2022 Communication on Progress

Wacker Chemie AG

Published date

June 30, 2022

No. of questions

63

CEO Statement

Signed

  • Governance

    Policies and Responsibilities

    1. Does the Board / highest governance body or most senior executive of the company:

    2. Does the company have a publicly stated commitment regarding the following sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we plan to have a commitment within 2 years

    Yes, and the commitment is focused on our own operations

    Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain

    Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain along with communities and society

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Optional comment
    Code of Conduct, Supplier Code of Conduct, several Factsheets (internal, external)

    3. Does the company have in place a code of conduct regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we plan to have a code of conduct within two years

    Yes, focused on employee conduct

    Yes, focused on employees and suppliers

    Yes, focused on employees, suppliers, and other business relationships

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Optional comment
    We have currently 5 different Codes internally (Code of Conduct, Code of Sustainability, Code of Team & Leadership, Code of Safety, Code of Innovation) which we are currently developing to one single Code of Conduct which much more focus on topics mentioned above. We do have a supplier code of conduct with same topics as for employees.

    4. Has the company appointed an individual or group responsible for each of the following sustainability topics?

    No one is specifically responsible for this topic

    Yes, with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information, limited decision-making authority)

    Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)

    Yes, with direct influence of some outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes one or more senior manager with decision making rights

    Yes, with direct influence at the highest levels of the organization (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes most senior members of organization)

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    5. Does the company have a formal structure(s) (such as a cross-functional committee) to address each of the following sustainability topics?

    No formal structure

    Yes, and with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information necessary to understand risks, poor representation from relevant departments or functions)

    Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of some functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)

    Yes, with direct influence on some outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, it involves one or more members of senior management)

    Yes, and with direct influence at the highest level of the organization (e.g., full access to relevant information, it involves members at highest level of organization)

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Prevention

    6. Does the company have a process or processes to assess risk?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years

    Yes, related to our own operations

    Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    6.1. During the assessment of risk, which business relationships are reviewed?

    A few suppliers or business relationships [approximately less than 25 %]

    Several suppliers / business relationships (i.e., first tier or other high priority) [approx. 25 - 50 %]

    Most suppliers / relevant business relationships [approx. 51 - 99 %]

    All suppliers / relevant business relationships outside the supply chain

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    7. Does the company have a due diligence process through which it identifies, prevents, mitigates, and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts on sustainability topics?

    No, this is not a current priority

    No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years

    Yes, related to our own operations

    Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    7.1. During the due diligence process, which business relationships are reviewed?

    A few suppliers or business relationships [approximately less than 25 %]

    Several suppliers / business relationships (i.e., first tier or other high priority) [approx. 25 - 50 %]

    Most suppliers / relevant business relationships [approx. 51 - 99 %]

    All suppliers / relevant business relationships outside the supply chain

    Human rights risks

    Labour rights risks

    Environmental risks

    Corruption risks

    Concerns and grievance mechanisms

    8. Are there any processes through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct related to human rights, labour rights, environment, or anti-corruption?

    Optional comment
    We have an internal and external whistleblower Hotline

    8.1. Please provide additional detail regarding the process(es) the company has through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct.

    No

    Yes

    Is the process communicated to all employees/workers in local languages?

    Is the process available to non-employees (e.g., contractors, vendors, suppliers)?

    Is the process confidential (e.g., whistleblowing process)?

    Are there processes in place to avoid retaliation?

    Can concerns be raised about suppliers or other business relationships (e.g., clients, partners, etc.)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    9. Does the company provide or enable access to effective remedy to right holders / stakeholders where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact?

