| Version | Effective Date | Next Review | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | June 2026 | Annually or upon regulatory change | Nuria Sierra, Kristi Porter |
1. Purpose
Vector Global Logistics is committed to Logistics With Purpose®, a belief that the work we do should better the lives of everyone we come in contact with. This policy ensures that our marketing, communications, and content practices reflect that mission: representing the full diversity of our global team, our clients, and the communities we serve.
Every shipment we handle, every story we tell, and every word we publish is an opportunity to demonstrate that logistics can be a vehicle for equity, inclusion, and positive impact.
This policy applies to all marketing materials, recruitment content, social media, case studies, website copy, proposals, presentations, email communications, podcast content, and any other Vector-produced or Vector-approved content distributed internally or externally.
2. Scope and Applicability
This policy applies to all Vector Global Logistics employees, contractors, agencies, and partners who create, review, approve, or publish content on behalf of Vector. It covers:
- External marketing and advertising (website, social media, paid campaigns, press)
- Recruitment and employer brand content (job postings, Work With Us page, career fairs)
- Client-facing materials (proposals, case studies, reports, presentations)
- Internal communications (newsletters, announcements, all-hands materials)
- Podcast, video, and multimedia content
- Partner and vendor co-branded materials
3. Our Commitment to Inclusive Representation
Vector operates across six continents, which means our team, clients, and communities reflect the full breadth of human experience. Our content must do the same.
3.1 Authentic Representation
Content featuring people — in photos, videos, testimonials, and case studies — must authentically reflect the diversity of our global workforce and client base. We will:
- Ensure imagery and stories represent a range of races, ethnicities, genders, ages, abilities, body types, and backgrounds
- Whenever possible, try to use real photos of team members on our website and social graphics, understanding that isn’t always possible with our team spread out around the globe.
- Seek consent and collaboration when featuring team members, clients, or community partners
- Accurately represent the regions and communities where we operate, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America. We are not in the Antarctic—yet!
3.2 Gender-Inclusive Language
All content should use gender-neutral language unless referring to a specific individual who uses gendered pronouns. We will:
- Use they/them as the default singular pronoun when gender is unknown or irrelevant
- Avoid gendered job titles (use “chair” not “chairman,” “salesperson” not “salesman”)
- Respect and use individuals’ stated pronouns in all content
- Replace “hey guys” or similar gendered salutations with “hey team,” “hello everyone,” or similar
3.3 Disability-Inclusive Language
Vector uses person-first language by default (e.g., “a person with a disability” rather than “a disabled person”), unless an individual or community expresses a preference for identity-first language. We will:
- Avoid terms that use disability as a negative metaphor (e.g., “blind spot,” “crippling delays,” “lame”)
- Not use language that implies disability is a deficit or burden
- Ensure digital content (website, emails, presentations) meets B Corp WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
3.4 Culturally Respectful Language
Given our global operations, we must be attentive to cultural nuance. We will:
- Avoid idioms, colloquialisms, and humor that may not translate across cultures or may inadvertently exclude or demean
- Not use imagery, language, or framing that stereotypes communities in the regions where we operate
- Approach coverage of complex or conflict-affected regions (such as Ukraine) with sensitivity and respect for the people affected
- Ensure translated content is reviewed by native speakers and is not simply machine-translated from English
3.5 Socioeconomic and Class Sensitivity
Many of the communities we serve through Vector Global Giving face significant economic hardship. Our content must reflect dignity and agency rather than charity or pity. We will:
- Tell community stories through the lens of strength, resilience, and partnership—not deficit
- Avoid “savior” framing when describing our non-profit partnerships or social impact work
- Use language that positions communities as partners and collaborators, not recipients
4. Ethical Marketing and Advertising Standards
4.1 Honesty & Accuracy
Vector’s reputation is built on integrity. All marketing claims must be accurate and verifiable. We will:
- Not exaggerate impact metrics, client outcomes, or service capabilities
- Attribute quotes and testimonials accurately, with client permission
- Clearly distinguish between case studies, partner spotlights, and paid content
- Not use manipulative urgency, fear-based messaging, or deceptive tactics
4.2 Social Impact Claims
As a company with an active social impact program (Vector Global Giving), we hold ourselves to a high standard in communicating impact. We will:
- Only publish impact statistics (meals donated, families supported, projects funded) that are verified and current
- Avoid impact “washing” — do not use social impact claims primarily as a marketing differentiator without substantive backing
- Acknowledge the complexity and challenges of our work in humanitarian and difficult-to-serve regions
- Obtain appropriate permissions before featuring non-profit partners, beneficiaries, or impact stories
4.3 Climate and Environmental Claims
Vector offers Climate Solutions services and is committed to environmental responsibility. Environmental marketing claims must be:
- Specific and substantiated (avoid vague terms like “green” or “eco-friendly” without qualification)
- Backed by measurable data and consistent with applicable regulatory standards
- Clearly scoped (e.g., noting whether a carbon offset claim applies to a specific service, route, or the entire business)
4.4 Non-Profit and Humanitarian Partnerships
When marketing our non-profit expertise or humanitarian logistics capabilities, we will:
- Center the mission and work of our non-profit partners, not primarily our own involvement
- Not leverage humanitarian emergencies for commercial brand promotion
- Ensure all partnership content is reviewed and approved by the relevant non-profit partner before publication
4.5 Recruitment Marketing
Our employer brand materials must reflect the inclusive culture we are building. We will:
- Use inclusive job descriptions that do not inadvertently screen out qualified candidates through gendered, ableist, or culturally narrow language
- Ensure job posting imagery reflects diverse representation
- Not make implicit or explicit promises in recruitment content that do not reflect actual employee experience
- Comply with all applicable employment advertising regulations in the jurisdictions where we recruit
5. Content Review and Approval
All external-facing marketing content must be reviewed before publication.
