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Our approach to human rights

GF is committed to protecting the human rights of all people across the entire value chain including suppliers, customers and business partners.

GF regards human rights as the fundamental rights to which every human being is entitled. They include the right to life and liberty, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

GF is committed to respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Our ambition is to ensure that human rights are protected across the entire value chain including our suppliers, customers and business partners in all countries that we operate in.

Our human rights due diligence adheres to international conventions and standards including but not limited to the International Bill of Human Rights, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.

Chapters

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) process

In 2023, GF launched a new Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) process based on international conventions and standards to ensure that our actions are in line with new and emerging regulations and transparency requirements.

GF’s HRDD process serves as the company’s roadmap and consists of six core elements that enable us to proactively identify and address both potential and existing human rights issues within our sphere of influence across the entire value chain. 

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) process GF Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) process; GF Sustainability Report 2023, p. 76

Human rights codes and policies

Our commitment to respect and protect human rights is underpinned by the GF Code of Conduct, our Code of Business Partners as well as by our corporate policies. They are shaped by national laws and regulations as well as with respect to applicable international standards and conventions. 

 

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Code of Conduct

The GF Code of Conduct is a comprehensive statement of the company’s mission, values and ethical principles including the protection of human rights. It is a cornerstone in all employment contracts and staff onboarding programs. An updated version was released in 2023 in 18 languages.

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Code for Business Partners

In June 2023, GF updated its Code for Business Partners, which highlights GF’s expectation that its business partners commit to internationally recognized human rights and avoid any involvement in human rights violations.

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GF's Policies

The Corporate Instruction on Human Rights (No. 1082) is a standalone corporate policy on human rights which serves as a guiding framework for decision-making at GF, emphasizing the priority of respect for human rights within our operations and our supply chain.

Human rights risk assessment (GF Risk Lens)

At GF, systematic periodic reviews of the risk mapping for potential human rights issues are conducted from different perspectives:

 

Risks in our own operations (country specific)

Human rights risk assessment (GF Risk Lens)

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We identify potential and actual human rights issues by screening 30 human rights outlined in relevant international standards for the particular countries that we operate in. This risk assessment has been developed by the Sustainability teams on Corporate and divisional levels, in close alignment with the Heads of Human Resources on Corporate and divisional levels. The assessment covers a range of human rights issues, including safe and healthy working conditions, forced labor, human trafficking, child labor, rest and leisure, freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, equal remuneration, non-discrimination, data protection and privacy, gender equality, and anti-corruption.

In 2023, 100% of our own operations were assessed for human rights risks. The assessments explored observations and recommendations made by the international human rights protection system, including the potential country’s risk level. The assessments from 2023 serve as an initial reference point. In 2024, GF will further define processes to determine if and in which way GF operations are exposed to these risks. 

Risks from raw material sourcing

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In 2023, GF implemented a harmonized process across all divisions: the GF Conflict Minerals Due Diligence process, in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.

In addition, the Corporate Policy on Conflict Minerals (No. 1080) is the foundation on which we base our raw material sourcing activities. It applies to all companies, which are a part of the worldwide group of GF.

Human rights risk assessment (GF Risk Lens)

Risks in our suppliers’ operations

Human rights risk assessment (GF Risk Lens)

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In 2023, GF completed sustainability assessments for 73% of its relevant procurement spend. This is in line with current due diligence requirements for all sourcing categories and with our five-year goal as defined in the GF Sustainability Framework 2025. To conduct these sustainability assessments, GF has partnered with the rating agency EcoVadis. In 2023, the average EcoVadis score of GF suppliers was 58 out of 100. Further details are available in the “Responsible supply chain chapter” in the latest GF Sustainability Report.

In addition, the division GF Piping Systems uses since 2024 an AI-powered platform that focuses on supply chain risk intelligence. It pre-evaluates suppliers and scores topics concerning labor rights, human rights (covering modern slavery), health & safety, and environmental practices of suppliers, providing a comprehensive analysis of each supplier's risk profile in real-time. This pre-evaluation is based on a combination of historical and current data, external data sources, supplier assessments, and peer group benchmarks. The other three divisions of GF, GF Building Flow Solutions, GF Casting Solutions and GF Machining Solutions have implemented suppliers due-diligence risk management processes in their procurement systems, in line with legal due diligence requirements. Based on a supplier’s industry and country related risks, also 3rd party CSR audits are conducted. 

Grievance and remedy

Reporting of incidents

GF publicly reports breaches (e.g., discrimination, corruption, sexual harassment, etc.) against its Code of Conduct or Code for Business Partners.

More details are available in the latest Sustainability Report 2023, Chapter Business Ethics and Compliance.

Engaging with stakeholders on human rights

We engage with external stakeholders and partners to continuously enhance our understanding of human rights, share best practices, and support each other in protecting and promoting human rights on a global scale. Here some examples from 2023:

 

  • Sustainable Supply Chain Management working group, UN Global Compact Network Switzerland and Liechtenstein
  • Human Rights Due Diligence Peer Learning & Networking Group, in collaboration with UN Global Compact, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
  • Swiss Forum on Business and Human Rights 2023, organized by FDFA and SECO
  • 8th UN Global Compact European Peer Learning Meeting on Business & Human Rights at UN City in Copenhagen (Denmark)
Engaging with stakeholders on human rights