance or enhance our platform’s sustainability features. We may share anonymized data with third parties for audits or industry benchmarking, ensuring no personal data is disclosed without consent. Partners must also adhere to privacy laws, protecting the data of employees, customers, and suppliers in their operations.

Guided by Global Standards

Our Commitment is informed by internationally recognized frameworks, ensuring alignment with best practices:

  • UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: To promote ethical operations and respect for human rights.
  • International Labour Organisation (ILO) Fundamental Principles: To ensure fair labour practices across the supply chain.
  • Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): To guide our climate goals and reduce environmental impact.
  • OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises: To support responsible business conduct.

These standards shape our expectations, ensuring our platform contributes to global sustainability goals while meeting UK legal requirements.

Our Expectations for Partners

Transparent and Accountable Operations

Transparency drives accountability and enables better decision-making. We expect partners to:

  • Provide clear, accurate information about sustainability practices, such as energy use, waste management, or labour conditions.
  • Maintain up-to-date records of all sites involved in supplying products or services, including subcontractors.
  • Participate in periodic self-assessments and third-party audits to verify compliance.
  • Engage with industry stakeholders, such as trade associations or local communities, to address shared sustainability challenges.

For website visitors, this Commitment showcases our dedication to transparency, encouraging retailers and wholesalers to choose partners who share these values.

Responsible Supply Chain Management

Partners must implement management systems to embed sustainability into their operations, tailored to their business size and risk profile. These systems should:

  • Conduct human rights and environmental due diligence, following OECD Guidelines, to identify, prevent, and mitigate risks.
  • Establish grievance mechanisms for workers and stakeholders to report concerns safely and anonymously.
  • Ensure subcontractors and suppliers adhere to this Commitment’s standards.
  • Monitor compliance through regular reporting and corrective action plans.

Retailers contribute by sourcing responsibly through our platform, while wholesalers ensure their supply chains meet these requirements.

Supporting People and Communities

We are committed to fair and equitable treatment for all workers in our supply chain, including permanent, temporary, migrant, or contract employees. Partners must ensure:

  • No Forced Labour: Prohibit forced, bonded, or illegal labour. Workers must retain their identity documents, pay no recruitment fees, and have the freedom to leave with reasonable notice. Overtime must be voluntary, and any issues must be reported to Costrick and relevant authorities.
  • No Child Labour: Employ no one under 15 (or the legal working age, if higher). Protect workers under 18 from hazardous tasks or night shifts. Remediate any child labour cases responsibly, covering costs until the child reaches working age.
  • Fair Employment Terms: Provide written contracts in workers’ languages, specifying terms that cannot be changed unilaterally. Comply with legal limits on non-standard employment (e.g., zero-hour contracts) and allow workers flexibility to seek other employment.
  • Living Wages: Pay at least the UK national minimum wage or industry standard, whichever is higher, with overtime compensated at a premium rate (minimum 125% of regular pay). Provide clear payslips and avoid unauthorized deductions. Ensure all legally mandated benefits, such as paid leave or pensions, are provided.
  • Reasonable Working Hours: Adhere to UK laws or ILO conventions on working hours and rest periods. Maintain accurate records of hours worked and limit excessive overtime through effective planning.
  • Freedom of Association: Respect workers’ rights to join trade unions or form representative bodies, even in jurisdictions with restrictions. Provide alternative means for worker representation where needed.
  • Non-Discrimination: Prohibit discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, or termination based on gender, race, age, disability, or other protected characteristics.
  • Safe and Healthy Workplaces: Maintain safe, hygienic conditions with fire safety measures, clean drinking water, adequate ventilation, and access to toilet facilities. Provide accident insurance, conduct regular safety training, and establish health and safety committees where required.

These standards ensure fairness and safety for all workers, supporting vibrant communities around convenience stores and wholesalers.

Protecting the Environment

We are dedicated to minimizing environmental impact and promoting a circular economy. Partners must:

  • Energy and Emissions Reduction: Track energy consumption and report quarterly to Costrick. Set science-based targets aligned with the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Transition to renewable energy sources by 2030, avoiding coal or unsustainable fuels.
  • Water Stewardship: Meter and report water usage quarterly. Treat industrial wastewater to meet legal standards or industry guidelines (e.g., Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals). Implement water-efficient equipment and explore recycling options, such as rainwater harvesting.
  • Chemical Management: Maintain an up-to-date chemical inventory, avoiding restricted substances (e.g., as per industry standards). Follow Safety Data Sheets for safe storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals.
  • Waste Minimization: Reduce waste generation, prioritize recycling, and avoid landfill disposal. Track and report waste streams to Costrick, supporting circular economy initiatives like material reuse.
  • Sustainable Sourcing: Source materials responsibly, prioritizing third-party verified options (e.g., recycled or organic materials). If applicable, comply with animal welfare standards and protect biodiversity by avoiding harm to ecosystems.

Retailers can support these goals by choosing sustainable suppliers on our platform, while wholesalers ensure their products meet these environmental standards.

Community Engagement and Rights

Partners must respect local communities’ access to resources, such as water or land, and avoid operations that harm marginalized groups. Support the lawful activities of human rights and environmental defenders, ensuring no interference with their rights to free expression or assembly. Engage with local stakeholders to address shared challenges, such as resource scarcity or community development.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

We monitor compliance through our Sustainability Performance Programme, which includes:

  • Annual self-assessments submitted by partners.
  • Announced or unannounced audits by Costrick or third parties.
  • Regular reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as emissions, water use, or labour practices.

Non-compliance may lead to remediation plans or, as a last resort, termination of our partnership. We provide support to help partners meet these standards, favoring those who share our vision for continuous improvement. On our website, we share progress updates to demonstrate our commitment and inspire others.

Our Pledge to Partners and Users

Costrick commits to:

  • Leading by example, integrating sustainability into our platform’s operations.
  • Sharing anonymized sustainability insights to drive industry-wide progress.
  • Supporting partners through guidance and collaboration to meet these standards.
  • Reviewing this Commitment annually to reflect new regulations and industry trends.

For website visitors, this Commitment highlights our dedication to a sustainable convenience store sector, encouraging you to choose partners who align with these values.

Contact Us

For questions, feedback, or to report concerns, contact:

  • Email: costrickcloud@.com
  • Post: Costrick Ltd, 6 Ristol Road, Glasgow, G13 1UY, Scotland
  • Phone: 01419591098