What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Bucher Industries identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, economic value creation, customer health and safety, environmental impact of products and services. Among these, promoting compliance stands out as a key material issue for Bucher Industries.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Bucher Industries engages with: 

To identify and prioritise material topics Bucher Industries engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Daily interaction ·      Regular staff meetings ·      Intranet, newsletter ·      Trainings ·      Employee representatives ·      “Eurocommittees”
Customers	·      Daily interaction ·      Regular personal contact ·      Workshops/visits ·      Conferences ·      Social media, newsletter ·      Customer surveys ·      Trade fairs ·      Industry associations
Dealers/distributors	·      Regular meetings ·      Trade fairs ·      Technical training programmes
Suppliers	·      Regular interaction ·      Supplier days ·      Forecasting systems
Shareholders/financial institutions	·      Financial reports and press releases ·      Sustainability report ·      Annual general meeting ·      Analyst conferences and calls ·      Investor days and roadshows
Local communities	·      Engagement projects ·      Funding requests ·      Open-door events
Regulators/authorities	·      Memberships in industry associations

What actions were taken by Bucher Industries to promote compliance?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Bucher Industries reports that it took the following actions for promoting compliance:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• All new employees in Bucher Industries’ group companies receive a copy of its Code of Conduct at hiring, along with the compliance regulations applicable to their function. New employees who have a company e-mail address complete online training on the Code of Conduct as well as on the subjects of anti-corruption, competition law and data protection, commensurate with their function. All group directives on the subject of compliance are based on the Code of Conduct. Compliance officers at group, division and local level support the implementation of the Code of Conduct and directives and report regularly to group management. They also serve as contact people for management and personnel for compliance questions and make sure that questions are forwarded to the body responsible for processing. Compliance officers meet periodically for training and specific courses, and compliance implementation is checked in internal audits. Employees can turn to local or divisional compliance officers, the group compliance officer, their superior or the group CEO as contact persons to report compliance breaches or suspicions. In cases of suspected compliance breaches, it is not necessary to follow the management line.

• Promoting compliance with competition law
• In line with the potential risk involved, the directive on competition law is intended for all management roles in Bucher Industries and other functional areas that are exposed to this issue. This includes members of group management, division management and the management boards of subsidiaries; managers in purchasing, logistics, sales, marketing, finance and controlling; HR and legal departments; and all compliance officers. All employees in these functions were issued the directive and completed an online training course on competition law. New employees receive the directive as part of their induction and complete the online training in the same way. Members of group management and division management along with other selected persons received additional training in classroom courses. In 2019, 192 new employees completed the online training. Participation in the training is compulsory and monitored.

• Combatting corruption
• In line with the potential risk involved, the corruption prevention guidelines are intended for all management roles in Bucher Industries and other functional areas that are exposed to this issue. This includes members of group management, division management and the management boards of subsidiaries; managers in purchasing, logistics, sales, marketing, finance and controlling; HR and legal departments; staff in all sales, purchasing and customer service departments; controlling and finance personnel with internal or external signatory authorisation and all compliance officers. All employees in these functions were issued the directive and completed an online training course on corruption prevention. New employees receive the directive as part of their induction and complete the online training in the same way. In the reporting period, 658 new employees completed the online training. Participation in the training is compulsory and monitored. Additionally, guidelines on collaboration with intermediaries set out binding measures to prevent corruption. Engaging with new intermediaries is only possible if a specific audit and risk assessment is carried out and the intermediary has been authorised in an internal approval procedure. The guidelines were implemented in 2016 and compliance is checked during annual internal audits. In 2019 (as in 2018), no corruption-related proceedings were pending. Once again, attempts at corruption by suppliers were prevented in 2019 thanks to the vigilance of employees across the Group. Certain suppliers and employees were sent a written reminder of the applicable rules. In consultation with compliance officers, the exceptional acceptance of gifts from suppliers is reviewed on a case-by-case basis by divisional management.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

2) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

 

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Bucher Industries, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Bucher Industries: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report IPG identified a range of material issues, such as product design and innovation, employee retention, product safety, human rights and employment standards, data security. Among these, promoting ethical business conduct stands out as a key material issue for IPG.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 IPG engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics IPG engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Charitable organisations	·      Financial support ·      Employee volunteering ·      Donation of time and products
Communities	·      Open houses ·      Sponsorship of local events ·      Participation in local chambers of commerce
Consumers	·      Product labelling ·      Social media ·      Website contact form
Distribution or retail customers	·      Sales processes for product ·      Supply around the bundle and the market ·      Marketing support ·      Training support ·      End user trials/New product trials ·      Trade show booth presence ·      Customer appreciation events at trade shows ·      Social media
Employees	·      Newsletters ·      Quarterly videos ·      Variety of social media ·      Employee training ·      Town halls ·      Employee engagement activities ·      Surveys ·      Union interactions
Government and regulators	·      Regulatory filings ·      Public reporting ·      Product labelling
Industry organisations and other NGOs	·      Participation at trade shows and conferences ·      Membership and leadership positions ·      Participation at local, regional and national events
Shareholders and the IPG investor community	·      Annual Report and Annual Sustainability report ·      Annual shareholders meeting ·      Investor meetings ·      Road show events ·      Press releases
Vendors – other	·      Contracts ·      Routine business communication
Vendors – raw material suppliers	·      Monthly/Quarterly meetings ·      Annual business reviews ·      Routine business communication ·      Senior management meetings ·      Collaborative R&D training ·      Joint development ·      Negotiation

