Devices teaser - Sustainability 2023 EN
GF is a globally active and diversified industrial company. It complies fully with all relevant laws and regulations in the jurisdictions of its operations, and it upholds all relevant international standards. GF’s business conduct and corporate strategy are founded on its values. The organization sees financial transparency, open communication, social responsibility as an employer, and actions informed by environmental awareness as part of its corporate responsibility.
Good corporate governance and corporate compliance
Good corporate governance underpins all of GF's business activities. To assist the Board of Directors in their duties, the Nomination and Sustainability Committee advises it on the sustainability strategy, targets, initiatives, and legislation regarding ESG topics. For more information, please see: Nomination and Sustainability Committee Charter, Organization and Business Rules 2024, and the Corporate Governance Report 2023.
Corporate compliance is part of GF's ethical business conduct. Various trainings and measures organized by the Corporate Compliance Officer (CCO) helps corporate companies comply with the law, internal directives, and the corporation’s principles of business ethics in their business activities. Furthermore, all GF employees have to report compliance violations anonymously to the CCO via the GF transparency line. Accessible to all GF employees and third parties, this channel for anonymous reporting is in line with the EU directive on the protection of whistleblowers.
For more information, see the GF Corporate Governance, Sustainability Report 2023 and Corporate Governance Report 2023.
Sustainability governance
The GF Board of Directors is responsible for the company’s overall sustainability performance. In mid-2020, sustainability came under the remit of the Nomination Committee, which was renamed the Nomination and Sustainability Committee. For more information, see the Sustainability Governance chapter of the Sustainability Report 2023.
Sustainability at GF
Putting a priority on GF customers, the planet and its people, the Sustainability Framework 2025 focuses on three areas: Product portfolio, Climate & resources, and People & well-being.
GF aims to offer its customers the best quality and maximum added value, while staying at the cutting edge of product development. The innovation process of the four divisions includes life cycle assessments, which help to provide the details for development of new, sustainable and innovative solutions to GF customers. The raw materials used for GF products are sourced responsibly, with clear expectations included in the GF Corporate Conflict Minerals Policy.
GF works in a broad range of industries and cultures. As such, it aims to create a working environment characterized by mutual respect, diversity, and engagement. During regular performance reviews of GF employees, they and their line managers agree on the goals and individual development plans. Employee retention plays a major role in the ongoing success of GF as diverse and skilled talent supports future business growth.
The GF Corporate Human Rights Policy underlines the company's commitment to maintaining and improving internal processes to avoid potential human rights issues in its supply chain and products.
Safety is a top priority in every GF location. Therefore, the company defined an extensive set of safety standards that apply to all and are implemented at each site. Zero workplace accidents is the goal.
GF is proud of its long history and reputation. The company continuously invests in modernizing its production sites, office facilities, and vehicle fleet, with a long-term view to enhance efficiency and further reduce its environmental impact. The Corporate Environmental Policy describes the company's commitment towards energy efficiency, environmental protection, the management approach, and its efforts to find new solutions for reuse of natural resources. The GF Corporate E-mobility Policy aims to transform GF's global vehicle fleet towards efficiency and electrification.
GF's products and solutions are manufactured based on sound environmental management practices. The environmental challenges of climate change and resource scarcity require GF to become more efficient and to decouple resource consumption from growth. In particular, GF aims within the Strategy 2025 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement and the company's validated science-based targets, reduce the waste sent to landfill, reduce water consumption in water-scarce and water-stressed areas, and conduct sustainability assessments of its supply chain. Apart from GHG emissions, GF also measures and tracks other air emissions. The quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), sulphur oxides (SOx), and nitrous oxides (NOx) are very low. For details, please refer to the Material topics chapter of the Sustainability Report 2023.
GF’s social and environmental responsibilities extend far beyond its own business activities, they address a wealth of sustainability topics within the company's value chain. At GF, we are always looking for new collaborations with our stakeholders to find common solutions to address sustainability challenges.
Beyond the core business activities, the charitable arm of the company represents an active contribution to addressing cultural, social, and environmental issues. For more details, please refer to Foundations.
For more information, please see: Nomination and Sustainability Committee Charter, Organization and Business Rules 2024, and the Sustainability governance chapter of the Sustainability Report 2023.
