CODE OF CONDUCT (adopted across the Tata Group in1998-99)
Clauses pertaining to sustainability from Tata Code of Conduct (25 numbers total) are highlighted below;

A Tata Company shall be committed in all its actions to benefit the economic development of the countries in which it operates and shall not engage in any activity that would adversely affect such objective. It shall not undertake any project or activity to the detriment of the Nation’s interests or those that will have any adverse impact on the social and cultural life patterns of its citizens. A Tata Company shall conduct its business affairs in accordance with the economic, development and foreign policies, objectives and priorities of the Nation’s government and shall strive to make a positive contribution to the achievement of such goals at the international, national and regional level as appropriate.

A Tata Company shall fully strive for the establishment and support of a competitive open market economy in India and abroad and shall co-operate in the efforts to promote progressive and judicious liberalisation of trade and investment by a country.

Specially, a Tata Company shall not engage in activities, which generate or support the formation of monopolies, dominant market positions, cartels and similar unfair trade practices.

A Tata Company shall market its products and services on its own merits and shall not make unfair and misleading statements about competitors’ products and services. Any collection of competitive information shall be made only in the normal course of business and shall be obtained only through legally permitted sources and means.

A Tata Company shall provide equal opportunities to all its employees and all qualified applicants for employment without regard to their race, caste, religion, colour, ancestry, marital status, sex, age, nationality, disability and veteran status. Employees of a Tata Company shall be treated with dignity and in accordance with the Tata Policy to maintain a work environment free of sexual harassment, whether physical, verbal or psychological. Employee policies and practices shall be administered in a manner that would ensure that in all matters equal opportunity is provided to those eligible and the decisions are merit-based.

A Tata Company shall strive to provide a safe and healthy working environment and comply, in the conduct of its business affairs, with all regulations regarding the preservation of the environment of the territory in operates in. A Tata Company shall be committed to prevent the wasteful use of natural resources and minimise any hazardous impact of the development, production, use and disposal of any of its products and services on the ecological environment.

A Tata Company shall be committed to supply goods and services of the highest quality standards backed by efficient after sales service consistent with the requirements of the customers to ensure their total satisfaction. The quality standards of the Company’s goods and services should at least meet the required national standards and the company should endeavor to achieve international standards.

A Tata Company shall be committed to be a good corporate citizen not only in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations but also by actively assisting in the improvement of the quality of life of the people in the communities in which it operates with the objective of making them self reliant. Such social responsibility would comprises, to initiate and support community initiatives in the field of community health and family welfare, water management, vocational training, education and literacy and encourage application of modern scientific and managerial techniques and expertise. This will be reviewed periodically in consonance with national and regional priorities. The company would also not treat these activities as optional ones but would strive to incorporate them as integral part of its business plan. The company would also encourage volunteering amongst its employees and help them to work in the communities. Tata companies are encouraged to develop social accounting systems and to carry out social audit of their operations.

The Tata Group honours the information requirements of the public and its stakeholders. In all its public appearance with respect to disclosing company and business information to public constituencies such as the media, the financial community, employees and shareholders, only specifically specifically authorized directors and employees shall represent a Tata Company or the Tata Group. It will be the sole responsibility of these authorized representative to disclose information on the company.

Every employee of a Tata Company, which shall include whole-time Directors and the Managing Director, shall deal on behalf of the Company with professionalism, honesty, integrity as well as high moral and ethical standards. Such conduct shall be fair and transparent and be perceived to be as such by third parties.

Every employee shall be responsible for the implementation of and compliance with the Code in his professional environment. Failure to adhere to the Code could attract the most severe consequences including termination of employment.

Every employee of a Tata Company shall, in his business conduct, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, both in letter and in spirit, in all the territories in which he operates. If the ethical and professional standards set out in the applicable laws and regulations are below that of the Code then the standards of the Code shall prevail.

A Tata Company shall be committed to and support a functioning democratic constitution and system with a transparent and fair electoral system in India. A Tata Company shall not support directly or indirectly any specific political party or candidate for political office. The Company shall not offer or give any company funds or property as donations, directly or indirectly, to any specific political party, candidate or campaign.