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Environmental and Ethical Policy

Commitment

Opus Technologies is strongly committed to maintaining its reputation as one of the world's most progressive audio equipment manufacturers. Our dealings reflect a high level of integrity and consistent ethical and human rights values - both from our colleagues and suppliers. As we expand our sourcing base, we only select business partners whose values are compatible with our own.

Our concerns include the practices of our individual business partners, as well as the social and political issues in any country where we might consider sourcing. We have defined business partners as vendors, manufacturers, contractors, subcontractors and other suppliers who provide labour and/or materials utilised in the manufacturing of products that bear any of our brands.  

Environmental Requirements

Opus Technologies will only do business with partners who share our commitment to protect and preserve the environment. This specifically includes compliance with local government laws and international standards as well as the U.S. and E.U. regulations prohibiting the use of ozone depleting chemicals (hydro chlorofluorocarbons). In addition, any modifications to these laws, rules, regulations and standards must be adhered to.  

Ethical Standards

Opus Technologies will seek to identify and work with business partners who aspire both as individuals and in the conduct of their business to a set of ethical standards that are compatible with our own.  

RoHS

The RoHS directive came into effect on 1 July 2006 and stands for “the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.” This means that in the EU market there is a ban on new electrical components containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.

Opus Technologies prides itself on a pro-active approach to environmental and health issues and all new products adhere to these new measures. Our systems and processes have been adjusted accordingly and stringent systems put into effect to ensure all products fully comply with this new legislation. Opus Technologies already uses lead-free solder in its products which has more copper for improved conductivity in turn producing better sound quality.

Source: http://www.rohs.gov.uk/

WEEE

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive aims to minimise the effects of electrical and electronic products on the environment by encouraging the recycling and re-use of components and reducing the amount that is sent landfill sites. Manufacturers are responsible for funding collection, treatment and recovery of waste electrical equipment. Distributors are also encouraged to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.

Whilst we endeavour to ensure our customers have many years of fault-free Opus Technologies product ownership we have a corporate responsibility to encourage our consumers to recycle old products so as to reduce damage to the environment. To this end, all our products now carry the ‘Wheelie Bin’ logo to raise consumer awareness.

Source: http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html  

Health & Safety

Opus Technologies only utilises business partners who provide their workers with a safe and healthy work environment. Business partners who provide residential facilities for their workers must provide safe and healthy facilities.  

Legal Requirements

Opus Technologies expects its business partners to be law abiding as individuals and as businesses to comply with all legal requirements relevant to the conduct of their business.

Employment Practices

Opus Technologies will only do business with partners whose workers are treated fairly and whose workers are in all cases present voluntarily, working in a safe environment, fairly compensated, allowed the right of free association and not exploited in any way.

In addition, every one of our business partners must adhere to the following:  

Wages and Benefits

Opus Technologies' business partners must provide wages and benefits to their colleagues that comply with all applicable laws and match prevailing local industry practices. We also favour businesses that share our commitment to contribute to the betterment of the community in which they operate.  

Child Labour

Opus Technologies' business partners undertake never to employ child labour (i.e. a person under the age of 16 years). Furthermore, our business partners will not knowingly utilise partners or raw materials suppliers themselves who use or permit the use of child labour in any of their facilities. We actively support the development of legitimate workplace apprenticeship and training programs for the educational benefit of younger people as long as the individual is never exploited or put at risk with regard to health and safety.

Prison / Forced Labour

Opus Technologies will never knowingly utilise business partners who use, or permit the use of prison labour in the manufacture of products ordered by or through us. Furthermore, our business partners will not knowingly utilise partners or raw material suppliers themselves who use or permit the use of forced labour in any of their facilities. "Forced Labour" is defined as work or service that is extracted from any person under the threat of penalty for his/her non-compliance and for which the worker does not offer him/herself voluntarily.  

Discrimination

Whilst we recognise and respect cultural differences, we strongly believe that workers must be employed on the basis of their ability to do the job, rather than on a basis of gender, racial characteristics or cultural or religious beliefs.  

Documentation and Inspection

Opus Technologies retains the right to constantly monitor compliance, with these terms and conducts, with on-site inspection of facilities without notice. We will review and may terminate its relationship with any partner found to be in violation, as well as exercising any other rights and remedies to which we may be entitled under purchase orders issued by or through us, by law or otherwise.