What actions were taken by IPG to promote ethical business conduct?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report IPG reports that it took the following actions for promoting ethical business conduct:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• IPG’s Code of Conduct provides an overview of its commitment to doing business the right way and sets out basic guiding principles that apply to all governance body members, workers, business partners and other stakeholders, regardless of location or nationality. IPG holds periodic information and training sessions for all directors, management personnel and employees to promote compliance with laws and regulations, as well as IPG’s policies and procedures. The Code of Conduct requires compliance with laws, regulations, and IPG’s policies and procedures. These policies and procedures include: Anti-bribery and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Policy, Insider Trading Policy, Whistleblower Policy, Diversity Statement and a No Harassment Policy. The Code of Conduct also addresses expectations of behavioural norms related to conflicts of interest, confidentiality and fair competition, discrimination and harassment, record-keeping, confidential information and protection, proper use of corporation assets and the responsibility of each employee for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. Human Resources Managers at each location provide all new employees with either a written or electronic version of the Code of Conduct. Where necessary, a translated version of the Code of Conduct is provided; the Code of Conduct is currently available in four languages. Salaried employees complete an online training module. The Senior Vice President of Human Resources is responsible for efforts to communicate and train all governance body members, workers, business partners and other stakeholders regarding the Code of Conduct. Employees are encouraged to talk to supervisors, managers, human resources, the legal department, or other appropriate personnel about observed illegal or unethical behavior, and when in doubt about the best course of action in a situation. It is the policy of IPG not to allow retaliation for reports of misconduct by others made in good faith by employees. IPG expects employees to cooperate in internal investigations of potential misconduct and maintains a Business Conduct and Ethics Hotline, while its Whistleblower Policy protects those who use it from retaliation for any good faith report.

• Fighting corruption
• Bribes, kickbacks and other illegal payments to or from any individual with whom IPG conducts business are strictly prohibited. All governance body members, workers, business partners and other stakeholders receive communication about anti-corruption via the Code of Conduct which includes basic information and encourages all to review the Anti-Bribery and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Policy. IPG has completed an assessment of all its operations and has a third party assessing vendor compliance, and reports significant risks and/or breaches to the Audit Committee.

• Combating anti-competitive behaviour
• IPG did not have any legal actions pending or completed during the reporting period related to anti-competitive behaviour and violations. Management and other employees throughout the company received training by an outside legal counsel to educate them on the laws concerning anti-competitive behaviour to ensure compliance with all anti-competitive laws and regulations. IPG’s Code of Conduct further emphasises the importance of compliance with these requirements. Furthermore, IPG has not identified any material non-compliance with laws or regulations in the social and economic areas.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption

2) Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

3) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

4) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by IPG, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to IPG: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Biesse Group identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, employee health and safety, reliability, safety and constant innovation of products and services, customer relationship and customer satisfaction. Among these, promoting ethical business conduct stands out as a key material issue for Biesse Group.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Biesse Group engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Trade associations	·      Meetings ·      Focus groups ·      Round tables
Shareholders and investors	·      General meetings of shareholders ·      Channels of dialogue used by the Group’s Investor Relations Officer ·      Company visits
Customers	·      Events / ·      Direct customer assistance channels (Biesse Service and Biesse Parts) ·      Company and manufacturing site (showroom) visits ·      Invitations to institutional events ·      Participation at trade fairs and organisation of demonstration events
Financial community	·      Participation at events, conventions and conferences ·      Round tables
Employees and their families	·      Open day for employees and their families ·      Channels for the collection of reports of violations of Group regulations ·      Transparent corporate communication (Corporate intranet) ·      Round table discussions with unions
Suppliers and Trade partners	·      Specific meetings ·      Round tables
Sector-specific media and magazines	·      Interviews ·      Corporate presentations ·      Corporate events and trade fairs ·      Press conferences or workshops
Trade fair organisers	·      Participation at trade fairs ·      Interviews and contacts
PA, government entities and control bodies	·      Institutional round tables ·      Formal communications
Trade unions	·      Periodic meetings ·      Round tables
Locality, local communities and NGOs	·      Initiatives to engage with local communities ·      Dialogue with non-profit organisations for the payment of donations, contributions and sponsorships for sport and culture
Universities and research centres	·      Workgroups and workshops with university students ·      Corporate presentations ·      Career days at partner universities ·      Partnerships with key universities and schools in Italy and abroad

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Biesse Group engaged with its stakeholders through a survey.

