Case study: How ANDRITZ tries to operate according to high ethical standards, fighting corruption
As a leading global supplier of equipment, process technologies and services in a range of sectors, including hydropower plants, the pulp and paper industry, the metalworking and steel industries, and the solid/liquid separation sector, fighting corruption and making sure high ethical standards are adopted in all its activities is a key priority for ANDRITZ.
This case study is based on the 2015 Sustainability Report by ANDRITZ published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.
Abstract
Operating more than 250 sites across the globe, ANDRITZ tries to apply high ethical standards in all its operations Tweet This! and comply with all relevant legislation, internal and external regulations, directives and standards. In order to operate according to high ethical standards, fighting corruption, ANDRITZ took action to:
- define rules of conduct for employees through the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
- provide a training course on insider trading
- apply an Antitrust and Anti-bribery Policy
- follow a strict procedure for reporting violations of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
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With this case study you will see:
- Which are the most important impacts (material issues) ANDRITZ has identified;
- How ANDRITZ proceeded with stakeholder engagement, and
- What actions were taken by ANDRITZ to operate according to high ethical standards, fighting corruption
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What are the material issues the company has identified?
In its 2015 Sustainability Report ANDRITZ identified a range of material issues, such as responsible management, security, long-term partnerships with customers, supply chain management, sustainable product development. Among these, operating according to high ethical standards, fighting corruption, stands out as a key material issue for ANDRITZ.
Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:
Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.
Key stakeholder groups ANDRITZ engages with:
Stakeholder Group |
Employees |
Customers and business partners |
Suppliers |
Shareholders |
Press and the media |
Governments and authorities |
Non-governmental organizations |
How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues
To identify and prioritize material issues, ANDRITZ, following the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, conducted a materiality analysis, and asked stakeholders to rank topics according to their materiality.
What actions were taken by ANDRITZ to operate according to high ethical standards, fighting corruption?
In its 2015 Sustainability Report ANDRITZ reports that it took the following actions for operating according to high ethical standards, fighting corruption:
- Defining rules of conduct for employees through the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
- ANDRITZ’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which defines moral principles for the company’s employees and business partners, is available in 13 languages, with separate guidelines on, among others, anti-corruption also available in the company intranet. A Supplier Code of Conduct is applied too, regarding dealings with business partners and suppliers. Online training on the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is provided regularly to all employees. By the end of 2015, 57% of ANDRITZ employees had completed the online training on the Code. Offline training, for employees who do not have access to a computer, is also offered.
- Providing a training course on insider trading
- An online training course on insider trading – based on the company’s Insider Trading Policy –, available in 13 languages, updated and reviewed annually, has to be completed by new employees, managers, and employees who have access to insider information, including the Executive Board.
- Applying an Antitrust and Anti-bribery Policy
- To ensure transparency and honesty in its business dealings, as well as fair competition, ANDRITZ applies a Group-wide Antitrust Policy, which prohibits price fixing with competitors or market and customer allocation. In addition, ANDRITZ does not offer, accept or authorize illegal payments of any kind (such as bribes), as specified in the company’s Anti-bribery Policy.
- Following a strict procedure for reporting violations of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
- ANDRITZ employees and external business partners are encouraged to report any violations of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or other guidelines, through an employee’s immediate superior and/or by contacting a member of the compliance committee or, alternatively, sending an email to the general compliance address (to which only the Group-wide compliance officer and compliance manager have access).
Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?
The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:
1) G4-SO3: Total number and percentage of operations assessed for risks related to corruption and the significant risks identified – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption
2) G4-SO4: Communication and training on anti-corruption policies and procedures – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures
78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards
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References:
1) This case study is based on published information by ANDRITZ, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:
http://database.globalreporting.org/
2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page
3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx
4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/
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