Toiletry Express Ltd
Sustainable Procurement and Environmental Policy
How we source, import, store and distribute our products responsibly, treating sustainability as a core principle alongside quality, service and cost.
Company
Registered in England No. 11593625
Website
www.toiletryexpress.co.uk
01
Introduction
This policy sets out how Toiletry Express Ltd sources, imports, stores and distributes the toiletries, hygiene kits and personal care products it supplies to organisations across the United Kingdom and overseas. It is designed to ensure that all procurement and operational activities undertaken by Toiletry Express Ltd comply with applicable UK law, align with recognised good practice, and treat sustainability as a core principle alongside quality, service and cost. The policy applies to the acquisition of all goods, packaging and services, and to the logistics through which products reach our customers.
02
Objectives
The objectives of this policy are:
Compliance with UK lawEnsure all procurement and operational activities comply with relevant UK legislation, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Environment Act 2021, the Climate Change Act 2008 and the regulations governing cosmetic and personal care products placed on the UK market.
Value for moneyAchieve the best combination of quality, service, cost and environmental performance across the life of the product, from manufacture to disposal.
Low-impact logisticsMove goods in the manner that produces the lowest practicable carbon emissions per unit supplied.
Sustainable product choiceOffer customers products and formats that reduce waste and environmental impact, and give preference to such products when sourcing.
Ethical procurementEnsure fair labour practices and ethical standards are maintained throughout our supply chain, as set out in our Ethical Sourcing, Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy (TE-POL-001).
TransparencyMake only environmental and ethical claims that we can evidence, and provide that evidence to customers on request.
03
Legal Framework
Procurement and operational activities will adhere to:
Modern Slavery Act 2015Ensuring no use of forced labour, human trafficking or exploitation within the supply chain.
Environment Act 2021 and Climate Change Act 2008Compliance with UK environmental law and support for the national commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
UK Cosmetics RegulationEnsuring that cosmetic and personal care products we supply meet the safety, labelling and ingredient requirements applicable in the United Kingdom, and that our own-brand products are manufactured to EU and UK quality standards.
Equality Act 2010Ensuring that procurement and employment decisions do not unlawfully discriminate against any individual or group.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974Ensuring safe working conditions in our own operations and expecting the same of our suppliers.
Bribery Act 2010Zero tolerance of bribery, corruption and improper influence in any procurement decision.
04
Sustainability in Logistics and Operations
The greatest environmental impact of a wholesale supply business lies in how goods are moved. Toiletry Express Ltd operates as follows:
Sea freight onlyAll imported products arrive in the United Kingdom by sea in full container loads. We do not use air freight. Consolidating stock into full containers achieves the lowest carbon footprint per unit and avoids the repeated small shipments associated with buying to order.
Shared delivery networksOrders are dispatched through the DPD courier network, with larger consignments moving through the UK pallet network. Our goods travel on vehicles already serving the same routes and postcodes rather than on transport running for our orders alone.
UK stockholdingWe hold our own stock in the United Kingdom and fulfil orders directly from it, so customers receive their goods in one delivery from one location.
Waste managementWaste arising from our operations is disposed of in accordance with applicable law and regulation. Cartons and packaging received with inbound stock are reused within our operation where practicable, and remaining waste is segregated for recycling.
05
Sustainability in Product Selection
Procurement will prioritise sustainability by:
Environmental impactGiving preference, where quality and safety are equal, to products with reduced packaging, recycled or recyclable packaging, and lower resource consumption.
Refillable and reusable formatsSupplying refillable dispensers and refill formats that replace single-use miniatures in hotels and serviced accommodation, and promoting these formats to customers seeking to reduce waste.
Eco-friendly rangesMaintaining and extending our range of eco-friendly guest amenity products so that customers can choose lower-impact alternatives without compromising on quality or price.
Cruelty-free and vegan-friendlyWe do not supply any products tested on animals. All products we supply are cruelty-free and our ranges are vegan-friendly.
Circular economyEncouraging suppliers to adopt reuse, recycling and reduced-packaging principles, and supporting customers who wish to move to refillable systems.
06
Ethical Procurement
Labour standardsAll suppliers must comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and maintain fair labour practices, including safe working conditions, fair wages and no use of forced or child labour. Our due diligence in this area is set out in our Ethical Sourcing, Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy.
Long-term relationshipsBranded products are purchased from established UK and European distributors. Our own-brand products are sourced through a long-standing direct relationship with the manufacturer rather than through agents or brokers, giving us direct knowledge of where and how they are made.
Social sustainabilityOur packing operation employs people from the local community around our Sutton premises on flexible hours that fit around family life, requires no prior experience or qualifications, and pays above the National Minimum Wage.
07
Procurement Procedures
Supplier selectionSuppliers are selected on a combination of quality, service, price, reliability and their environmental and ethical standards. New suppliers are asked to confirm their compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and applicable product safety legislation before first order.
Product approvalNo product is listed for sale until its compliance with UK product safety and labelling requirements has been confirmed.
Substantiated claimsEnvironmental and ethical claims made for any product are checked against manufacturer documentation before publication. We do not make claims we cannot evidence.
Life-cycle considerationPurchasing decisions take account of the full cost and impact of a product, including packaging, transport and disposal, not the purchase price alone.
08
Monitoring and Non-Compliance
Supplier reviewThe Director reviews the environmental and ethical standing of our manufacturing suppliers annually, and at any time a concern is raised.
Non-complianceIf a supplier is found to be non-compliant with the standards in this policy, Toiletry Express Ltd will engage with the supplier to resolve the issue. If the issue is not resolved, the relationship may be terminated.
09
Training and Awareness
Staff awarenessAll staff involved in purchasing, stock handling and packing are made aware of this policy and of the practical steps it requires, including waste segregation and the reuse of packaging.
Supplier engagementSuppliers are informed of the commitments in this policy and are encouraged to adopt equivalent practices in their own operations.
10
Commitments
Toiletry Express Ltd commits to the following, and will report against them at each annual review:
- 100% of imported products will continue to arrive by sea freight in full container loads. No air freight.
- 100% of customer orders will continue to be dispatched through shared courier and pallet networks.
- All manufacturing suppliers will have confirmed in writing their compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and applicable UK product safety legislation.
- The refillable and eco-friendly product range will be maintained and extended as suitable products become available.
- All environmental and ethical product claims will be supported by manufacturer documentation held on file.
11
Review and Continuous Improvement
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Director to ensure it remains current with legal requirements, recognised good practice and the operational reality of the business. Any material change to our sourcing, logistics or product range will trigger an earlier review.
Flavia Barroso
Director, Toiletry Express Ltd
This policy took effect on 16/09/2026 and will be reviewed on 16/09/2027.