What actions were taken by Biesse Group to promote ethical business conduct?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Biesse Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting ethical business conduct:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• All Biesse Group’s business activities are conducted in line with the Group’s Code of Conduct, in order to ensure full compliance with regulations in force at local, national and international level. The Code of Conduct is the official document that sets out the ethical and behavioural values, commitments and responsibilities to be complied with in the conduct of business affairs by Group companies. Moreover, it governs the body of rights, duties and responsibilities that Biesse expressly assumes in dealings with parties with which it interacts in the conduct of its business activities. The Code of Conduct, together with other documents relating to business ethics and integrity, are available on the Group’s website.

• Combating corruption
• In order to promote and strengthen its commitment to counter corruption, Biesse Group has adopted an Anti-bribery Code of Conduct, which sets out the rules of conduct that all employees and other workers must observe in the conduct of business to ensure compliance with anti-corruption regulations in force. The Code, which has been distributed to all Group companies, has made it mandatory to apply the relevant principles and rules of conduct for the purpose of the reasonable prevention of active and passive and direct or indirect corruption offences involving Italian or foreign private or public persons. Specifically, the document sets out the rules of conduct to be observed in connection with various activities, such as:
  • Dealings with the public administration
  • Facilitation payments
  • Loans to political parties
  • Donations
  • Sponsorships
  • Gifts, presents, hospitality and entertainment
  • Dealings with third parties
• As a sign of their commitment to the fight against corruption, in addition to the Code, the Group companies have specific procedures that set out the rules of conduct to safeguard against the risk of public sector corruption associated with state funding, hygiene and safety at work and taxation. Furthermore, as a safeguard against the risk of private bribery, these companies are subject to periodic audit cycles.

• Respecting human rights
• Biesse Group recognises the intrinsic value and rights of every person and is committed to guaranteeing the dignity and professional and personal development of its employees and other workers in the conduct of activities carried out in the name of or on behalf of the Group. For this reason, Biesse Group constantly seeks to ensure safe, fair and non-discriminatory workplaces, in compliance with the relevant national and international regulatory framework, and inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations and by the fundamental International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. In particular, Biesse Group rejects all forms of forced, compulsory or child labour and is committed to not establishing relationships with suppliers that directly or indirectly exploit and use child labour.

• Adopting an Antitrust Code
• Biesse Group has adopted an Antitrust Code to ensure compliance with legislation concerning competition and market protection in the various countries in which it operates. The document is a follow-up to the Code of Conduct and develops, in particular, the section relating to competitive practices, as well as providing guidelines on conduct and omissions that comply with or violate antitrust legislation. Biesse Group firmly believes in lively competition in the various business sectors in which it operates and its aim is to compete in a legitimate, loyal and ethical manner in full compliance with competition protection rules. The rules set out in the document are designed to contribute to correct competitive market dynamics, in order to strengthen competition and the economic efficiency of a free market.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

2) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

3) Disclosure 412-1 Operations that have been subject to human rights reviews or impact assessments

 

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 412-1 Operations that have been subject to human rights reviews or impact assessments does not correspond to any SDG.

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Biesse Group, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Biesse Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?          

In its 2019 Sustainability Report ALDI Nord identified a range of material issues, such as human rights and working conditions in the supply chain, use of more sustainable packaging, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, protection of forests and soils. Among these, promoting compliance stands out as a key material issue for ALDI Nord.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 ALDI Nord engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Customers and potential customers

NGOs, initiatives and associations

Employees

Works councils

Business partners and suppliers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics ALDI Nord conducted online surveys of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), initiatives and associations, alongside business partners and suppliers.

What actions were taken by ALDI Nord to promote compliance?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report ALDI Nord reports that it took the following actions for promoting compliance:

• Implementing General Terms and Conditions of Purchasing
• ALDI Nord’s General Terms and Conditions of Purchasing define clear rules that govern the relationship between suppliers and the ALDI companies. Anti-competitive conduct by suppliers and manufacturers is prohibited. Sanctions are in place for potential violations, such as late delivery or failure of delivery. To ensure that ALDI Nord maintains the same standards across all of its operations, the General Terms and Conditions of Purchasing also specify compliance requirements for contractual partners. If there are reliable indications of a violation of the rules – whether by a supplier or an ALDI employee – the Compliance officers will undertake a comprehensive investigation.

• Applying a Compliance Management System
• ALDI Nord’s Compliance Management System (CMS) is designed to help ALDI employees live up to ALDI’s core values at all times. Above all else, the CMS aims to ensure and promote ALDI Nord’s long-term success and avoid or mitigate any damage or risk. The CMS is internationally available to all ALDI companies but has yet to be introduced and implemented in some countries, such as ALDI Belgium and ALDI France. Each ALDI company has a person responsible for country-specific adjustments. As a part of the CMS, whistleblowing systems that serve to receive information on compliance violations within ALDI Nord have been created. Any violations of applicable law and internal rules can be reported through these channels under a specific name or anonymously. Examples of violations include corruption, unfair competition and unethical behaviour, as well as non-compliance with environmental standards. In Germany noncompliance with social standards such as human rights and work safety regulations may also be reported in this way. The whistleblowing systems are available on the French, German and Spanish websites for internal and external parties at all times. There are also grievance systems and other channels in place, for example at ALDI Netherlands, which ALDI employees have been able to use in cases of sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, aggression and violence.

