TOPIC LEAD: GENERAL COUNSEL

Our target for 2027: We want to maintain zero incidents every year related to corruption or anti-competitive behavior.

Unethical business practices have the potential to damage economy and society. They cause economic losses, promote social inequality and undermine democratic processes. As a global business with a far-reaching network of business partners, we are obliged to conduct our business ethically, legally and in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

We assess every aspect of our business relationship and focus particularly on:

• No corruption
• Free competition
• Export compliance

Our Code of Conduct defines our fundamental standards and principles 

Our Code of Conduct defines the fundamental standards and principles for employee interaction and with partners, stakeholders and the environment. With the Code of Conduct for business partners, our suppliers, local agents and partners commit to conduct their business in an ethical, legal and environmentally and socially responsible manner. We train our employees in the fields of anti-corruption, compliance with free competition and adherence to export controls. We have introduced audits of control procedures to prevent corruption and anti-competitive practice.

Our Speak Up reporting system is a complaints channel operated by an independent third party. It allows employees, business partners and third parties that are aware of suspected misconduct to register it in the reporting system. The system is designed to allow protection of the identity of the reporting party and comments to be made anonymously.

In 2021 a total of suspected cases were recorded on the Speak Up reporting system: 13 by employees and three by external business partners. All the cases were processed and closed within the financial year 2021. The average processing time to the conclusion of the investigation was 71 days.