Sustainability

Many small steps can make a big change 

Every product we sell has a negative impact on the environment, just as all transport creates pollution. We will continuously minimize the negative impact of our business. We can’t make big changes overnight, but we believe that many small steps can make a big difference in the long run.  

Photo: Bára Vávrová

We will work actively to reduce negative impact and create positive change within the following areas: 

Lower emissions  

By optimizing purchasing schedules and routines for outbound deliveries, we will be able to reduce the number of transports without increasing lead-time to resellers and consumers. It is a priority to reduce air freight, maximize load-fill, optimize routes and load planning in order to lower our emissions. We will switch into fossil-free and lower emission fuels all types of transports by 2030. This include transports for deliveries as well as replacing company cars over time.  

Producing energy through solar panels on the warehouse roof and switching to 100% renewable purchased energy is another way to reduce emissions. 

Promote sustainable products  

As distributor of more than 80 brands, we play an important role to actively impact our suppliers and partners to switch into responsible sourcing, circular product design, use of recycled materials and components, reduce product packaging and reduce emissions through efficient climate neutral transports. 

Fair and equal workplace  

We strive to be a fair and equal workplace where we treat all colleagues with kindness, respect and equality. Our different backgrounds, cultural expressions, knowledge and experiences enrich us as a company. We are one team and help each other to reach our common goals.  

Fair and ethical business behaviour  

We follow legal requirements in local markets, respect the the consolidated list of persons, groups and entities subject to EU financial sanctions and ask our suppliers and partners to do the same.  

We don’t accept any form of corruption or bribery with any of our suppliers, partners, customers or colleagues. If violated, it is grounds for termination of cooperation or dismissal of employment. 

Our Code of Conduct 

We are a member of the Amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative and follow their Code of Conduct:  

1. Involvement and protection of workers. 
2. Right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. 
3. No discrimination, violence or harassment. 
4. Fair remuneration. 
5. Decent working hours. 
6. Health and safety at work. 
7. No child labour. 
8. Special protection for young workers. 
9. No precarious employment conditions. 
10. No slave labour, forced labour or human trafficking. 
11. Protection of the environment. 
12. Ethical business behaviour. 

What we ask of our suppliers  

To meet customer demands and legal requirements, we ask our suppliers and partners to join forces to reduce the negative impact of our business and create positive change.  

It is mandatory for our suppliers and partners to comply with our Code of Conduct, legal requirements in relevant local markets and respect the consolidated list of persons, groups and entities subject to EU financial sanctions. We must be able to guarantee retailers and consumers that all brands and products in our portfolio fulfil these requirements. We will engage in dialogue with brands that do not meet these requirements and reconsider our relationships.  

In addition to the mandatory requirements, we expect our suppliers and partners to work actively with sustainability certifications and symbols, products and procurement and to lower their emissions. 

Photo: Jan Brezina

Recycling

The EU Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) was entered into force in 2003. It provided for the creation of collection schemes where consumers return their electrical and electronic equipment free of charge. The schemes aim to increase the recycling and re-use of electrical and electronic waste.

Placing batteries on the European market entails producer responsibility for batteries according to the EU Directive on Waste Batteries & Accumulators. The directive intends to minimize the negative impact of batteries, accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators by harmonizing requirements, prohibiting batteries with hazardous substances and establishing schemes for collecting and recycling batteries.

The EU Directive on Managing Packaging and Packaging Waste aims to preventing and reducing the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment, promoting reuse, recycling and other forms of recovering of packaging waste instead of its final disposal.

Focus Nordic is member of the following local collection schemes and associations for electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, packaging and packaging waste:

Czech Republic: Rema System and Ekokom
Denmark: Dansk Producentansvar
Finland: Elker and Rinki
Norway: NorSirk and Batteriretur
Poland: Electro-System and Interseroh
Romania: Ecotic and Ecotic BAT
Slovakia: SEWA
Sweden: El-Kretsen and Näringslivets Producentansvar

In Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia are Focus Nordic’s B2B customers liable for the producer responsibility for electronic equipment and batteries in their role as importer of products. 

Consumers play a crucial role in the recycling system. Old, broken and unwanted electronic products and batteries should be handed over to collection and take-backe points, from which they are sent for reuse or recycling. All new electronic products and batteries are marked with the symbols below, which show that the products don’t belong in regular waste. The symbol may be indicated directly on the product, on its packaging, in its user manual or warranty card.

 

Batteries contain recyclable metals such as zinc, iron, manganese, nickel, cadmium and lead. Some of these substances are very dangerous for the environment and human health, especially mercury, lead and cadmium. Batteries are often marked with the symbol of the chemical element they contain.

By recycling batteries, we save primary raw material resources and protect our environment from possible improper disposal. Unused batteries that are not recycled but restored for example in office drawers or elsewhere in households or companies can cause fires. 

