California Transparency Act

Newell Brands is a leading multinational company known for its extensive portfolio of well-established consumer products, including brands such as Sharpie, Graco, Oster, Yankee Candle, Rubbermaid, and Coleman. Headquartered in the United States, Newell employs close to 24,000 people worldwide and organizes its operations into three main segments: Learning & Development, Home & Commercial, and Outdoor & Recreation. Its products are distributed across more than 150 countries, with active operations in over 40 regions. Many of Newell’s products are manufactured domestically in the U.S. as well as internationally, often in partnership with third-party manufacturers and suppliers who assist in production and sourcing of raw materials. Approximately 14,000 employees are engaged in manufacturing and supply chain activities, while additional personnel are employed by global third-party facilities.

The company has a strong commitment to ethical business practices and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of modern slavery. Transparency and accountability are key priorities in Newell’s supply chain management, ensuring that products reaching consumers are produced under ethical conditions. Newell’s global supply chain includes more than 18,000 suppliers across over 90 countries, ranging from large multinational corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises. Supplier management strategies are designed to leverage expertise and scale while maintaining social compliance and supply chain integrity through the Responsible Sourcing Program, which ensures alignment with human rights standards.

Newell’s internal policies, including its Code of Conduct, Vendor Code of Conduct, and Responsible Sourcing Manual, guide ethical decision-making and operational practices. The employee Code of Conduct provides clear instructions on avoiding child labor, forced labor, and physical punishment, while emphasizing compliance with wage regulations, freedom of association, collective bargaining rights, and equal opportunity employment. Employees receive training upon joining to ensure adherence to these standards.

The Vendor Code of Conduct applies similar principles to suppliers, requiring safe working environments, fair treatment of workers, and compliance with labor laws while prohibiting forced labor, child labor, or human trafficking. Suppliers must attest annually to their compliance, with serious breaches potentially resulting in termination of business relationships. Newell executives review significant violations and determine corrective actions with input from procurement, ethics, legal, and compliance teams.

The company conducts thorough due diligence on both new and existing suppliers, evaluating operational capabilities, financial stability, and adherence to social compliance standards. Internal and third-party audits, both scheduled and unannounced, are used to ensure continuous improvement. Membership in multi-stakeholder initiatives such as SEDEX and SCAN enhances audit quality and allows the company to focus on higher-risk areas.

In 2024, Newell strengthened efforts to address forced labor risks by mapping its supply chain, conducting third-party risk assessments, and increasing traceability for high-risk materials such as cotton, latex, and rubber. Twelve additional suppliers participated in traceability evaluations, reinforcing the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing.

Newell’s ongoing responsible sourcing initiatives include audits, training, and supplier engagement. In 2024, activities included hosting a Responsible Sourcing Supplier Summit, updating the Vendor Code of Conduct, providing supplier education, and completing numerous audits and corrective action plans. These efforts aim to maintain strong supply chain oversight, enhance awareness of human rights practices among employees and suppliers, and ensure fair working conditions worldwide.

This statement reflects Newell’s commitment to combating modern slavery and upholding human rights for 2024. It was developed with input from Ethics and Compliance, Global Supply Chain, Human Resources, Legal, Procurement, and Responsible Sourcing teams and was approved by the Board of Directors on May 8, 2025, reinforcing Newell’s dedication to ethical operations, transparency, and continuous improvement across its global supply chain.