|
Developing, maintaining and implementing corporate policies are an ongoing process. Yet we have chosen to make a short version of our CSR policies available for external stakeholders, both to demonstrate transparency and to commit ourselves to continuous improvement.
Introduction
We want to act as a responsible company whether we talk about people, planet or profits. We want to take social responsibility and we want to be a company on which all of our stakeholders can rely – be that shareholders, employees or the community.
Legal Compliance
Sonion’s success depends on our employees acting within legal guidelines and cooperating with local, national and international authorities. Violation of domestic or foreign laws, rules and regulations may compromise competitive market forces, damage
democratic institutions and may impede efforts to reduce poverty; as well as subject Sonion and our employees to civil or criminal penalties.
All Sonion employees are expected to abide by the letter and spirit of all applicable laws and regulations in the areas where they operate, as well as cooperate with any reasonable demands made in a government audit or investigation.
Sonion is especially concerned with:
Competition
Sonion is committed to free and open competition and insists on full compliance with current legislation wherever we operate to promote fair and unrestricted competition.
Bribery
Sonion will under no circumstances, whether directly or through intermediaries, offer bribes, nor will we accept offers of any such inappropriate payment from others. 'Kick-backs', secret commissions and similar payments are strictly prohibited.
Labour and Human Rights
Sonion supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and does under no circumstances accept breaches of human rights inside the organization. Nor will Sonion be acting in disagreement with others violating human rights, or accept that our business partners do.
Being a commercial enterprise, Sonion is particularly concerned with the four labour principles from the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Furthermore, Sonion is concerned with securing appropriate compensation to our employees for their contributions as well as guaranteeing a proper balance between our employees’ work duties and private lives.
Sonion upholds employees’ freedom of association and recognize employees’ right to collective bargaining.
Sonion does not interfere in employees’ decision to join associations of their own choice. Nor do we discriminate against such employees or a representative of such employees.
We accept that employees may want to negotiate employment conditions collectively and strive to reach agreements through genuine and constructive negotiations.
Sonion does not accept the use of forced or compulsory labor. We do not practice forced or compulsory labor in any of our companies. Our suppliers and contractors are likewise required to refrain from making use of forced and compulsory labor.
Sonion does not accept the use of child labor. No child under the minimum age as defined by ILO Conventions is admitted to employment or work in any Sonion company.
Suppliers and contractors are also required to refrain from making use of child labor.
Sonion does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction, sexual orientation or social origin.
Employees are only selected on the basis of their competencies, skills and overall ability to do the job at hand.
As a minimum, Sonion complies with the legal requirements regarding wages and other employment benefits such as health insurance, pension, unemployment insurance etc. as described by local labor agreements.
Health and Safety
Sonion seeks to provide safe and healthy places of employment to all employees, no matter where in the world they work. In general there are very few hazards involved in working in Sonion and we wish to keep illness among our employees as well as occupational hazards at an absolute minimum.
Sonion requires all sites to live up to the guidelines and recommendations from ILO (International Labor Organization), as well as national legislation and regulations.
When it concerns safety and health we follow the strictest of the above mentioned at all times.
Environmental responsibilities
Our vision is to create a company culture, where environmental thinking is embedded and second nature. We continuously work to ensure that our products are designed with a focus on avoiding environmentally hazardous materials, finding environmentally friendly processes and promoting dematerialization by using parts that are capable of being recycled.
As Sonion is fully committed to minimizing the environmental impacts of our business we do comply with the RoSH directive as well as the REACH directive is incorporated into the Sonion Development Methodology program. Sonion commits to these directives throughout the value-chain whereas our suppliers are committed to comply with the RoHS and REACH directive.
Additionally we actively work on ensuring that our facilities operate with a minimal harmful impact on the environment and have placed a high priority on waste minimization, recycling and pollution prevention in our offices and facilities.
Our factory in Vietnam is certified according to ISO 14001.
Community responsibility
Sonion has always been an integral part of society – delivering products that help people ease their life whether it is for micro components used for hearing instrument or medical devices. Together with specialist, researchers, doctors or users of our products we strive to find the best solution to ease or extend people’s lives.
Sonion has chosen to donate funds instead of sending Season’s Greetings cards to customers and business associates. We believe that such a donation symbolizes the holiday spirit best. For 2010, we have made a donation to Red Barnet. Red Barnet is part of Save the Children - the world's largest independent children's rights organization. Save the Children fights for children's rights and deliver immediate help for vulnerable children worldwide.
Sonion makes additional donations to various causes supporting improvement in hearing health for the global population.
The Sonion employees make donations every year to SOS Børnebyerne.
Financial responsibilities
Sonion’s financial health is critical not only for our shareholders and employees, but also for our suppliers, contractors and the communities in which we operate. All are impacted by our economic performance and our ability to generate profit. Sonion therefore will deliver an annual report with a transparent and true picture of the overall Sonion business.
|