Compliance
As early as 1887, our founder Carl Johann Freudenberg drafted his first principles of business conduct.
The document forms the basis for the Freudenberg Group’s nine Business Principles with which Partners and employees identify. One principle stipulates that Freudenberg act with the highest Level of integrity and ethical standards. The Group does not permit illegal or unethical business activities.
Compliance structure
Freudenberg is a company whose Business Groups are entrepreneurially-driven and operate with a large degree of independence. Along with the holding company, these Business Groups are therefore responsible for conduct that complies with laws and regulations.
Both the Board of Management of Freudenberg SE and the top management of the individual Business Groups clearly subscribe to this. At the holding level, the focus is on compliance issues of critical importance throughout the Business Groups and in an international context that could pose a threat to Freudenberg, especially in terms of the company’s reputation.
Freudenberg’s ambition is to continuously improve its compliance organization, documentation and processes. Functions at the holding level coordinate Freudenberg-wide compliance measures, thereby strengthening and expanding collaboration between Group-level units and compliance managers in the Business Groups. Among other benefits, this promotes the implementation of Freudenberg’s compliance standards, best practice exchange and the further development of compliance programs.
Human rights in the supply chain
It is an expression of our corporate culture to protect the environment and the well-being of the people who work for us or with us or who are affected by our activities. Internationally recognized human rights are the benchmark for actions throughout the Freudenberg Group.
Respect for human rights and environmental concerns, in particular the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), is the basis of our business relationships. We also expect our suppliers and business partners to act with integrity, fairness, responsibility, honesty and commitment to human rights and sustainability.
Actual or imminent violations of human rights resulting from the actions of Freudenberg or a direct or indirect supplier can be reported to our Ethics Offices.
Policy Statement of the Freudenberg Group
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Human Rights Report (BAFA - in German language)
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Ethics Offices
The Ethics Offices are an important part of the Compliance Management System at Freudenberg and a confidential point of contact for all employees and third parties (i.e. people outside the Freudenberg Group, such as suppliers or customers) who have concerns about possible misconduct, whether in relation to legal requirements, internal guidelines or supply chain issues under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (SCA).
The Whistleblower Solution can be used at any time to confidentially and securely report actual or impending violations of laws or the Business Principles or Guiding Principles applicable at Freudenberg.
The Whistleblower Solution also meets the requirements of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (SCA) and strengthens the role of reporting person in exposing abuses.
The option of reporting compliance violations or impending violations in a confidential manner is intended to help maintain a culture of trust (“SPEAK-UP/LISTEN-UP”) and to better protect the Freudenberg values and principles.
Business Principles and Guiding Principles
The Guiding Principles derived from the Freudenberg Group’s Business Principles define the values shaping conduct towards employees, business partners, stakeholders and third parties.
Guiding Principles
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Business Principles
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Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct is derived from the Business Principles and Guiding Principles, in particular the “Responsibility” Guiding Principle. It covers standards of conduct that are valid worldwide. It is designed to ensure that law-abiding and responsible behavior remains the cornerstone of business conduct.
Code of Conduct
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Corporate Audit
The Corporate Function “Corporate Audit” provides support to ensure the effectiveness of the internal control system and the economic efficiency and effectiveness of structures and processes while also monitoring the functional capabilities of the risk management systems. The activities of Corporate Audit are therefore linked to fraud prevention and safeguarding of assets.
