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Business ethics
Social responsibility is an essential part of sustainable business, like economic and environmental sustainability. Respecting fundamental human rights and corporate values is a daily challenge, and BOBST sees it as a duty to maintain the highest moral standards in professional and social life.
To a very large extent, the reputation and image of a company are determined by compliance with the law and the ethical behavior of its managers and employees. Long before the launching of its Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct in 2006, Bobst Group had always interacted with its stakeholders – colleagues, customers, suppliers, and authorities – as a responsible business actor. The same principles guide BOBST in the selection of its business partners and are the basis for evaluating a supplier’s performance and deciding whether or not to maintain a relationship. As a multinational corporation with operations in many countries on several continents, BOBST sees that the respect of aligned and coherent values throughout its brands and local entities can be a real asset for the Group’s image and a key to all its future success.
BOBST’s core values do not tolerate any activity related to corruption in any part of its value chain. To this end, anti-corruption is an essential element of the Group’s overall compliance program. Additionally, large Swiss companies have the obligation to publish an annual report on non-financial elements following a new regulation (the so-called counter-project of the Responsible Business Initiative, RBI) adopted by the Swiss Parliament (see more details on page 35). BOBST’s due diligence process helps to identify any related risks arising from the use of third parties and concerns all local entities that are covered by this sustainability report.
Risks management and anti-corruption policy
BOBST has started to analyze its value chain more systematically, taking appropriate measures to prevent identified corruption risks. The Group Compliance Officer is in charge of leading the fight against corruption. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with management and employees. It has also developed the Supplier Code of Conduct, which the purchasing department is now responsible for deploying and monitoring within the supply chain, in collaboration with internal audit.
BOBST’s Supplier Code of Conduct covers most RBI topics. It also provides information about Bobst Group Integrity Line. The Supplier Code of Conduct is part of every contractual relationship and has been translated in more than ten languages.
> Strategy
> Operations reporting
> Equipment reporting
> Packaging use & end-of-life reporting
> GRI index
The recently opened Bobst Group Integrity Line serves as an internal reporting channel for potentially unethical behaviors in the organization.
BOBST’s anti-corruption policy
It has been rolled out, complementing the guidelines included in the Code of Employee and Business Conduct. The Group Compliance Officer also conducted online and in-person training, as well as refresher training, in 2021. In addition, all agents and intermediaries receive the policy as part of their contracts and are subject to a compliance due diligence before being hired by BOBST (and upon renewal). They will also be trained on the policy during 2022.
Targets 2025
BOBST aims to increase the awareness of business ethics, by periodically (re-)training the target population on relevant topics such as bribery, conflicts of interest and ethical decision making.
> Strategy
> Operations reporting
> Equipment reporting
> Packaging use & end-of-life reporting
> GRI index
