We require our suppliers to protect the environment and use resources responsibly. This requirement is enshrined both in our “Code of Human Rights & Social Principles” and in our Supplier Code of Conduct, which sets out requirements that must generally be accepted by all suppliers.
In the case of relevant material/product groups, the use of hazardous materials and conflict materials is checked and assessed as part of the supplier and product selection. In the case critical suppliers in particular, we request disclosure of information about their activities (via EcoVadis and CDP) and we perform supplier audits in the form of social audits. In these audits, we check whether our suppliers use an environmental management system, including a waste management system, and review how they manage their energy and water consumption.
In addition, we always check whether there is a management system in place to address the issue of conflict resources. When selecting suppliers and products, we review and evaluate, for example, the use of hazardous and conflict materials as well as rare-earth metals – especially in light of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains.
In the period under review, we have readjusted the requirements placed on our suppliers and tightened them up significantly, particularly in relation to environmentally-responsible action, including against the background of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG). Since then, contributions to environmental protection and climate change, responsible waste management, and the handling of persistent organic pollutants that only degrade very slowly in the environment, have been enshrined in our Supplier Code of Conduct along with a ban on manufacturing any products containing mercury. Since 2022, these criteria are being used for selected tenders and incorporated into the supplier selection process with a weighting of up to 20 percent.
Our contribution to the SDGs
We require our suppliers to protect the environment and use resources responsibly. This requirement is enshrined both in our “Code of Human Rights & Social Principles” and in our Supplier Code of Conduct, which sets out requirements that must generally be accepted by all suppliers.
In the case of relevant material/product groups, the use of hazardous materials and conflict materials is checked and assessed as part of the supplier and product selection. In the case critical suppliers in particular, we request disclosure of information about their activities (via EcoVadis
and CDP 
) and we perform supplier audits 
in the form of social audits. In these audits, we check whether our suppliers use an environmental management system, including a waste management system, and review how they manage their energy and water consumption.
In addition, we always check whether there is a management system in place to address the issue of conflict resources. When selecting suppliers and products, we review and evaluate, for example, the use of hazardous and conflict materials as well as rare-earth metals – especially in light of the OECD
Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains.
In the period under review, we have readjusted the requirements placed on our suppliers and tightened them up significantly, particularly in relation to environmentally-responsible action, including against the background of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG). Since then, contributions to environmental protection and climate change, responsible waste management, and the handling of persistent organic pollutants that only degrade very slowly in the environment, have been enshrined in our Supplier Code of Conduct along with a ban on manufacturing any products containing mercury. Since 2022, these criteria are being used for selected tenders and incorporated into the supplier selection process with a weighting of up to 20 percent.
Reporting against standardsGlobal Compact