    No process to enable remedy to stakeholders

    Remedy available to some stakeholders (i.e., some geographies, employees only)

    Remedy is available to all affected stakeholders

    Remedy is available to all stakeholders, and suppliers are expected to have similar policies

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Lessons

    10. How does the company capture lessons regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

    No lessons are regularly captured

    Conducts root cause analyses/investigation of major incidents

    Conducts root cause analyses/investigation and changes organizational policies, processes, and practices accordingly

    Systematically conducts root cause analyses/investigation and leverages learnings to influence both internal and external affairs

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Executive Pay

    11. Is executive pay linked to performance on one or more of the following sustainability topics?

    No, and we have no intention to change

    No, but we plan to within two years

    Yes

    Human Rights

    Labour Rights / Decent Work

    Environment

    Anti-Corruption

    Board Composition

    12. Percentage of individuals within the company’s Board / highest governance body by:

    Number/Percentage

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total number of board members (#)

    4

    Male (%)

    75

    Female (%)

    25

    Non-binary (%)

    0

    Under 30 years old (%)

    0

    30-50 years old (%)

    0

    Above 50 years old (%)

    100

    From minority or vulnerable groups (%)

    0

    Executive (%)

    100

    Independent (%)

    0

    13. Do you produce sustainability reporting according to:

    Data Assurance

    14. Is the information disclosed in this questionnaire assured by a third-party?

    https://reports.wacker.com/2021/annual-report/further-information/limited-assurance-report-of-the-independent-auditor.html note of external auditor for annual reporting incl. non-financial statements

  • Human Rights

    Materiality / Saliency

    1. Which of the following has the company identified as material human rights issues connected with its operations and/or value chain, whether based on their salience (i.e., the most severe potential negative impacts on people) or another basis?

    Response

    8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the human rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Our Human Rights Committee is tasked with evaluating potential impacts on human rights at WACKER and throughout the supply chain. It is also responsible for checking existing management approaches in terms of mechanisms that fulfill a protective and monitoring function, as well as for identifying weak points and meeting the need for information. The committee meets at least four times a year and comprises experts in sustainable development, compliance, law, human resources, social sciences, procurement, logistics, sales, and human rights. It reviews the results of audits and assessments and, where necessary, takes action to achieve improvements. No direct violations of human rights became known during the reporting period. Dr. Christian Hartel, our president and CEO, is also responsible for CSR matters, including the issue of human rights. He signs our statement on the UK’s Modern Slavery Act, as well as our UN Global Compact Progress Report. As part of the Together for Sustainability (TfS) initiative, we involve our supply chain in requirements concerning human rights.

  • Labour

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following labour rights principles?

    No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

    No, but we plan to in the next two years

    Yes, included within a broader policy

    Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    2021

    Forced labour

    2021

    Child labour

    2021

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    2021

    Occupational safety and health

    2021

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    2021
    Optional comment
    In 2021, our 5 codes will be put together in one single code. We have an additional supplier code of conduct plus external factsheets.

    1.1. For each labour rights policy, is it:

    Aligned with international labour standards?

    Publicly available?

    Approved at most senior level of the company?

    Applied to the company’s own operations?

    Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?

    Developed involving labour rights expertise from inside and outside the company?

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    Prevention

    2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following labour rights issues?

    No engagement on this topic

    To better understand the risks/ impacts in question

    To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks /impacts in question

    To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this labour rights issue?

    Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce

    Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)

    Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan

    Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders, in particular workers' organizations, to address the issue

    Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    No action within reporting period

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    4. Who receives training for the following labour rights issues?

    No training provided

    Select employees

    All employees

    Contractors

    Direct suppliers of the organization

    Indirect suppliers of the organization

    Other – such as partners, clients, etc.

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    5. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following labour rights issues?

    No monitoring of progress

    Review issues on ad-hoc basis

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    Forced labour

    Child labour

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    Occupational safety and health

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    Performance

    6. What is the percentage of employees covered under collective bargaining agreements?

    Percent of employees (%)

    Unknown

    Employees covered under collective bargaining (%)

    90

    7. What is the percentage of employees in a trade union or other workers' organization?

    Percent of employees (%)

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Employees in a trade union or on a worker committee (%)

    90

    8. In the course of the reporting period, what was the percentage of women in:

    Percent of women (%)

    Unknown

    Senior leadership level position

    17

    Non-executive board

    0
    Optional comment
    We do not have a non-executive board.

    9. What was the average ratio of the basic salary and remuneration of women to men (comparing jobs of equal value) during the reporting period?

