Operations and Product Recycling

To set expectations with suppliers, NI requires the following from suppliers:

Compliance with the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) Code of Conduct for the fair treatment of workers, a healthy and safe work environment, the protection of the environment, and outstanding business ethics. Suppliers sign the NI Supplier Code of Conduct, established in 2008, as an acknowledgement of this commitment. Since 2008, all key suppliers, and 65 percent of the total supplier base, signed the Code of Conduct, and no suppliers declined to sign it.

Participation in the NI supplier assessment, which is sent to all new suppliers in the global NI supply base, ensuring suppliers comply with key initiatives such as RoHS, REACH, and the NI Supplier Code of Conduct.

Completion of a survey that serves as a baseline for suppliers’ current corporate responsibility programs. These surveys help evaluate a supplier’s sustainability in the areas of energy and climate, material efficiency, natural resources, employee programs, and community involvement. Supplier progress in these areas is monitored through quarterly business reviews conducted by NI.

The following environmental policy covering manufacturing operations was approved by the NI Board of Directors and adopted on June 19, 1994: National Instruments manufacturing operations is committed to maintaining an environmental management system that complies with all applicable legal environmental regulations and requirements, prevents pollution, and continually improves environmental performance through regular reviews of environmental goals, objectives, and targets.

Both NI manufacturing facilities—one in Austin, Texas, and one in Debrecen, Hungary—are certified to ISO 14001, which is a series of international standards covering environmental aspects that the organization controls and can influence. NI also is working toward full conformance with the OHSAS 18001 standard, which helps companies control occupational health and safety risks.

NI meets worldwide take-back requirements for the products it sells, including requirements such as European Union directives on waste electrical and electronic equipment as well as battery recycling. NI keeps up with this rapidly evolving area of legislation with its take-back program and carefully monitors regional legislation.