• Providing training
• To ensure that compliance forms an integral part of ALDI Nord, a variety of training courses are conducted to raise awareness among ALDI employees. New employees receive training on the key policies of ALDI Nord. In Germany, authorised signatories and managing directors of ALDI Einkauf in all departments also regularly complete training, covering a wide range of critical topics such as antitrust law, unfair competition, protection of company secrets, avoidance of corruption as well as data protection and information security. Since September 2019, this has been part of compulsory attendance training at the ALDI Academy. Similar training also takes place at the ALDI companies in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain every two to three years. In Spain, this training was completed in 2019 by both managers and non-executives so that the knowledge is passed down through the team. ALDI Nord is also expanding communication regarding compliance on the websites and takes part in industry events, such as the Bundeskongress Compliance (Federal Compliance Congress) in Germany.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption

2) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

 

Disclosure 205-1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by ALDI Nord, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to ALDI Nord: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Miele identified a range of material issues, such as resource-efficient and consumption-optimised products, climate protection, digital products and services, supplier management. Among these, promoting compliance stands out as a key material issue for Miele.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Miele engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Miele engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Works council ·      Employee reviews ·      Corporate suggestion scheme ·      Employee survey ·      Complaints office
Customers	·      Miele Customer Service and sales talks ·      Customer hotline ·      Usability tests for various product groups in the test studio ·      Brand positioning surveys
Dealers	·      Dialogue with dealers and project partners in the area of domestic appliances and commercial equipment, particularly concerning customer requirements
Suppliers and service providers	·      Common working groups ·      Discussions with Miele’s purchasing department ·      Dialogue in the context of audits and training ·      Product innovation workshops
Associations and interest groups	·      Membership and active participation in national and international associations and interest groups, such as the ZVEI or APPLiA ·      Conference participation ·      Participation in EU public consultations
Non-governmental organisations	·      Dialogue with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on relevant topics in the sector
Science and research	·      Collaboration with scientific institutions such as the universities in Bielefeld, Paderborn and Munich, as well as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on issues such as product development ·      Commissioning of studies on specialist topics ·      Exchange with the Oeko-Institut
Policymakers and legislators	·      Dialogue at national and European level by participating in committees, working groups and conferences ·      International dialogue with the sales subsidiaries, which in turn are represented in working groups and committees ·      Personal exchange at a regional level
Society/ public/ media	·      Answering questions on sustainability topics ·      Sustainability communication and report
Local communities	·      Exchange with the citizens at the locations in direct contact and at events ·      Social engagement at the locations

What actions were taken by Miele to promote compliance?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Miele reports that it took the following actions for promoting compliance:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• The Miele Code of Conduct, which is available on the Miele intranet, contains provisions on how to prevent bribery and corruption, as well as policies on proper conduct in relation to conflicts of interest, donations and sponsoring. It also requires strict adherence to competition and antitrust legislation. The Code of Conduct is based on the corporate philosophy, the ethical guidelines for procurement, the principles of the UN Global Compact, the social standard SA8000 and the APPLiA Code of Conduct (formerly CECED). Since 2011, Miele has been a member of the BME compliance initiative and has committed itself to the association’s code of conduct. Compliance with individual aspects of the Code of Conduct, such as receiving and offering gifts, or how to deal with conflicts of interest, is reviewed in internal audits. In the event of violations, Miele will agree on corrective measures. As a rule, however, it is the responsibility of the functional managers to put appropriate guidelines in place to ensure that their employees’ tasks are always carried out in compliance with applicable laws, internal rules and the self-imposed ethical and social standards.

• Raising employees’ awareness of compliance
• At Miele, it is mandatory for relevant groups of employees to participate in an online compliance training programme on the Miele Code of Conduct. This includes managers as well as employees for whom the contents of the Miele Code of Conduct and the issue of compliance are particularly significant. They work primarily in the purchasing, internal audit, sales/field sales and specialist sales departments or are customer service inspectors. The programme is also open to all other interested employees and new employees are automatically informed that they have to complete the programme. To date, 3,514 people worldwide have completed the software-based training programme on the Code of Conduct, 812 of whom completed it during the reporting period. Since the end of 2016, employees at all locations involved in issues relating to competition and antitrust law are obliged to use this self-learning software on the subject of competition and antitrust legislation. The programme ends with a test, and records are kept on whether tests were passed. There is also a legal management system for the areas of environmental protection, energy and occupational health and safety, and an information management software system addressing product-related regulation worldwide.