    Salary ratio (%)

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Women / Men (%)

    0

    10. In the course of the reporting period, how frequently were workers injured (injuries per hour worked)?

    Frequency of injury

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Frequency of injury

    3.6
    Optional comment
    per mio hours worked

    11. In the course of the reporting period, what was the company’s incident rate?

    Incident rate

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Incident rate

    1.8

    Response and Reporting

    12. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact associated with the following labour rights issues?

    Yes

    No

    Choose to not disclose

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

    There was no issue in the reporting period

    Forced labour

    There was no issue in the reporting period

    Child labour

    There was no issue in the reporting period

    Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

    There was no issue in the reporting period

    Occupational safety and health

    There was no issue in the reporting period

    Working conditions (wages, working hours)

    There was no issue in the reporting period

    13. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the labour rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Wir sind streng darauf bedacht, Menschenrechtsverletzungen durch unsere Geschäftstätigkeit weder zu verursachen noch zu solchen beizutragen. Wir bekennen uns zu den zehn Prinzipien des UN Global Compact und damit zur Unterstützung der Menschenrechte und zum Ausschluss von Menschenrechtsverletzungen. Wir verurteilen jegliche Form von Zwangs- oder Pflichtarbeit sowie Sklavenhaltung. Wir wenden keine körperliche oder geistige Gewalt oder jegliche Art von Missbrauch an. Dabei orientieren wir uns an den OECD-Leitsätzen für Multinationale Unternehmen, den ILO-Kernarbeitsnormen und den UN-Leitprinzipien für Wirtschaft und Menschenrechte. Im Berichtsjahr haben wir die Neuerungen in der deutschen Gesetzgebung geprüft, um unsere Standards entsprechend zu aktualisieren und auf zusätzliche Anforderungen vorzubereiten. Unser Human Rights Committee hat die Aufgabe, potenzielle Auswirkungen auf Menschenrechte bei WACKER sowie in der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette zu bewerten, bestehende Managementansätze für Schutz- und Kontrollmechanismen zu prüfen, Schwachstellen zu identifizieren und Informationsbedarf zu decken. Das Gremium setzt sich aus Experten für Nachhaltigkeit, Compliance, Recht, Personal- und Sozialwesen, Einkauf und Logistik, Vertrieb sowie für Menschenrechte zusammen und tagt mindestens viermal pro Jahr. Es prüft Ergebnisse aus Audits und Assessments und stößt, soweit erforderlich, Verbesserungsmaßnahmen an. Im Berichtszeitraum wurden keine direkten Menschenrechtsverletzungen bekannt. Unser Vorstandsvorsitzender Dr. Christian Hartel ist auch für CSR-Belange und somit für das Thema Menschenrechte verantwortlich. Er unterzeichnet unsere Stellungnahme zum Modern Slavery Act sowie unseren Global-Compact-Fortschrittsbericht. Im Rahmen der Initiative Together for Sustainability (TfS) binden wir unsere Lieferkette bei Anforderungen zu den Menschenrechten ein.

  • Environment

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have a formal policy on the following environmental topics?

    No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

    No, but we plan to in the next two years

    Yes, included within a broader policy

    Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    2021

    Water

    2021

    Oceans

    We are part of the "Operation Clean Sweep" initiative and include the topic in our environmental policy

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    2021 (mainly RSPO and biobased raws)

    Air Pollution

    2021

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    2021 (Circular Economy policy in preparation)

    Energy & Resource Use

    2021

    1.1. For each environmental policy, is it:

    Aligned with international environmental standards?

    Publicly available?

    Approved at most senior level of the company?

    Applied to the company’s own operations?

    Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?

    Developed involving environmental expertise from inside and outside the company?

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Prevention

    2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following environmental issues?

    No engagement on this topic

    To better understand the risks/ impacts in question

    To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question

    To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks/ impacts in question

    To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with these environmental topics?

    Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce

    Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)

    Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan

    Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders to address the issue

    Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    No action within reporting period

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Optional comment
    We make use of the TfS Academy for our suppliers

    4. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following environmental topics?

