The Transparency Act

Applies to: AVA of Norway AS, Nøstetorget 5, 5011 Bergen, Norway
Reporting Period: 2024.01.01 – 2024.12.31

Statement on Due Diligence Assessments 2024 (Published 2025)

Transparency Act § 5a:

General description of the company's organization, operations, guidelines, and procedures

Organization
AVA of Norway AS is organized as a limited liability company with a business address in Norway. The company is affiliated with Virke and follows regulations and practices for an organized working life.

Operations
The company develops and sells cleaning products in 18 countries. AVA has subsidiaries in Germany and England, and still does not sell to Russia or Belarus.

Procedures and Guidelines
AVA continues to focus on sustainability and responsible production, viewing this as a key contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Work related to the Transparency Act is still not coordinated with industry stakeholders but follows interpretations of the law and advice from external experts.

The systematic work on due diligence assessments is now in its 4th year. The procedures are anchored in the company's management system and board, and are followed up by the risk management group. This group works with due diligence assessments, sustainability analysis, and audits of suppliers and partners.

Focus areas in 2024 include:

  • Maintenance and further development of routines and responsibility distribution in the organization

  • Regular monitoring and assessment of the impact from the company’s own operations, supply chains, and business partners

  • Continued efforts on open communication and accessibility of information for stakeholders

This work is particularly tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 12, with continued emphasis on sub-goal 12.5 regarding reduced waste by 2030.

Key Suppliers
Requirements for compliance with the Transparency Act are incorporated into new or revised agreements. Assessments are conducted quarterly and reported annually to the board and continuously as needed.

Minor/Occasional Suppliers
These are still assessed based on risk, size, and geographic location. Higher standards are required for actors in high-risk areas.

Transparency Act § 5b:

Actual and Potential Negative Impacts
Procedure last revised: May 6, 2024

The 2024 risk mapping continued the assessments from previous years. Stakeholder groups for 2024 have been:

  • Our own employees

  • Workers at suppliers

  • Customers, end-users, and business partners

Information is still gathered through dialogue meetings, surveys, and industry networks. The risk management group has worked systematically, with meetings at least every other month.
New in 2024: The company moved to new, modern premises in downtown Bergen in autumn 2024.

Priority Areas:

  • Safe workplaces

  • Decent conditions in the supply chain

  • Packaging improvements to reduce environmental impact

Ongoing Measures in 2024:

  • HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) initiatives for employees (training, safety equipment, procedures)

  • Follow-up on working conditions at suppliers through direct dialogue and visits

  • Inspection and monitoring at production units

  • Ongoing evaluation of measures by the risk management group

Measures from 2023 have been evaluated through work carried out in 2024.

Transparency Act § 5c:

Measures to Stop or Limit Negative Impact

Measures are assessed and corrected throughout the year. The risk management group still has the mandate to stop or pause cooperation with suppliers in cases of unresolved risk. The group reports annually to the board.

Impact Measurement: Evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures will be carried out in spring 2025.

Our ongoing and prioritized measures include:

  • Mapping initiatives related to HSE and well-being/needs for our own employees

  • Expanded mapping of working conditions through direct dialogue with selected suppliers

  • Inspections and visits to selected suppliers with the intent to further investigate and, if needed, develop and implement measures

Impact Measurement: Evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures will be conducted in spring 2025.

Contact Information

For questions or requests for more information, you can email Eirik@avaofnorway.com with a copy to post@avaofnorway.com.

 

See the signed version here.