Sustainability Report 2020

News & Stories

An overview of our key topics

In 2020, we conducted a review of our materiality analysis from 2015. Our key topics are also to be regularly reviewed and adjusted in the future. To create an accurate, comprehensive list of the most important sustainability topics for us and our stakeholders, we launched a 360° overview of the broad field of sustainability targets. As well as the central topics already identified in our 2015 materiality analysis, we also analyzed current global trends, sector-specific requirements and overarching international sustainability targets. In addition, we performed benchmark analyses. This first stage helped us identify 150 potential action areas. This broad range of issues was then broken down into multiple evaluation stages. The following criteria were checked when reducing the list of topics: Relevance for Greiner, indications that relevant stakeholders consider the topic material and ensuring a balance between environmental, social and economic issues.

This was further refined by drawing on internal and external expertise through surveys, interviews and workshops. Greiner employees, management and owners were involved in the process, as were customers, supply companies, representatives from politics, business, science, the media and sustainability NGOs. We defined 14 action areas as a result of this intensive process. Each of these 14 action areas are either assigned to a strategic pillar or defined as a standard. Our standards include topics that cannot be assigned to any of the three pillars.

Materiality analysis (matrix)

Strategic pillars

 

Material topic

 

GRI

 

SDG

 

UNGC

Circular economy

1

Circular economy
We have to move away from a throw-away society to a sustainable circular economy. This aims to create a system where resources are not thrown out and instead continue to be used for as long as possible. To achieve this, we rely on sustainable product design, the use of secondary materials and the recyclability of our products.

 

301, 306

 

3, 6, 8, 12, 14, 15

 

7, 8, 9

2

Water use
Handling resources responsibly also includes being economical with water. To ensure this, we are developing a water policy and increasing the number of water risk assessments at our sites. Within the meaning of SDG 6, we also focus on our sites in water risk areas, where we review the potential for saving water.

 

303

 

3, 6, 14

 

7, 8, 9

3

Product quality, health & safety
The Greiner name is synonymous with quality. Our products have met the highest safety and quality standards for over 150 years and ensure our business success. Especially as a family-run business, we feel an obligation to maintain this tradition and prove our commitment to sustainability through our product range.

 

416

 

 

 

 

Climate protection

4

Climate change & greenhouse gas emissions
Climate protection is one of the three pillars of our Blue Plan sustainability strategy. To achieve our target of being a carbon neutral company by 2030, we are aiming to improve energy efficiency and use more renewable energy at our own sites. We are also committed to reducing CO2 in our upstream and downstream value creation, as well as at our suppliers and business partners and in our logistics as a whole.

 

201, 302, 305

 

3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15

 

7, 8, 9

5

Environmental compliance & biodiversity
The Greiner Code of Conduct commits us and our suppliers and business partners to a responsible approach to the environment. This includes observing environmental legislation and standards in full. To continually improve our environmental impact, we intend to continually measure this and reduce our negative impact.

 

307

 

16

 

 

Employees

6

Attraction & retention of talent
We compete for talented and motivated employees by offering an attractive work environment. We have a large number of cooperation programs with universities, tertiary institutions and other training centers. As a global company with four different divisions, we offer a wide range of internal career opportunities.

 

401

 

5, 8, 10

 

3

7

Occupational health & safety
In particular in line with the SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being”, we see a safe workplace which does not make our staff ill as being a basic right of our employees. We want to identify potential accident and health risks at our workplaces at an early stage and take action to prevent accidents and improve workplace conditions, both in terms of physical and mental health.

 

403

 

3, 8, 16

 

1

8

Training & further education
To remain innovative in the future, we invest in the training and further education of our employees on all levels and with specific targets. We promote consistent knowledge management and create a work environment that provides space for employees to best use their talents and skills.

 

404

 

4, 5, 8, 10

 

 

9

Diversity, equal opportunity & non-discrimination
Through our “diversity guiding principle”, we are building on an organizational culture that values individual, social and cultural diversity. Dealing with differences capably is considered to be an asset at Greiner. That is why we proactively advocate diversity, multiple perspectives, equality and equal opportunities.

 

405, 406

 

5, 8

 

6

10

Local community
“Think globally, act locally” is the mantra of our social commitment. At its sites worldwide, Greiner supports different organizations which are dedicated to social, cultural or athletic issues. Greiner commitment also focuses on promoting regional educational and environmental protection initiatives.

 

Own require­ments

 

1

 

 

Standards

11

Responsible procurement along the value chain
Following on from the central UN principles, upholding human rights, international labor, health and environmental protection provisions and ensuring that business practices are transparent, free of corruption and in line with the law are central criteria for our entire value chain.

 

308, 408, 414

 

5, 8, 16

 

all

12

Ethics & compliance
We have undertaken to comply with the social, environmental and ethical principles established in our Code of Conduct for suppliers and business partners in all of our internal and external business activities. Along with other checks, we use independent evaluation platforms to review compliance with our ethical and compliance regulations.

 

205, 206, 419

 

16

 

10

13

Research & development
Knowledge is the most important resource a company can have. We work with internal innovation networks and external research cooperations with tertiary institutions and technology clusters to constantly generate new knowledge at Greiner. We also use various awards to give employees the opportunity to regularly pitch their development ideas.

 

Own require­ments

 

 

 

 

14

Customer satisfaction
As diverse as Greiner customers are, they all have one thing in common: High standards when it comes to the quality of our products. Surveys also show that sustainability is very important to our customers. In light of this, we ensure high levels of customer satisfaction both by meeting high quality standards and through our commitment to climate protection and the circular economy.

 

Own require­ments

 

 

 

 

Materiality analysis
This analysis identifies important sustainability issues for companies and their stakeholders. The results of partial analyses (external, internal, stakeholders) are combined in a materiality matrix.
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