What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report Semperit identified a range of material issues, such as occupational safety and health protection, energy, sustainability in the supply chain, raw materials, innovation. Among these, promoting employee development stands out as a key material issue for Semperit.

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 Semperit engages with: 

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Shareholders, capital market	·      Individual and group interviews ·      Conferences ·      Information events ·      Road shows ·      Telephone meetings ·      Annual General Meeting ·      Annual press conference
Employees	·      Employee dialogues and surveys ·      Internal media ·      Townhall meetings ·      Staff meetings ·      Mentoring programmes ·      Group conference ·      Management calls ·      Employee events
Customers	·      Customer meetings ·      Customer surveys ·      Social media ·      Fairs ·      Media
Suppliers, business partners	·      Dialogue ·      Events ·      Trainings ·      Speeches ·      Supplier surveys ·      Audits
Civil society, NGOs	·      Dialogue ·      One-to-one meetings ·      Specialist events ·      Answers to inquiries ·      Media
Local stakeholders	·      Personal conversations ·      Factory tours ·      Neighbourhood meetings ·      Press conferences
Political decision makers	·      Events ·      Submissions
Science, research	·      Round tables ·      R&D cooperation ·      Speeches ·      Discussions
Media	·      Press meetings ·      Releases and conferences ·      Fairs ·      Interviews ·      Individual interviews ·      Phone calls ·      Informal exchange
Networks, associations	·      Participation of Management Board members, 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 Semperit engaged with its stakeholders through a qualitative survey of 52 stakeholders across all stakeholder groups and also performed a quantitative assessment of key sustainability topics, that included the assessment of 18 external and 22 internal stakeholders.

What actions were taken by Semperit to promote employee development?

In its 2018 Sustainability Report Semperit reports that it took the following actions for promoting employee development:

• Implementing a global training system
• As early as 2014, the global human resources IT system “SuccessFactors” was implemented by Semperit, which served primarily for processing the most important employee and position data. Over the years, the system was gradually developed and, in 2017, expanded by a learning management system and a career platform. The online training offer is constantly growing and now includes language training, compliance courses and, since 2018, a sustainability module. Every new employee is assigned a customised training programme as part of the onboarding process and the annual employee appraisals’ content and objectives are also documented on the IT platform.

• Launching a Talent Academy
• Future experts and managers receive special promotion within the scope of Semperit’s Talent Academy. Based on a potential analysis, three specific module units follow and, in 2018, over 30 young employees from Europe, Asia and North America were nominated to qualify for the next Talent Academy starting in early 2019, within a development centre.

• Applying a mentoring system
• Another part of Semperit’s human resource policy is the mentoring system for certain employee groups or the training of young specialists. Additionally, Semperit’s cooperation with technical schools, universities and universities of applied sciences was continued in the reporting year, with numerous diploma theses, dissertations and internships completed. The international exchange within the Group will also be intensified through an expatriate programme – in 2017, 17 expatriates were on duty, while 14 were on duty in 2018.

• Promoting know-how transfer
• In addition to employee training and further education, the exchange of knowledge and experience within the Semperit Group is strongly encouraged. Regular international meetings, the so-called Segment Days, and Group Conferences, which take place annually, contribute to a high degree of know-how transfer and ensure an exchange between all levels.

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

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs

Disclosure 404-2 Programs for upgrading employee skills and transition assistance programs corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Employee training and education

 

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 Semperit, 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 Semperit: 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 2017 Sustainability Report Semperit identified a range of material issues, such as energy use and consumption, occupational health and safety, raw materials and material use, innovation, social standards and working conditions. Among these, promoting sustainability in its supply chain stands out as a key material issue for Semperit.

