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Policy statement of Schulte Strathaus GmbH & Co KG

Respect for human rights, environmental protection and business ethics

Responsible behavior in regard to respect for human rights, environmental protection and business ethics is the basis for sustainable, socially sound business. Business decisions must be made not only according to legal, technical and economic criteria, but also according to social, ecological and ethical criteria.

One goal of our business behavior is to prevent negative human rights outcomes, minimize them, and where possible, to end them. Further goals are to preserve natural resources and to promote environmental protection as well as possible within the company's business activities, along with ethical business behavior. Risks to human rights and to the environment according to laws on corporate due diligence in supply chains must be prevented or minimized.

Responsibility at the highest corporate level

Responsibility for implementing this policy statement is guided by the company’s managing director, the head of personnel and the purchasing manager. This ensures that every relevant area of our company is clear on their own responsibility for respecting human rights, the environment and socially related obligations, as well as its daily implementation.

National and international standards

In realizing these goals, we always follow the law and also orient ourselves especially toward the values, action recommendations and guidelines of the International Charter of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the ILO Core Labor Standards, and the Principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

Where local law and international human rights to not agree, we uphold the higher standard. When they conflict, we will comply with national law while seeking ways to respect international human rights as much as possible.

Company-specific risks – Risk analysis

Based on a comprehensive, dynamic risk analysis, we determine the priority human rights and environmental risks for our company. The risk analysis is adapted to changing circumstances and conditions. To comply with international human rights standards, national laws and our code of conduct, we exercise appropriate due diligence in human rights to identify, assess and address potential and actual negative human rights impacts in our business activities and supply chain.

 

If it is determined that there is a risk of our business activities being the full or partial cause of negative effects on human rights, we will strive to evaluate, modify, adjust and/or correct the activity.

We expect our employees to report suspected violations of human rights in relation to this policy statement. With our employees, we have agreed to an internal code of conduct to protect human rights. We will communicate these guidelines and raise our employees’ awareness of them. We offer our employees specific training on topics of human rights.

Expectations for our partners – Supplier code

Respect for human rights, environmental protection and socially responsible business ethics does not apply only to ourselves, but demands responsible formation and observation of all business collaborations.

Company-specific risks can significantly arise from collaboration with suppliers. To minimize these risks, we agree with our suppliers to a supplier code of conduct. Our partners are obligated to engage in human rights and environmental due diligence, as set forth in this supplier code of conduct, in an appropriate manner to minimize risks to human rights or the environment or to end violation of human rights or environmental obligations. This includes establishing  risk management, defining internal responsibility, performing regular risk analyses, issuing a policy statement, anchoring preventive measures in one's own business area and toward direct suppliers, taking remedial measures, setting up a complaints procedure, implementing due diligence obligations in relation to risks at indirect suppliers and documentation along with reporting. Compliance with the standards and expectations contained in this code must be transferred by our partners to their own suppliers and ensured in all their business activities and supply chains through suitable measures.

At our demand, the partner is obligated to inform us of the mechanisms introduced at their company to ensure due diligence in human rights. At the same time, we will inform the partner if a human rights or environmental concern has been detected regarding one the products and services provided to us in the supply chain.

We have the right to inspect compliance with and implementation of the obligations governed by this supplier code of conduct, even at the partner's site, if necessary.

Guidelines of Schulte Strathaus GmbH & Co KG

To live up to our claims regarding recognition and respect for human rights, environmental protection and business ethics, we have implemented guidelines that express our attitude toward ourselves and our business partners.

They particularly include the following guidelines:

  • Mission statement of Schulte Strathaus GmbH & Co KG
  • Code of Conduct – Compliance guidelines
  • Employee code of conduct
  • Supplier code of conduct
  • Policy statement

Through the entirety of our guidelines, we document our expectations and our standards. These guidelines represent the basis for our daily behavior and are directed to company management, our employees, suppliers, business partners and their staff. They offer all recipients orientation for responsible behavior.