Responsibility and commitment
Responsible management and corporate citizenship have a long tradition at ThyssenKrupp and are firmly integrated in our corporate culture. Our goal is to achieve sustainable economic success in the interests of our customers and stockholders and at the same time take into account the needs of our employees and society.
ThyssenKrupp takes responsibility every day throughout the world – for our products, our employees, our stockholders' capital, our environment, and the society in which we live. We are committed to the principle of sustainability and justice between generations.
We can only meet our responsibility as a global enterprise today and in the future if we achieve long-term business success. At the same time we are convinced that responsible management engenders trust in our company and thus contributes to this long-term business success. That is why corporate responsibility is not just a major component of our corporate culture but also key to achieving our long-term goals.
Social standards in labor relations
ThyssenKrupp accepts social responsibility for its employees around the world. We are committed to a culture based on respect for all, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, physical ability and age. The Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp AG has concluded a global agreement with the Group Works Council and the European Works Council based on the principles of the International Labor Organization in which discrimination against members of the workforce is strictly rejected. The guidelines in this Code of Conduct are one of the reasons why cooperation among employees at our locations around the world is shaped by tolerance and mutual respect.
Responsible conduct within the supply chain
We also work to promote uniform standards of compliance and corporate responsibility in relation to our customers and suppliers. In the reporting year, ThyssenKrupp was part of a working group of the German association of materials management, purchasing and logistics (Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V. (BME)) responsible for developing a code of conduct containing fundamental rules and principles to combat corruption and anti-competitive behavior and to promote human rights, environmental and health protection, and fair working conditions. By signing the code of conduct, we have undertaken to comply with the standards which are based on the United Nations Global Compact principles and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In addition, we work to ensure that our suppliers also comply with the BME code of conduct.
Corporate citizenship
Beyond our business activities, our Group sees itself as a corporate citizen – i.e. a committed and responsible member of society at our locations. To this end we promote a large number of non-profit projects, organizations and initiatives – be it in education, science, culture and sport or in social, charitable and humanitarian activities.
Key skills for children and young people
Learning is a basic human need and a prerequisite for individual and social development. It is our goal to promote the teaching of technology and science above all to children and young people.
That is why we have supported the "KITZ.do" technology center for children and young people in Dortmund since it was first established. The KITZ.do center introduces children and young people to science and technology. The "bridge-building kit" project initiated by ThyssenKrupp in association with Stiftung Partner für Schule NRW and the University of Münster is aimed at promoting the teaching of technology at elementary schools. At the beginning of 2009, kits containing building material and accompanying teaching material on "bridge building and structural analysis" were distributed to a hundred primary schools. In parallel with this, teachers received guidance on working with the technology kits at the University of Münster.
The Group has for many decades supported Germany's largest and most successful youth science competition "Jugend forscht", which promotes special achievements and abilities in science, mathematics and technology. In early 2009 regional heats of "Jugend forscht" were once again held at our locations in Dortmund, Duisburg and the Saarland. Apprentices from ThyssenKrupp were among the successful entrants.
Networking and knowledge sharing
Public discussions and political decisions affect ThyssenKrupp in many ways. We regard making an active contribution to the public opinion-forming process, taking a stand and defending what we believe as an important part of our social responsibility. For this reason we are, for example, a member of "econsense – Forum Nachhaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V." (German industry forum for sustainable development), a grouping of 26 globally active German enterprises and organizations set up to address the issues of corporate responsibility and sustainability. At European level we support the "European Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility", which now brings together over 230 enterprises and organizations from all parts of Europe.
ThyssenKrupp is also a founding member of the "Knowledge Factory" which is involved in education projects as well as initiatives for business startups and young entrepreneurs throughout Germany via its member companies. We also support "acatech", the German academy for engineering sciences, as an independent voice of technology. The academy conducts an intensive dialogue on forward-looking technologies and their significance for sustainable growth.
We support initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening regions with which the Group has traditional links or where we have business operations. For instance, for many years we have been providing support for the Initiativkreis Ruhr. With its forward-looking projects, this alliance of leading companies from the region plays a major role in the further development of the Ruhr as an industrial location.
Awards for corporate social responsibility
ThyssenKrupp won two awards for outstanding corporate social responsibility in the reporting year. The IdeasPark – and thus the "Discovering future technology" initiative – was the winner in the "Large companies" category of the "Freedom and Responsibility" initiative competition. In addition, we received the 2008 "Politik-Award" from the trade journal "politik&kommmunikation" in the "Corporate Social Responsibility" category. The award honors companies who demonstrate exemplary corporate citizenship and voluntarily integrate social and ecological concerns into their corporate actions. The 2008 Politik-Award went to ThyssenKrupp and the Ideas Park as the "most coherent, effective and best communicated corporate citizenship concept".
Commitment to art, cultural and sporting activities
We consider a wide range of partnerships in art and culture to be important for sustainable development. The Group is therefore involved in numerous projects and provides both financial and moral support. This helps bring attractive events to areas close to our major locations.
ThyssenKrupp is a member of the "Friends of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein opera company" and supports the philharmonic orchestras in Essen and Duisburg and the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus theater. Alongside the Folkwang Museum in Essen we also support the Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg.
In sport we promote a range of initiatives from selected competitions to small sports clubs close to our locations. We have for many years supported the international rowing regatta and the annual Rhine-Ruhr Marathon in Duisburg. Of the 5,700 runners who lined up for the 26th Rhine-Ruhr Marathon in June 2009, the largest group came from ThyssenKrupp, with 304 of our employees taking part.