SuStainability - 2012 - Straumann

70operational reviewSustainabilityCOMMUNITIESEnhanCING THE quality OF LIFE with highStandardS OF BUSINESS ETHICS.In 2011, roughly a million people in more than 70 countriesreceived Straumann dental solutions, indicating that ourgreatest contribution to the community is enhanced qualityof life through safe, effective, and long-lasting solutionsthat restore dental function and esthetics. We also strive toprovide peace of mind to customers and their patients, forexample through clinical studies and long-term documentation.In 2011, we implemented two further initiatives inthis respect: we extended our product warranty withtransparent and simple conditions and we launched theStraumann ‘Classic Line’, which ensures continued availabilityof prosthetic components for Straumann implantsproduced since 1974.Furthermore, sponsorship should not be driven by individualpreferences or personal relationships. For this reason,requests for Corporate Sponsoring are evaluated by adiverse internal committee that reports regularly to theExecutive Management Board.As stated in previous Annual Reports, our goal is to continueour level of charitable sponsoring despite the economicenvironment. Sponsoring projects are defined in aformal written agreement describing the scope, milestones,goals and responsibilities. Recipients are asked toaccount for the agreed use of funding, usually by supplyingdocumentation.BEYOND SOLUTIONS AND PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITYIn many parts of the world ‘peace of mind’ takes on acompletely different meaning. Millions of people are stillwithout access to basic dental care – either because of geographicdistance or their economic situation. Straumannstrongly believes that good corporate citizenship and ethicalbehavior are fundamental to our long-term sustainabledevelopment, and are thus in the interest of all ourstakeholders, especially our staff, shareholders, customersand the communities in which we operate. By supportingvarious initiatives and projects to provide access to dentaltreatment and education about oral hygiene, we seek tobalance fundamental human needs with the expectationsof our various stakeholders.SPONSORING – CREATING PUBLIC BENEFITOur sponsoring policy states that sponsoring activitiesshould support the vision, mission and business goals ofthe company, within the framework of our Code of Conduct.We focus on areas where we can make a meaningfuldifference and which are related to our business. Philanthropicactivities should demonstrate that we are a caringcompany and should effectively promote our reputationamong relevant stakeholder groups.In 2011, we received and evaluated 80 requests for sponsoring,of which more than a dozen projects were supported.In each case, clear sponsorship goals were set andachieved. An overview of the major projects is presentedin the table on page 72. Our monetary donations to all thelisted projects in 2011 (including the projects below) totaledapproximately CHF 730 000.A special project in 2011 was to provide relief for Japan,following the devastating earthquake and tsunami inMarch. Straumann employees around the world quicklyresponded with sympathy and financial support andGlobal Headquarters committed to double staff donations.Straumann Japan independently made significant donationsto immediate relief. The total donation exceededCHF 630 000. Apart from this, a combined Straumann/ITIevent raised CHF 118 000 (not included in the overall sponsoringtotal) for the Peace Winds Japan Charity.ENHANCING ACCESS IN COOPERATIONWITH OUR CUSTOMERSStraumann AID (Access to Implant Dentistry) is a globalinitiative to donate Straumann products to assist patientswho need implant treatment but are unable to afford it.