• Introducing an external ombudsperson
• Since 2010, an external ombudsperson can be contacted if there is a suspicion of corruption, fraud or theft within Miele’s sphere of influence. Employees, suppliers and third parties all over the world are able to contact the ombudsperson. All employees throughout the world, and all suppliers in Germany, are informed about the existence of the ombudsperson upon starting work or entering into a relationship with Miele. No notifications were made to the ombudsperson during the reporting period, and there were no instances of contracts with business partners being terminated or failing to be extended due to corruption-related violations.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

2) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

3) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

4) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Miele, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Miele: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Quebec Iron Ore identified a range of material issues, such as health, safety and well-being, water stewardship, mine tailings management, equity and equal opportunity employment, respect for ecosystem support capacity, human capital management and engagement. Among these, promoting ethical business behaviour stands out as a key material issue for Quebec Iron Ore.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Quebec Iron Ore engages with:

Stakeholder Group

Governments

Investors

Employees

Clients

Indigenous groups

Media

Local communities

Society

Shareholders

Suppliers

Union

Non-governmental organisations

Industry peers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Quebec Iron Ore engaged with a total of 564 stakeholders – including employees, managers, the union, indigenous groups, suppliers, investors, clients, governments, municipalities, associations, and industry peers – through a survey and interview, asking them to rate the importance of the topics by ranking them on a scale of 0 (no importance) to 4 (great importance), and to indicate their level of satisfaction with how Quebec Iron Ore manages important issues.

What actions were taken by Quebec Iron Ore to promote ethical business behaviour?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Quebec Iron Ore reports that it took the following actions for promoting ethical business behaviour:

• Implementing an Employee Code of Conduct
• Quebec Iron Ore produced an Employee Code of Conduct in 2017 that set standards for the behaviour expected of all staff in their daily activities and in their relationships with others. Although exhaustive, this Code does not deal with all situations that may occur, but provides guiding principles to support a decision process consistent with Quebec Iron Ore’s values, commitments and reputation. It outlines the key responsibilities of Quebec Iron Ore’s employees to shareholders of the parent company Champion Iron Limited, as well as individuals and communities. All employees and managers have an obligation to be aware of the Code and to agree to adhere to it. It should be noted that all employees, officers and directors are also subject to the Code of Conduct of the parent company, Champion Iron Limited.

• Providing training
• In 2019, Quebec Iron Ore launched an online training and certification course on the Employee Code of Conduct. In addition to reviewing the key topics of the Code, the process includes a mandatory test to ensure understanding of the concepts learned as well as a commitment to comply with the Code at all times. The test must be passed with a score of 100% for certification to be obtained. Training and certification must be renewed on an annual basis by all staff. The same process applies to the parent company’s Code of Conduct. Training and certification in the parent company’s and Quebec Iron Ore’s codes of conduct will be mandatory, starting in 2020. All staff should also be familiar with various company policies and procedures that provide detailed advice, guidance and directives on specific situations that may arise in the course of their work and ensure that they make the right decisions and do the right things.

• Promoting misconduct reporting
• Everyone working for Quebec Iron Ore has a duty to promptly report any situation in which its codes of conduct, their underlying policies or the law appear to have been violated. Champion Iron Limited will introduce a whistleblower policy for the parent company and its subsidiaries in 2020, which will apply to Quebec Iron Ore. This policy will notably be accompanied by an anonymous reporting procedure through a platform administered by an independent third party. Additionally, in accordance with its Code of Conduct, anyone working for Quebec Iron Ore who violates any law, the Code of Conduct or other policies or procedures may be subject to disciplinary action, up to
and including termination of employment. In 2019, Quebec Iron Ore received two reports related to a potential Code violation, which were treated with the utmost diligence. No one was fired for violating the Code of Conduct.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

2) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

3) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

4) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Quebec Iron Ore, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Quebec Iron Ore: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Corporate Sustainability Report CAL identified a range of material issues, such as financial performance, flight safety management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk and crisis management, governance and integrity management. Among these, promoting cyber security stands out as a key material issue for CAL.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 CAL engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Labour-management meetings ·      Labour unions ·      Employee suggestion boxes ·      Employee feedback website ·      China Airlines newsletter ·      China Airlines Retirees Portal
Customers	·      Customer satisfaction survey ·      Global business meetings ·      Taiwan business meetings ·      Discussions with travel agencies ·      CAL’s website, CSR website, Facebook, e-mail, and text messages ·      Customer service hotline ·      Corporate customer visits
Investors	·      Shareholders’ meetings ·      Shareholder’s hotline / mailbox ·      Road shows ·      Interviews
Government	·      Missives ·      Visits ·      Participation in projects ·      Participation in public hearings, seminars, conferences, and negotiation forums ·      Participation in initiatives ·      Audits
Partners (Suppliers and Contractors)	·      Telephone ·      E-mail ·      Coordination meetings ·      Business visits ·      On-site audits
Community	·      Charity events ·      Community activities ·      News releases ·      Online mailbox
Media	·      News releases ·      Press conferences ·      Interviews ·      Active communication of industry information
Associations (including Aviation Organisations)	·      Participation in project meetings ·      Participation in work seminars ·      Organising or participating in summits, executive summits, committees, and coordination meetings ·      Participation in government-convened meetings ·      Telephone, e-mail, and exchange platforms

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, CAL engaged with its stakeholders through 307 questionnaires.

