Together for compliance!

Compliance at the Westfalen-Group

We see compliance not just as simply following the rules, but rather as the centrepiece of our corporate culture. By implementing ethical standards and legal requirements, we lay the foundation for our corporate success and our integrity. This is crucial for the long-term development of the Westfalen-Group and strengthens the trust of our customers, business partners and employees.

Photo of the Westfalen AG & Co. KG Management Board: Dr. Meike Schäffler, Dr. Thomas Perkmann (Chairman), Jesko von Stechow

Organisational responsibility for compliance in the Westfalen Group

Our management approach in the area of compliance is characterised by a clear commitment to leadership with integrity and transparency. We implement proactive compliance measures to support adherence to our applicable internal rules and legal requirements across all areas of the company.

The Westfalen-Group's compliance organisation is headed by the Management Board and, within this body, the Chief Finance Officer. The head of the Legal & Compliance department regularly informs the Management Board about compliance matters. The Compliance Manager is the direct point of contact for all legal compliance issues.

Our understanding of compliance

Compliance is an expression of the corporate culture, which is based on values such as integrity, fairness, responsibility, cohesion and quality.

This is also reflected in our Code of Conduct, which describes the principles, beliefs and behaviours that are binding for all employees and business partners.

We have integrity

We are fair and value our employees

We protect our information and assets

We take responsibility for the environment and society

We stand for quality and product safety

We communicate openly and constructively with our various stakeholders

The Code of Conduct is a guideline for our daily actions and a self-commitment that we take seriously. We expect ourselves and our business partners to adhere to the defined values and rules and to seek support in cases of doubt or violation. This is the only way we can strengthen trust in our company and maintain our good reputation.

Transparent supply chains and compliance with human rights

We regard the recognition and respect of human rights and the protection of the environment as an integral part of our self-image. We have set ourselves the goal of identifying and addressing human rights and environmental risks in our value chain using the measures described in our policy statement.

Adherence to our Supplier Code of Conduct serves as the basis for cooperation with the Westfalen-Group. It defines the minimum requirements for our suppliers and business partners with regard to compliance with laws, human rights and environmental standards.

In order to achieve the goal of a sustainable value chain, we have implemented ESG management at the Westfalen-Group and appointed a human rights officer. We also carry out regular risk analyses in order to better assess and manage human rights and environmental risks in the supply chain as well as in our own business units.

Further information on this can be found in our statement of principles on respect for human rights and the environment.

Schulungen zum Thema Compliance. Mitarbeiter sitzen gemeinsam in einem Meeting an einem großen Tisch

Training courses

Compliance can only be supported by the organisation as a whole. We therefore consider regular training on the topic of compliance to be essential. Employees from the Purchasing department also receive training on sustainability and transparency in the supply chain and are sensitised to the relevance of human rights and environmental issues.

Reporting channel

Our whistleblower system is a bridge between employees, third parties and company management. Against the background of the EU Whistleblower Directive, the Whistleblower Protection Act and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the Westfalen Group has set up an office for reporting possible compliance violations to which employees of the Westfalen Group, but also third parties such as applicants, former employees, interns, suppliers and business partners, can turn in confidence. Our whistleblower system (available at Whistleblower system Westfalen AG & Co. KG (vispato.com)) is a confidential platform on which concerns and information regarding possible violations of our compliance guidelines can be reported securely, which must then be conscientiously investigated. In this way, we not only create a culture of trust, but also make it possible to recognise and rectify potential problems at an early stage.

DICO-Mitgliedssiegel. Westfalen AG ist DICO-Mitglied

DICO-Membership

Commitment and further development are important to us. As a member of the German Initiative for Compliance (DICO), we are actively committed to ensuring that compliance is not just a duty, but an integral part of our corporate culture.

DICO represents an association of companies that are jointly committed to ethically sound corporate governance. As a member of DICO, we are committed to an intensive exchange of best practices, trends and challenges in the area of compliance. This collaboration enables us to learn from the experiences of other members and at the same time share our own expertise.

This membership strengthens our position as a responsible company and demonstrates our commitment to achieving and maintaining high standards of integrity and ethics. It also represents another step toward ensuring that our business practices align with recognized ethical standards. We are convinced that the dialogue within DICO will help us to continuously improve our compliance programme and meet the demands of an ever-changing business world.

Downloads

Codes of conduct and information management

Code of Conduct of the Westfalen Group
Code of Conduct, english

Supplier Code of Conduct of Westfalen Group
Supplier Code of Conduct, english

Information management of the Westfalen Group
Information management

General Terms and Conditions of Purchase (EKB)
EKB

Westfalen Statement of principles on respect for human rights and the environment
Statement of principles