    No monitoring of progress

    Review issues on ad-hoc basis

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)

    Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    4.1. For each environmental topic in which the company sets timebound goals / targets, what kind of targets has the company set?

    Description of targets (e.g., what is the target, absolute vs. intensity, externally verified, on track, etc.)

    Climate Action

    2030 50 % less absolute carbon emissions Scope 1+2; 25 % less absolute Scope 3 upstream emissions externally verified

    Energy & Resource Use

    2030 - 15 % specific energy consumption, externally reported

    Water

    2030 15 % less specific withdrawal, introduction of water management at all sites globally till 2023, externally reported (incl. Water CDP)

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    2030 100 % RSPO certified palm oil, externally reported

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    enforce Circular Economy approaches - from Value Chains to Value Cycles, further strengthen integrated production ("Verbundproduktion") including external partners for waste streams, externally reported

    Oceans

    4.2. For each environmental topic in which the company sets timebound goals / targets, how is progress against target / goal tracked?

    Progress is reviewed against goals annually or more frequently

    Progress is reported internally to the most senior level

    Progress is reported externally

    Other (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Energy & Resource Use

    Water

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Oceans

    5. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy for any actual impacts associated with the following environmental issue(s)?

    Yes

    No

    Choose to not disclose

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Climate Action

    Water

    Oceans

    Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use

    Air Pollution

    Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)

    Energy & Resource Use

    Optional comment
    In case of water remedies, we have streamlined our own premises.

    Climate Action

    6. What were the company’s gross global greenhouse gas emissions for the reporting period?

    Scope 1 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    1290848

    Scope 2 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    2368930

    Scope 3 Emissions

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    7130600

    7. What percentage of the company's revenue was invested in R&D of low-carbon products/services during this reporting period?

    Percent of revenue (%)

    3.4
    Optional comment
    In research and development projects, we examine the sustainability aspects of our new products and processes. The R&D rate – research and development spending as a percentage of Group sales – reached 3.4 percent, up slightly from 2020 (3.3 percent). Our R&D work prioritizes the highly promising fields of energy, electronics, consumer care, biotechnology and construction applications. An area of special emphasis is energy storage and renewable energy generation.

    8. Has the organization acted to support climate change adaptation and resilience?

    Energy / Resource Use

    9. Please report the company's renewable energy consumption as a percentage of total energy consumption in the reporting period.

    % of total energy consumption

    22

    Technology

    10. What percent of the company's revenue came from environmentally friendly products / services during this reporting period?

    Percent of total revenue (%)

    67
    WACKER has a strong portfolio to enable and support Resource Saving Technologies at our customers. Furthermore, we conduct product portfolio sustainability assessments in line with the standards set by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). We study the life cycles of products and their usage under specific regional requirements. PARCs – Product-Application-Region Combinations – form the basis for the evaluation. We examine toxicological classification, regulatory and social criteria, controversial industries and raw materials, as well as sustainability-related aspects across the entire product life cycle. Every assessed PARC unit is assigned to one of five sustainability categories. By the end of the reporting year, we had conducted 363 PARC reviews covering 91 percent of the WACKER Group’s sales in 2020. 90 percent of the products meet the minimum sustainability criteria. For the remaining 10 percent we have defined measures to either improve sustainability performance or replace the product.

    Sector-specific Questions

    11. Which sector(s) does the company operate in? If diversified, choose top 3 by revenue.

    Sector-specific: Water

    12. Please provide details regarding the company's water withdrawal and consumption (own operations) during the reporting period.

    Water withdrawal (volume of water in megaliters):

    Mega-liters

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total

    242785

    Groundwater:

    6062

    Surface water:

    215499

    Rainwater:

    not separately measured, is included in amount of fresh surface water

    Wastewater:

    5306

    Percentage of water withdrawn in regions with high or extremely high water stress (%)

    0.1

    Water consumption (volume of water in megaliters):

    Mega-liters

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    Total

    5382

    Groundwater:

    Surface water:

    Rainwater:

    Wastewater:

    Waste water is not consumed

    Percentage of water consumed in regions with high or extremely high water stress (%)

    0.6

    13. Please provide details about the company’s water intensity of products in regions with high or extremely high water stress.