What actions were taken by CAL to promote cyber security?

In its 2019 Corporate Sustainability Report CAL reports that it took the following actions for promoting cyber security:

• Carrying out regular evaluations and exercises
• In accordance with the Cyber Security Management Act regarding cyber security responsibility levels, CAL conducts risk assessment of information and information and communication systems every year, and evaluates the cyber security responsibility levels of the core information and communication systems with regard to confidentiality, integrity, availability, and compliance. CAL also developed a business continuity plan for the core information and communication systems and carries out a business continuity drill every year, to control relevant operational risks. Risk response mechanisms are also reviewed and adjusted to minimise potential losses.

• Providing cyber security training
• Each year, for CAL’s Cyber security and Information Technology personnel, at least 4 persons receive the cyber security professional programme training or the cyber security competence training for not less than 12 hours. For general user and officer, each person receives the general cyber security education training for not less than 3 hours. CAL requires every employee to take basic cyber security training to master cyber security risks and self-discipline and communicates cyber security policies and goals to all employees every year, through education and training, internal meetings, and announcements. CAL has also incorporated ethical corporate management into employee performance evaluations and human resources policies and established clear and effective rewards and disciplinary actions. Compliance with the Employee Code of Conduct is also a criterion used in annual performance evaluation. If employees do not comply with or violate the Employee Code of Conduct, they, depending upon the severity of the case, will have to undergo disciplinary action as per internal regulations. The Information Management Division carries out self-inspections and compliance self-assessments every half year, to effectively control cyber security. Audits are carried out by the audit unit independently, to ensure the overall mechanism operations.

• Implementing a cyber security incident notification and response mechanism
• CAL’s cyber security incident notification and response mechanism is initiated based on the level of cyber security incidents and emergency preparedness. Notification and response procedures are in place to control their impact and post-incident recovery. In this regard, CAL develops the security incident notification & contingency drill plan at the beginning of each year, and completes the internal cyber security exercise by the end of each year. Through cyber security exercises, CAL can evaluate the relevance of incident notification and response procedures and familiarise units in charge and support units with their roles and functions during rescue and equip them to respond to cyber security threats quickly and effectively, to minimise their impact on CAL’s customers and the company as a whole.

• Carrying out cyber security audits
• CAL’s Cyber Security Team conducts an internal audit at least once a year to make sure that all employees comply with the Cyber Security Management Act and CAL’s standard operating procedures, and effectively implement and maintain the management system. System reliability is constantly enhanced by refining security designs, including network regions, access control, vulnerability management, and other security protection strategies. In 2019, the Information Management Division reviewed the monitoring of data and warnings for cyber security threats detected by defence systems and found no cyber security threats by cyber-attacks or viruses.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

2) Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data

 

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3, 16.10

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by CAL, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to CAL: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Stoelzle identified a range of material issues, such as employee health and safety, emissions, consumer awareness, avoidance of problematic substances, employee communication & participation. Among these, promoting legal compliance stands out as a key material issue for Stoelzle.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Stoelzle engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Owner & Supervisory Board	·      Board meetings ·      Conferences
Management & Sister Plants	·      Management meetings ·      Group telephone calls
Employees	·      Employee dialogues & surveys ·      Internal media ·      Employee events ·      Company meetings ·      Mentoring programmes
Clients	·      Customer dialogues ·      Customer surveys ·      Social media ·      Trade fairs ·      Media
Suppliers and Contractors	·      Dialogues ·      Trade fairs ·      Training ·      Audits
Work Councils	·      Dialogues
Local Stakeholders & Neighbourhood	·      Personal talks ·      Plant tours ·      Neighbourhood discussions
Science & Research	·      Round tables ·      R&D cooperation ·      Lectures ·      Discussions
Authorities	·      Events ·      Submissions
Media	·      Press information ·      Interviews ·      Telephone conversations ·      Informal exchange
Networks & Associations	·      Participation of (top) managers or technical experts in initiatives, forums and events ·      Memberships in initiatives

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Stoelzle carried out an anonymous and independent survey among 80 key stakeholders who included customers, suppliers, and employees.

What actions were taken by Stoelzle to promote legal compliance?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Stoelzle reports that it took the following actions for promoting legal compliance:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• The Stoelzle Code of Conduct is the basis of Stoelzle’s Compliance Management. With this code, Stoelzle commits itself to compliance in general, and underlines the commitment of all employees to responsible behaviour and compliance with applicable law. In 2020, Stoelzle will conduct a Group-wide communication and training campaign on the topics of integrity and responsible conduct, aimed at all employees. Compliance Management will be applied to all compliance issues, in particular to prevent corruption and anti-competitive behaviour, as well as to ensure that human rights are respected at all Stoelzle’s The key elements of the system include internal compliance regulations, legal monitoring, complaint management, employee training and communication. Moreover, in 2019, the existing Code of Conduct was completely revised. In a Group-wide and interdisciplinary team, a value-based framework for legal conduct valid for all employees was created, in several joint workshops. The new Code of Conduct encompasses the following principles:
  • Compliance with regulations
  • Respect for human rights
  • General business practices & integrity
  • Internal collaboration
  • Social responsibility
• In addition, IT-supported applications for legal databases in the area of quality, environmental law and working conditions were further expanded. In 2018, for example, a programme was launched to audit all locations. The aim of the audit is to make sure that all local environmental and occupational health and safety legislation, as well as company operating requirements, are being complied with. Independent local experts who are well acquainted with national and local law are consulted for the audit. Furthermore, Stoelzle keeps itself continuously up-to-date and proactively informed about new requirements with the help of nominated representatives and external consultants.

