GRI 308-1, GRI 414-1
50Hertz expresses its commitment to respecting human rights, the right to privacy, personal safety and freedom of expression, as well as ownership rights of its employees, residents and customers. 50Hertz also assumes responsibility for compliance with social standards in the supply chain. For this reason, 50Hertz is not only a member of the UN Global Compact, it is also committed to the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
In order to ensure that business partners also observe international rules on human rights – such as the prohibition on forced and child labour – sustainability and ethics are essential components in the assessment of suppliers and service providers.
50Hertz raises awareness for sustainable conduct in regular supplier meetings to ensure that respect for compliance with ethical principles and guidelines continues to grow in the long term. All orders are placed centrally. As a result, all of 50Hertz’s business locations are examined to ensure their compliance with human rights obligations. The plan is to gradually expand supply chain management to include sustainability topics over the next few years. A common code of conduct for suppliers of Elia Group is currently under review and is to become a binding component of all supplier contracts in future. In the reporting year, the first risk assessment on sustainability issues and human rights was carried out in the form of desk research for the 20 largest suppliers, which have a total order value of more than EUR 378m and a share in the Company’s entire order volume of around 68%. Nineteen of the companies assessed have their registered offices in Germany and one in Milan; the majority of the companies are affected by the CSR reporting requirements and must therefore publish reports containing information on non-financial indicators and human rights issues according to international reporting standards. No risks were identified. 50Hertz is looking at further expanding supply chain management and extending reporting to include human rights issues in future.