    Water intensity of products (cubic meter/$):

    2.17

    Sector-specific: Air pollution

    17. Where applicable, please report the company's emissions of the following pollutants during the reporting period.

    Emissions (tCO2e)

    Unknown

    Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

    NOx

    2240

    SOx

    1075

    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

    1130

    Hazardous air pollutants (HAP)

    Particulate matter (PM10)

    350

    Persistent organic pollutants (POP)

    0.31

    Other (please specify in text box)

    Sector-specific: Waste

    18. Please report the company's total weight of waste generated in metric tonnes during the reporting period.

    Waste Generated (t)

    181628

    19. Please report the percentage of the company's waste that was hazardous waste (i.e., hazardous waste ratio) during the reporting period.

    Hazardous Waste Ratio (%)

    42

    20. Please report the company's estimated metric tonnes of single-use plastic consumed wherever material along the value chain during the reporting period.

    Single-use plastics (tonnes)

    Overall Environment

    21. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the environment principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    By setting new quantifiable environmental targets, we aim to lower the environmental impact of our production activities. The goals regarding CO2 emissions and energy consumption apply groupwide. WACKER attaches particular importance to integrated environmental protection, which begins right in the product-development and plant-planning stage. WACKER is continually working to improve its production processes, with the aim of conserving resources. A key task is to close material loops and recycle byproducts from other areas back into production. This enables us to reduce or prevent energy and resource consumption, emissions and waste, and to integrate environmental protection into our production processes. At WACKER, we monitor resource and waste targets at site and divisional levels. Our groupwide standards for protecting the environment apply to all production sites and technical competence centers. The site managers ensure that environmental protection requirements and environmental standards are met at their particular locations.

  • Anti-corruption

    Commitment

    1. Does the company have an anti-corruption compliance programme?

    2021
    Optional comment
    Reviewed by internal audit department

    2. Does your company have policies and recommendations for employees on how to act in case of doubt and/or in situations that may represent a conflict of interest, e.g. with regard to gifts and hospitality, donations, sponsorship, or interactions with public officials?

    Optional comment
    We have a guideline plus the topic is included in our code of conduct.

    Prevention

    3. Who receives training on anti-corruption and integrity?

    3.1. How often is such training provided?

    One time only

    Every year

    Every two or more years

    We do not collect this data

    All employees

    Select employees

    Contractors

    Direct suppliers of the organization

    Other – such as partners, clients, etc.

    Indirect suppliers of the organization

    Optional comment
    Contractors and Direct Suppliers either by us or by inviting to TfS Academy

    4. Does the company monitor its anti-corruption compliance programme?

    Optional comment
    Internal auditors and other functions are monitoring the system

    Response and Reporting

    5. Please report the company's total number and nature of incidents of corruption during the reporting year.

    Number of incident(s)

    Unknown

    Choose to not disclose

    Confirmed during the current year, but related to previous years

    0
    none

    Confirmed during the current year, and related to this year

    0
    none
    Optional comment
    Different nature of compliance violations but no corruption cases

    6. Within the reporting period, what measures has the company taken to address suspected incidents of corruption independently or in response to a dispute or investigation by a government regulator?

    7. Does your company engage in Collective Action against corruption?

    WACKER is member of the Global Compact and the Together for Sustainability initiative

    8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the anti-corruption principle, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

    Corruption and bribery have no place in our business model. Our principles on this are contained in our Code of Conduct and all WACKER employees are required to follow them. The Chief Compliance Officer reports directly to the president and CEO on compliance issues. The full Executive Board is informed on a quarterly basis of any relevant compliance issues in the Group. In urgent cases, the Executive Board is informed immediately. One principal objective is to ensure that neither the company nor its Executive Board or Supervisory Board are exposed to liability risk. Compliance training raises employees’ awareness of the relevant risks and informs them of rules of conduct applicable to their daily work. Compliance is a compulsory training subject for all WACKER Group employees. WACKER had already set up a whistleblower hotline. It provides a means for employees and business partners to report any breaches anonymously.