• Applying a software-based legal database
• Stoelzle increased legal compliance through the implementation of a software-based legal database in the field of environmental and working conditions: in Austria, France and the Czech Republic legal audits were carried out in the field of environmental and working conditions by independent third parties, without any significant deviations in findings. The legal obligations are checked every six months to ensure their up-to-datedness and compliance. Additionally, a Group-wide legal database is to be implemented by the end of 2020.

• Promoting business ethics and anti-corruption
• Stoelzle’s employees have the opportunity to ask questions about compliance issues to their managers or to the Stoelzle Group Compliance Contact. External stakeholders can revert to a whistleblower system, which has been integrated into the Stoelzle website. Within the company, eventual infringements can be reported anonymously via the Stoelzle Compliance Line. The Stoelzle Group Compliance Office deals with eventual infringements and sets necessary corrective actions. Despite the manifold scope of its activities, Stoelzle can report that no cases of anticompetitive behaviour, corruption, discrimination, unfair competition or related issues emerged in the reporting period.

• Complying with the legal requirements of product liability
• The Stoelzle Management System aims to avoid product liability cases. Due to the properties of glass, and despite extensive processes for assuring product safety, it is possible that glass breakage may put human health at risk during the use of said glass products. In such cases, Stoelzle works in close cooperation with the customer and provides support with its complete system of traceability. Glass containers for pharmaceutical use must also comply with the specifications established in pharmacopoeia monographs for pharmaceutical glass containers. The Stoelzle sites in Austria and the Czech Republic, where processes and product ranges are specifically geared towards pharmaceutical products, are equipped with special facilities and equipment. This allows Stoelzle to guarantee the pharmaceutical quality of the products. The labelling of the glass products, if applicable to the container, is carried out in accordance with the Finished Pack regulations in accordance with ISO norms (e.g. ISO 8362-4 for injection vials made from moulded glass), and especially in accordance with customer requirements. These requirements are defined in the internal documents, which guarantees the correct labelling. In the reporting year, there were no instances of non-compliance with product labelling. In the period under review, Stoelzle received no fines or sanctions with respect to non-compliance with the legal requirements of product liability.

• Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct
• Stoelzle works together with its suppliers and partners throughout the entire value chain in order to initiate positive changes. This cooperation is based on the Supplier Code of Conduct, written in 2019. With this guideline, Stoelzle is actively committed to improving sustainable performance along the value chain and thus in the final product in order to create positive effects and additional benefits for people and the environment. The implementation of this guideline will be part of the contractual agreement between Stoelzle and its partners and will be checked in the supplier audits. The rollout of Stoelzle’s global Supplier Code of Conduct will start in 2020.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

2) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

3) Disclosure 307-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations

4) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 307-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Stoelzle, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Stoelzle: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Jadestone identified a range of material issues, such as economic performance, leadership and governance, climate change – GHG, occupational health & safety, emissions and discharges. Among these, promoting business ethics and transparency stands out as a key material issue for Jadestone.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 Jadestone engages with:

To identify and prioritise material topics Jadestone engaged with its stakeholders through the following channels:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Employees	·      Presentations ·      Internal news updates ·      Monthly ‘connect’ meetings ·      Townhalls
Communities	·      Regular meetings ·      Website ·      Support through community programmes and events ·      Consultation prior to activities
Contractors and suppliers	·      Regular meetings
Regulators	·      Regular meetings ·      Representation on industry associations ·      Site visits ·      Ongoing information sharing
Shareholders and investment community	·      Annual General Meeting ·      Investment conferences ·      Roadshows ·      Webcasts and conference calls ·      Website and social media ·      Direct correspondence and investor presentations
Non-government organisations	·      Website ·      Representations through industry associations
Media	·      Website ·      Media releases ·      Contact through dedicated media liaison function
Industry peers	·      Industry conferences and presentations ·      Representation on industry associations

What actions were taken by Jadestone to promote business ethics and transparency?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Jadestone reports that it took the following actions for promoting business ethics and transparency:

• Implementing a Code of Conduct
• Jadestone is bound by a Code of Conduct Policy (“the Code”) that applies to all employees and contractors. This Code provides the framework of principles for conducting business, dealing with other employees, clients and suppliers. The Code does not replace legislation and if any part of it is in conflict, then legislation takes preference. The Code reflects Jadestone’s commitment to a culture of honesty, integrity and accountability. All Jadestone onshore and offshore employees undertake an e-learning programme on the Code of Conduct on the commencement of their employment. The induction is monitored to ensure a 100% completion rate. Employees are also required to complete a refresher on the Code of Conduct every 12 months, including affirmation of their compliance with the Code.