Electronic products and batteries can be recycled and collected in the following ways: 

Denmark

• Consumers can dispose batteries and electronic waste at recycling centres and locations that are administered by local municipalities. You can find more information within your municipality. 
• Legal entities must handle electronic waste and batteries by registering with Dansk Producentansvar and join a collection scheme such as Elretur or Batteriretur.

 Czech Republic

• Consumers can use the services BUĎ LÍNÝ and Rebalík.
• Legal entities can use Svoz pro registrované partnery.
• Point of sale at the address of the store where the product was purchased.
• Publicly available collection networks Rema System take-back of electronic products and take-back of batteries and the Ministry of the Environment.
• Get advice on the toll-free line Chytré recyklace (800 976 679).

Estonia

• Consumers can use the service Eesti Elektroonikaromu. 
• Legal entities can use their collection partner. 
• Point of sale at the address of the store where the product was purchased.
• Publicly available collection network Eesti Elektroonikaromu  take-back of electronic products and take-back of batteries and the Ministry of the Environment.
• Get advice on the [email protected] or by phone 666 0901.

Finland

• Consumers can return batteries free of charge to any shop that sells batteries, no purchase required. Electronic waste (WEEE / “SER”) can be returned free of charge to the official nationwide collection network 400+ points. Small devices <25 cm can also be dropped off free at large shops. Large devices are taken back 1:1 when buying a new one.
• Legal entities can arrange WEEE take-back via producer organisations Elker Oy, SER-kierrätys and ERP Finland which provide dedicated business reception and collection options.
• For workplace battery returns and pickups, contact Recser Oy for other options than retail points.
• Map of the recycling network.
• Get guidance on battery recycling through Recser Oy, [email protected] or +358 10 249 1717.

 Latvia

• Consumers can use the service Latvijas Zaļais punkts or Zaļā josta.
• Legal entities can use their collection partner. 
• Point of sale at the address of the store where the product was purchased.
• Publicly available collection network  Šķiro viegli.
• Get advice on the [email protected] or +371 67084200.

 Lithuania

• Consumers can use the service EMP recycling or Žalvaris.
• Legal entities can use their collection partner EMP recycling or Žalvaris.
• Point of sale at the address of the store where the product was purchased.
• Publicly available collection network  EMP recycling.
• Get advice on the +8 700 02022.

Norway

• Consumers can dispose batteries and small electronic products at retail stores where similar items are sold, or at their municipal hazardous waste and recycling stations. The national recycling network Batteriretur has more than 20 000 collections points in Norway.
• Retail stores are required to accept returns of used batteries and small waste electrical & electronic equipment at the point of sale when selling equivalent products. 
• Legal entities and producers can find more information in Batteriretur, ERP Norway and https://norsirk.no/.
• Advice and guidance is available through RENAS, Norsirk and ERP Norway.

Poland

• Consumers can return batteries and small electronic products at the retail store where similar items are sold.  Stores with a sales area exceeding 25 m² are legally obligated to accept used portable batteries (e.g., for phones, remote controls) free of charge, regardless of whether you are purchasing a new product.
• Collection points for electronic waste and batteries are available through PSZOK. In addition, some municipalities provide local mobile collection points, as well as collections at schools and offices.
• Legal entities must return batteries and electronic waste through for example CCR Relectra, REBA or Stena Recycling. All legal entities generating waste must be registered with the BDO waste database. This includes maintaining a waste record and transferring waste only to collection points listed in the BDO register.
• Public collection network includes REBA, RLG Electra, Asekol, Electro-System Organizacja, Remondis and Stena Recycling.
• Advice and guidance is available through Moje Miasto Bez Elektrosmieci, Swiatoze, Czysta Polska, Portal Ochrony Srodowiska, Akademia Przemyslu i Srodowiska and Teraz Srodowisko.

Romania 

• Recycling of batteries and electronic products is handled by Ecotic and its partners. Collection points are available here for consumers and legal entities.
• Point of sale at the address of the store where the product was purchased.

Slovakia

• Consumers can use red-and-white collection containers operated by ASEKOL SK, located in municipalities, retail stores, and public collection points, for small electronic devices and batteries.
• Electronic waste and used batteries can also be handed over free of charge at municipal collection yards or designated public take-back sites.
• Legal entities, schools and municipalities can request a free WEEE pick-up service through SEWA, ordering online to have electronic waste and batteries collected directly from their location.
• Additional services are available from producers’ responsibility organizations like E‑cycling, which handles registration, take-back, and compliance for producers and importers, including advisory and take-back site management.

Sweden

• Consumers can hand in batteries free of charge at municipal recycling centers or at retail stores with collection services. 
• Legal entities must handle batteries in accordance with producer responsibility. This means that they need to register with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and cooperating with approved producer responsibility organizations such as El-Kretsen, for collection and recycling.