Planet Nutshell Supplier Diversity & Relationships Policy

Purpose
At Planet Nutshell, we believe that diverse perspectives drive creativity, innovation, and resilience. As a remote animation and film studio, we are committed to building inclusive and equitable relationships with our suppliers, contractors, and creative collaborators. This policy outlines our approach to promoting diversity in our vendor and partner network.

1. Our Commitment to Supplier Diversity
We are committed to working with suppliers and service providers that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Minority-owned businesses

• Women-owned businesses

• LGBTQIA+-owned businesses

• Veteran-owned businesses

• Disability-owned businesses

• Small and disadvantaged businesses

• Businesses owned by individuals from underrepresented or marginalized communities

2. Goals and Objectives

• Proactively seek diverse vendors, freelancers, and contractors for our projects.

• Maintain a directory of qualified diverse suppliers and regularly update it.

• Ensure that at least 20% of our outsourced spending annually goes to diverse suppliers, where feasible.

3. Implementation Strategies

• Outreach & Sourcing: Actively seek out diverse suppliers through platforms such as our personal networks, Massachusetts SDO, and SBA.gov.

• Selection Criteria: When quality, price, and timeline are equal, we will prioritize working with diverse-owned businesses.

4. Relationship Building & Collaboration
We treat all supplier relationships as partnerships and strive to:

• Communicate respectfully, clearly, and equitably

• Pay on time and uphold fair contract terms

• Offer mentorship or guidance when helpful for newer or smaller suppliers

• Foster a collaborative culture grounded in mutual growth

5. Continuous Improvement
We will:

• Review this policy annually and update it as needed

• Provide internal education to ensure our team understands and supports supplier diversity

• Encourage team members to recommend new diverse suppliers or collaborators