| Content Type | Required Review | Final Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Website and Social Media | Marketing Lead* | Marketing Lead |
| Recruitment Content | Human Capital Lead* | Human Capital Lead |
| Social Impact Stories | Impact + Featured Partner** | Executive Leadership*** |
| Environmental / Climate Claims | Impact + Marketing | Executive Leadership |
| Podcast and Video | Marketing Lead | Marketing Lead |
* Marketing lead refers to whoever ultimately “owns” the project. This will often be under the supervision of the Chief Marketing Officer. A similar approach applies to the Human Capital Lead, with the lead being whoever ultimately “owns” the project, and under the supervision of the Human Capital Manager.
** This does not include the annual impact report which groups many organizations together. It is intended for items such as case studies, highlighted social media posts, featured blog posts and similar. We should let partners know in advance, especially to ensure any claims are accurate.
*** This could mean a Vector Managing Director or an executive such as Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Impact Officer, etc, depending on item.
6. Quick Language Reference
Common substitutions to align with this policy. When in doubt, choose the more inclusive option or consult the Chief Marketing Officer or Chief Impact Officer.
| Avoid | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| guys / you guys | team / everyone / all |
| manpower / man-hours | workforce / person-hours |
| chairman / salesman | chair / salesperson |
| blind spot / tone deaf | gap / oversight / out of touch |
| crippling / lame / crazy | significant / challenging / unusual |
| third-world countries | low-income countries / Global South |
| underprivileged communities | under-resourced communities |
| helping the poor / giving back | partnering with / investing in |
| exotic locations | international markets / regions we serve |
| manpower in complex regions | our teams on the ground |
7. Multilingual Content Standards
Vector serves clients, suppliers, agents, and team members across the globe. Multilingual content is not a secondary consideration — it is core to our brand. We will:
- Ensure content is written or reviewed by fluent native speakers, not machine-translated
- Adapt content culturally, not just linguistically, recognizing regional differences (ex: Mexican Spanish, Chilean Spanish, etc.)
- Maintain equal quality and professionalism across all languages and materials
- Evaluate multilingual accessibility of all primary marketing assets on an ongoing basis
8. Digital Accessibility
In line with our commitment to inclusion and our B Corp values, all digital content must be accessible to people with disabilities. We will:
- Maintain website compliance with B Corp WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- Include alt text on all images published on the website and social media
- Provide captions and/or transcripts for all video and podcast content
- Ensure marketing emails are screen-reader compatible
- Conduct periodic accessibility audits of vectorgl.com with qualified assessors
9. Accountability and Reporting
All team members are responsible for upholding this policy. Specific responsibilities include:
- Marketing Team: Primary responsibility for policy implementation and content review
- Human Capital Team: Oversight of recruitment content and employer brand materials
- Executive Leadership: Annual review of this policy and accountability for organizational alignment
- Impact Team: Responsible for all social and environmental content review
- All Employees: Responsibility to flag content that may not meet this policy’s standards
Concerns about content that may violate this policy should be raised with the Chief Marketing Officer or, if related to recruitment, the Human Capital Lead or, if related to impact, the Chief Impact Officer. Concerns may also be raised anonymously through internal channels.
10. Policy Review and Updates
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner in response to:
- Changes in applicable laws or regulations across our operating jurisdictions
- Evolving best practices in inclusive language and ethical marketing
- Feedback from employees, clients, or community partners
- Changes in Vector’s services, markets, or mission focus
The most current version of this policy will be maintained in the Vector internal knowledge base and made available to all employees and contractors upon request.
| Acknowledgement |
|---|
| This policy is part of the Vector Global Logistics policy framework and is incorporated by reference into the Employee Handbook. It should be read alongside the handbook and is subject to the same terms and conditions. Vector reserves the right to update this policy at any time. Employees will be notified of material changes. For questions, contact the Human Capital department. |
