Gardening Poplar Modern Slavery Statement

Gardening Poplar publishes this Modern Slavery Statement to affirm our commitment to preventing modern slavery and forced labour within our business and supply chains. We recognise that modern slavery risks can exist in many forms, including human trafficking, debt bondage and exploitative labour practices. This statement sets out our zero-tolerance position and the practical steps we take to identify, prevent and remedy any instances of slavery or forced work in our operations and with our suppliers.

Our organisation adopts a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of slavery and forced labour. Gardening Poplar requires all employees, contractors and partners to comply with this policy as a condition of engagement. We train staff to spot indicators of exploitation and make clear that non-compliance with our anti-slavery policy will result in disciplinary action or termination. We emphasise transparency and collaboration in procurement to reduce the risk of exploitative practices in the horticulture and landscaping supply chain.

To ensure robust supply chain oversight, Gardening Poplar undertakes targeted supplier due diligence and regular supplier audits. Our supplier audit programme focuses on high-risk categories and territories and assesses working hours, wage practices, recruitment methods and subcontractor management. We use document checks, site visits and third-party verifications where needed, and we reserve the right to suspend or terminate relationships with suppliers who fail to meet our standards.

We maintain clear

reporting channels

for workers and stakeholders to raise concerns about slavery, forced labour or unethical treatment without fear of reprisal. Multiple confidential channels are available, including anonymous reporting mechanisms, internal compliance reporting and escalation to our senior management team. Reports are treated seriously, investigated promptly and, where misconduct is found, escalated for remediation and possible referral to authorities.

Supplier audits are supported by a set of core audit criteria that include verification of employment contracts, verification of legal working age, monitoring of recruitment fees, and checks for freedom of movement and identity retention. We work with suppliers to develop corrective action plans when risks are identified and follow up to confirm remediation. Our procurement terms require suppliers to cooperate with audits and to provide evidence of corrective actions.

Key elements of our supplier monitoring include:

• Periodic on-site inspections and unannounced checks
• Review of payroll and time records to verify lawful pay and hours
• Interviews with workers to confirm voluntary employment
• Screening of recruitment agencies and intermediaries

Gardening Poplar applies a risk-based approach to modern slavery due diligence. We prioritise resources where the risk of slavery and forced labour is highest by considering geography, industry sector, labour intensity and the use of seasonal or migrant workers. Our procurement and compliance teams collaborate to maintain updated risk registers and to ensure that higher-risk suppliers are subject to enhanced scrutiny and follow-up.

In addition to audits and reporting, we invest in staff education and stakeholder engagement. Training for procurement, HR and site managers highlights how to identify signs of exploitation, how to respond to disclosures, and the importance of ethical recruitment. We also engage with peers, industry groups and civil society to share best practice on tackling modern forced labour and to strengthen collective action across the horticultural sector.

Accountability mechanisms include documented corrective action plans, suspension rights for non-compliant suppliers, and escalation to senior leadership for unresolved issues. Each year, Gardening Poplar conducts an

annual review

of our anti-slavery strategy, risk assessments and remediation outcomes. This review informs continuous improvement of our policies, audit frequency and training priorities, and ensures that our anti-slavery commitments remain effective and proportionate to evolving risks.