Secure Products
The working lives of our products are long, and our products are designed to last throughout their life cycle. In addition to the environmental impact of our products, we take into account the safety and security of our products, materials and components as well as compliance with product liability regulations in our target markets.
We apply the relevant industry standards in the design of the electrical safety and performance features of our products. Customer, country and market-specific requirements are also taken into account in our hardware development.
The products are tested, verified and approved as part of the R&D process by both internal and external auditors. For example, in Europe, our products are expected to carry the CE label and the related Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
We also audit our product development projects in accordance with the PSSL (Product Safety, Security and Liability) audit procedures as part of Bittium´s End Product Process (EPP) requirements. Our employees receive PSSL product liability training. In addition, we systematically assess product and life cycle risks as part of our product development processes.
Sustainable Purchasing
Bittium´s products contain a range of electronic and mechanical components. We ensure the sustainability of our procurement chain, for instance, in the form of material and component supplier requirements and material assessments. We conform to a sustainable way of working and require the same of our suppliers. Our partners must comply with Bittium´s Code of Conduct as well as the Bittium Supplier Manual and Bittium Supplier Requirements. We systematically develop our supplier relationship management and always review the CSR principles with our suppliers and partners.
We also audit our suppliers according to pre-defined criteria. Audits are carried out as a self-assessment based on the Bittium Supplier Manual or as an audit conducted by Bittium.
Employee training is also an important part of ensuring sustainable purchasing. Sustainable purchasing is part of the environmental training package that our employees are complete independently using learning materials provided by the company.
Conflict Minerals
The aim of conflict minerals laws and regulations is to stop funding conflicts through the minerals trade and, ultimately, to address human rights violations and environmental destruction in conflict areas.
We urge our suppliers to comply with the legislation on conflict minerals and the relevant recommended reporting practices. This way, we can ensure that the minerals used in Bittium products do not originate from conflict or risk zones.
In practice, the legislation requires sustainable purchasing and transparent supply chains with respect to certain minerals, such as tin, tantalum, wolfram and gold from conflict areas.
These minerals are typically used in household goods, and they are particularly common in electronics such as mobile devices and computers.
In 2019, one of Bittium´s suppliers reported a suspicion that the components supplied by them may have contained conflict minerals. The timely report prevented potential conflict minerals from being used in Bittium´s products.
Conflict Minerals Policy
Bittium products are composed of different electronic and mechanical components. Conflict minerals laws and encouraged reporting practices are verified with suppliers according to Bittium Material Declaration process. Bittium is committed to working towards ensuring that the minerals used in our products do not originate from the conflict-affected and high-risk areas, notably DRC or neighboring countries.
Avoiding Counterfeit Materials
Counterfeit materials are any materials in relation to which the origin, age, consistency, configuration, certification status or other feature is presented falsely and with misleading markings on the material, packaging or container.
Bittium is aware of the risks associated with counterfeit materials, both in the purchase of components and the use of reported ingredients for components.
Bittium is committed to taking the necessary steps to avoid using counterfeit materials in its products. Bittium has developed procedures for avoiding counterfeit materials. The procedures address different stages of the procurement process, starting from the selection of suppliers. Suppliers are required to report immediately on any known or suspected uses of counterfeit components or materials. Bittium provides training on the detection of counterfeit materials to its employees.
No counterfeit materials were found in Bittium´s products in 2019.