SUSTAINABILITY POLICY
Knauf Head Office PO Box 112871 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 337 7170 Knauf Manufacturing Plant PO Box 50006 Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Tel: +971 7 221 5300 Knauf Qatar Branch PO Box 27111 Doha, State of Qatar Tel: +974 4452 8191
info@knauf.ae www.knauf.ae
POLICY BRIEF AND PURPOSE The Knauf LLC Sustainability Policy reflects our commitment and responsibility to environmental protection, economic development and social development. Demonstrating our values outlined in this policy ensures that we, at all business levels, are observing and minimizing the impact of our people, plant and processes on the current and future environment. WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? Our Sustainability Policy outlines our approach to maintaining a sustainable operation, allowing business development without compromising the needs of future generations. SCOPE This policy applies to our company and its subsidiaries. POLICY ELEMENTS Our company’s sustainability approach is focused on three core categories; Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY POLICY The protection and preservation of the environment and natural resources is a primary concern for Knauf globally. All Knauf facilities are actively engaged in observing environmental impact, and take a proactive approach to reducing impact on the environment. This is practiced at all levels of our operation through key parameters including effective resource management and product development. Through our environmental sustainability policy, Knauf is committed to; • Local manufacturing of products and systems in line with government legislations and assured Knauf quality. • Sourcing material regionally, where possible and practical to ensure reduced associated carbon emissions of raw material and finished products. • Smart planning of production and logistics to minimize environmental impact of our plant and products. • Following, where possible, the waste hierarchy to ensure; reduction, reuse and recycling of waste generated from our people, plant and products. • Dedicating our research and development team to achieve a ‘greener by design’ approach to product development, ensuring superior product performance with minimized material content.
• Engaging experienced Knauf specification teams to ensure all Knauf solutions resourcefully and efficiently achieve performance requirements. • Considering our product life cycle and associated emissions by continuously improving our products, systems and processes in line with our ISO 14001 environmental management certification. • Providing light weight construction solutions with declarations in line with LEED and Estidama requirements. • Ensuring we are at the sustainability forefront through memberships with leading sustainability focused organizations such as Dubai Green Council and Future Build and EPDA. • Raising employee awareness of environmental sustainability through internal company training courses to ensure any business action is considered in line with its associated environmental impact. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY POLICY Ensuring safety and quality of life remains a fundamental value for Knauf and a value which we have invested significant time and capital in. Achieving compliance and approval with all relevant regional legislations provides a pillar which relates to the people and processes within our business, as well as inhabitants of buildings containing Knauf products and systems. With this, comes investment in employees and the local community through Knauf training schemes, in turn giving valuable and transferable skills to the local workforce. Through our social sustainability policy, Knauf is committed to; • Provision of products and systems with Dubai and Abu Dhabi Civil Defense, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Central Laboratory certification and approval. • Provision of training courses to customers to enforce correct installation of Knauf products and systems in line with governmental requirements relating to manufacturer training. • Product quality and consistency accreditation through third party audits of plant, products and processes, enforced through our ISO 9001 Quality Management certification. • Protecting the occupational safety and welfare of all Knauf employees through defined health and safety procedures for all business activities in line with our Operational Health and Safety Management System BS OHSAS 18001 certification. • Ensuring all employees are practicing ethical and lawful management in line with the Knauf Code of Conduct. • Exercising Fair conditions of employment at all levels of the business. • Ensuring a skilled and engaged workforce through implementation of Training schemes for all Knauf Employees. • Raising employee awareness of social sustainability through internal company training courses to ensure any business action is considered in line with its associated social impact.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY POLICY Company stability is a value that has established Knauf as a reputable manufacturer on a global level, and ensures the protection of our employees, suppliers and customer chain. Through responsible sourcing and supply, we mitigate economic risk of the supply chain, in turn securing Knauf’s market position and allowing investment back into the business operation and people. Through our Economic Sustainability policy, Knauf is committed to: • Mitigating economic risk where possible for our suppliers, customers and employees through responsible planning, sourcing and supply activities. • Avoiding conflicts of interest that could result in disruption or break down of an established supply chain as detailed in the Knauf Code of Conduct. • Investment in employee training to advance skills of work force, promote business excellence and maintain employee engagement. • Strategic investment in technology & equipment, to advance business products & services. • Control product, system and process quality through recording, reporting and continuous improvement procedures with Knauf ‘KQMS’ system in line with Quality Management ISO 9001 certification. • Pricing and positioning of products, systems and services in an ethical manner with no influence of corruption or bribery, as defined in the Knauf Code of Conduct. • Ensuring confidentiality of privileged company information, and information received from customers and suppliers in line with Knauf Code of Conduct. • Monitor and communicate business performance with relevant employees to ensure aligned and proactive business strategies in all departments.