THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS – STABLE GROWTH - Symrise

active health promotion programs and measures to raise
awareness of AIDS.
Compliance
Our integrated Compliance Management System reconciles legal and
ethical aspects and regulations, thereby creating the guiding principles
for our business activities. These activities are founded on our conviction
that adherence to basic rules is an indispensable and nonnegotiable
component of our corporate identity. Only a clear and
transparent framework of permitted and non-permitted activities can
guarantee continuity and our long-term financial success. For all our
employees worldwide the following holds true: “Business that cannot
be brought into harmony with our basic rules is no business for Symrise.”
Organization and tools
In order to prevent any conflicts of interests, it is mandatory for
every employee at our company to keep work life and home life
separate. Integrity towards the company and the responsible handling
of inside information are clearly defined in the Executive
Board’s guidelines. In 2008, a Compliance Officer was appointed
to coordinate all our compliance activities. The Compliance Office
falls under the direct remit of the Chairman of the Executive Board,
thereby guaranteeing its independence and authority. The Compliance
Officer reports regularly to the Audit Committee of the
Supervisory Board at each of its meetings.
In 2008, the Compliance Office implemented two new tools in order
to ensure that the same high ethical and legal standards apply
throughout the Symrise world.
› All employees are obliged to report any breach of the Compliance
Program immediately. In order to clarify compliance issues or if there
are any questionable matters in their working environment, all employees
have been able since summer 2008 to reach the Compliance
Office via a toll-free phone service set up in every country. An
intermediary service provider ensures that employees can voice
their concerns anonymously and in their native language. Contacting
the service provider directly also enables anonymous communication
between the Compliance Office and the employee in
question. Every employee can, of course, also contact the Compliance
Office by email or in person.
› Following successful tests in 2008, we can also offer all employees
education on various compliance topics in the form of Internet- or
screen-based training, starting in the spring of 2009. This will enable
us to reach more employees in a shorter time and will, moreover,
give every employee greater flexibility as regards the timing of the
training. The Compliance Office also offers face-to-face training.
Annual Report 2008 Symrise AG 83
In 2009, we aim to step up our compliance management efforts. In the
process, we will always place special emphasis on the integrity of our
daily activities and promote the corresponding mindset among our
employees.
Benchmarks and environmental indicators
In 2008, we again managed to exceed our Key Performance Indicators.
Year-on-year, we further significantly reduced all the environmental
events that we are obliged to report in the four regions (EAME,
NA, LATAM, APAC). Despite the increase in sales volume, we substantially
lowered our greenhouse gas emissions. By implementing
targeted technical measures, accompanied by investments, we were
able once again to considerably reduce complaints about odors – in
fact, by more than 30 percent at our largest location in Holzminden.
Details are available in the annual CSR Report.
Symrise has also developed its own climate protection concept and
has reduced its energy consumption and related CO2 emissions in
line with globally agreed environmental protection standards and the
targets additionally defined by the company. We have therefore considerably
lowered the proportion of direct and indirect greenhouse
gases in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol based
on the year 2005. Individual programs within the supply chain support
these aims, as do Research and Development and IT.
We attach the highest priority to the safety and environmental compatibility
of our products. For years we have therefore been supporting
the goals of the REACH EU chemicals policy and – thanks to
targeted measures – we guarantee the safety of our employees within
the supply chain and the safety of our staff.
Symrise remains listed in various green funds (see 2007 CSR Report)
and is thus rated by independent fund managers as a sustainable company.
Since 2006, Symrise has been a member of the Carbon Disclosure
Project (CDP) Investor Group and for the third time in
succession is thus supporting the basic climate protection demands.
We have received feedback showing that our latest, specific Supply
Chain Leadership Collaboration (CDP-SCLC) activities were successful
in terms of climate protection.
9. RISK MANAGEMENT
Global operations are always shaped by risks and opportunities.
Understanding and managing those risks and opportunities effectively
is seen as a regular, ongoing management responsibility for
Symrise’s sustainable business development.
Group Management
Report