ARCO

We've been in the Safety business for over 130 years. In that time, we've learnt that it's not just safety gear. It's protecting people from Injuries, allowing them to continue living life to the full. Arco are the UK’s leading supplier of safety clothing and equipment. Established in 1884 Arco has a long history of keeping people safe at work. As industrial and manufacturing processes change to keep pace with the ever-evolving demands of an increasingly sophisticated consumer, Arco has stayed at the forefront of the safety and maintenance supplies business. Arco is a family business, which has been putting people first for over 130 years. Our core purpose remains unchanged; to help keep people safe at work.   ## Core Values We are committed to the future of the business and our customers, so have invested heavily over the recent years in product innovation, our supply chain, the branch network, communities we operate within and most importantly, our people. For the past four years we have achieved the **Business in the Community (BitC) Percent Standard**. This recognises companies that give financial support to their communities totalling at least 1 per cent of their pre tax profits. Although BitC no longer regulates this, Arco has still pledged to continue with this level of giving. We are the leading member in our sector of the  **Ethical Trading Initiative** , a ground-breaking alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations who work in partnership to improve the lives of workers across the globe. Arco conducts regular Ethical Audits to ensure the ETI's code of ethics is being observed. Arco fully subscribes to the  **ETI's Nine Principles Base Code:** - Employment is freely chosen - Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected - Working conditions are safe and hygienic - Child labour shall not be used - Living wages are paid - Working hours are not excessive - No discrimination is practised - Regular employment is provided - No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed Environmental sustainability is also really important to us and we have a number of ongoing projects to help us achieve our goals. These include initiatives to make product packaging improvements as well as waste and energy management schemes. For example 99% of packaging waste at the NDC is sent for recycling.