• Combatting corruption
• Jadestone is committed to conducting business in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and the highest ethical standards in all jurisdictions in which it operates, including with respect to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and the Criminal Code in Canada and the Bribery Act in the United Kingdom and similar statutes, in other countries. To that end, employees, consultants and agents are prohibited from offering, paying, promising, authorising or acquiescing in the giving of any bribe, kick back or other illicit payment, inducement, benefit or thing of value to any individual, directly or indirectly through a third party for the purpose of:
  • (a) influencing an act or decision,
  • (b) inducing such individual to do or omit to do any act to affect or influence any act or decision, or
  • (c) securing any concession, contract or other improper advantage, in each case, in order to obtain or retain business or an advantage in the conduct of business in violation of applicable laws of Canada and the United Kingdom and any other anti-corruption laws of any jurisdiction in which Jadestone does business.

• Complying with the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act
• In accordance with Canada’s Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act, Jadestone prepares a schedule of payments by payee and a schedule of payments by project, to provide to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada and to the Directors of the Company, detailing all cash payments made to a government. Jadestone reports all payments made by it, on its own behalf and in its role as operator, directly to any government on a gross basis. These schedules are available on Jadestone’s website and are updated annually.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

2) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

 

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.5

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• Targets: 16.3

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

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References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Jadestone, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Jadestone: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report the Talanx Group identified a range of material issues, such as climate change, data protection and cybersecurity, responsibility to customers, employee recruitment and development. Among these, promoting compliance stands out as a key material issue for the Talanx Group.

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:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

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 the Talanx Group engages with: 

Stakeholder Group

Employees

Customers

Business partners

Investors and analysts

NGOs

Academia

Associations

Media

Politics

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics the Talanx Group carried out an internal survey of internal stakeholders and an online survey of external ones, investigating a variety of potential material issues and ranking them for importance on a scale ranging from 1 (= not important) to 7 (= extremely important).

 

What actions were taken by the Talanx Group to promote compliance?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report the Talanx Group reports that it took the following actions for promoting compliance:

• Implementing a Group-wide Code of Conduct
• The Group-wide Code of Conduct is an effective tool for making the Talanx Group’s commitment to complying with existing laws transparent. It sets out key principles and rules applicable to employees at all levels of the Talanx Group. The Code serves to explain to employees the fundamental legal and ethical requirements which they have to abide by during their work for the various Group companies, and to provide further details of their duties in these areas. In addition, it expressly highlights the ban on money laundering and illegal financing and draws attention to the fact that the competent anti-money laundering officer and/or compliance officer must be informed of all suspected cases. The Code of Conduct applies throughout the Group and is available in a number of languages. Customers, employees and other interest groups can access it publicly on the Talanx Group’s The Code is supplemented by a set of more concrete Compliance Guidelines and by other information and explanatory documents, which are available on the Talanx Group’s intranet. The Compliance Guidelines provide detailed content guidance on the principles set out in the Code of Conduct, which have been discussed and adopted as binding by the Group’s companies in Germany and abroad.

• Establishing a whistle-blowing system
• The Talanx Group has established a whistle-blowing system that can be used to report certain significant breaches of the law. It can be accessed from anywhere in the world via the Talanx Group’s website and is currently available in German and six other languages commonly spoken within the Group. The whistle-blowing system can be used – fully anonymously, if desired – to provide information about a variety of issues, including fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and corruption, incorrect bookkeeping or accounting, anti-competitive and antitrust offences, money laundering and terrorism financing, breaches of capital market regulations, sanctions and embargoes, and infringements of supervisory law and tax law provisions. Additionally, employees can report suspected breaches of the law or guidelines to their line manager or directly to the compliance officer responsible for the company in question within the Talanx Group or the division concerned.

• Providing compliance training
• The Talanx Group’s training plan is tailored to the needs of different groups and offers employees regular opportunities to refresh and expand their knowledge of and expertise in selected compliance topics. New employees are regularly familiarised with the compliance framework during induction events. In addition, regular classroom-based courses and web-based training (WBT) are provided on relevant compliance topics. Anti-corruption training ensures that gifts are dealt with correctly. Above and beyond this, the Chief Compliance Officer holds classroom training sessions for executives and selected specialists several times a year, in order to promote the Group’s compliance culture. This dialogue helps Group Compliance identify any needs in good time and develop customised training and consulting offerings to address them. A number of measures are also used to reinforce cooperation within the network of local compliance officers and, in addition to holding an international compliance managers’ meeting, the Talanx Group has established a regular virtual compliance meeting format known as ComplianceXchange, in which Group Compliance and local compliance officers develop and share best practice solutions together.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

2) Disclosure 307-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations

3) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations

Disclosure 307-1 Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

 

 

 

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References:

1) This case study is based on published information by the Talanx Group, 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) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to the Talanx Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.