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 Semperit engages with:

Stakeholder Group	Method of engagement
Shareholders, capital market	·      Individual and group interviews ·      Conferences ·      Information events ·      Road shows ·      Telephone meetings ·      Annual General Meeting ·      Annual press conference
Employees	·      Employee dialogues ·      Employee surveys ·      Internal media ·      Townhall meetings ·      Staff meetings ·      Mentoring programmes ·      Group conference
Customers	·      Customer meetings ·      Customer surveys ·      Social media ·      Fairs ·      Media
Suppliers, business partners	·      Dialogue ·      Events ·      Trainings ·      Speeches ·      Supplier surveys ·      Audits
Civil society, NGOs	·      Dialogue ·      One-to-one meetings ·      Round tables and events ·      Answers to inquiries ·      Media
Local stakeholders	·      Personal conversations ·      Factory tours ·      Neighbourhood meetings ·      Press conferences
Political decision makers	·      Events ·      Submissions
Science, research	·      Round tables ·      R&D cooperation ·      Speeches ·      Discussions
Media	·      Press meetings, releases and conferences ·      Fairs ·      Interviews ·      Individual interview
Networks, associations	·      Participation of Management Board members, executives 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 Semperit carried out a qualitative survey of 52 stakeholders through structured interviews and, also, performed a quantitative assessment of material topics with questionnaires and a scoring system, by 18 external and 22 internal stakeholders.

What actions were taken by Semperit to promote sustainability in its supply chain?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report Semperit reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainability in its supply chain:

• Setting sustainability requirements for suppliers
• The requirements set out in the Semperit Code of Conduct and the company’s Supplier Policy serve as a basis for improving sustainability in Semperit’s supply chain. The Supplier Policy outlines the Semperit Group’s expectations of suppliers’ behaviour concerning key environmental, social, compliance and business standards. Suppliers are expected to meet these requirements and are subject to checks, to ensure compliance. These requirements are based on international guidelines such as the Principles of the UN Global Compact, the Charter of the International Chamber of Commerce for Sustainable Development, and the applicable conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In 2016, Semperit published the Supplier Policy, sending it to all suppliers with a purchase value exceeding EUR 5,000.

• Promoting self-regulation and monitoring
• Semperit uses different instruments and measures to select and assess suppliers, and to ensure compliance with the Supplier Policy. In addition to the disclosure and communication of the requirements, this includes personal talks, self-reporting by suppliers regarding safety, environmental protection, business ethics, labour standards and operational excellence and, if needed, sustainability audits. If the purchase value exceeds EUR 100,000, suppliers have to complete a self-assessment on sustainability and to document the measures they have implemented in specific areas. By the end of 2017, 65% of the suppliers generating revenue exceeding EUR 100,000 of purchase value had completed this self- assessment. This corresponds to 89% coverage of the total turnover with these suppliers.

• Conducting risk analysis
• In 2016, Semperit carried out a country-specific risk analysis on the basis of the index published by the World Bank (Worldwide Governance Indicators) for suppliers of the Sempermed segment. The analysis comprises country-specific risks and makes it possible to focus activities so as to monitor standards more strongly for suppliers with high sustainability risks.

• Dealing with violations of sustainability requirements
• If direct suppliers or sub-contractors do not meet Semperit’s sustainability requirements, they are asked for a written statement presenting the facts and corrective action. If the answers are not satisfactory or Semperit identifies deficiencies and sustainability violations, business partners are subjected to Semperit or third-party audits. Should violations or development potential be identified during these audits, Semperit develops, in cooperation with the supplier, an action plan to improve the situation and supports its implementation. This can be done through an inspection of documents, on-site visits at supplier sites or further qualification measures for suppliers. The implementation has to be carried out within a set time frame and will be checked. In case of severe violations or refusal to address deficiencies, Semperit may terminate the business relationship. Violations of laws and Semperit policies, can also be reported through the Compliance Officer. In addition, to promote sustainability in the supply chain throughout the entire group, Semperit raises awareness among its employees and trains them accordingly. For all procurement employees, the topic “sustainability in the supply chain” is a fixed element of training.

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

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

 

Disclosure 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Business theme: Workplace violence and harassment
• Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• Business theme: Labor practices in the supply chain
• 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: Workplace violence and harassment

 

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 Semperit, 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 Semperit: 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.