Social responsibility along the entire value chain including the observance of
human rights is fundamental to SÜDPACK – and is firmly anchored as a central pillar of its corporate strategy. Although the German Act on Corporate Due
Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains will first apply to the family business starting on January 1, 2024, SÜDPACK has already implemented the new legislation, compiled a declaration of principles on respecting human rights and simultaneously completed extensive SA8000 certification in August 2023.
On January 1, 2023, the first phase of the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains came into force for companies with more than 3,000 employees. The act regulates corporate due diligence obligations with regard to the respect of human rights in global supply chains, which includes protecting children from exploitation through work, the right to fair wages and protecting the environment. As of January 1, 2024, it will also be obligatory for the SÜDPACK Group since it has more than 1,000 employees.
The SA8000 Standard is an internationally recognized certification standard that was initiated by Social Accountability International, a non-governmental organization located in New York. The certification is performed voluntarily and focuses on social responsibility in the workplace. It is based on the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions and other international human rights standards as well as the labor rights that are anchored in national labor laws. In August 2023, SÜDPACK became one of the few companies of its size to successfully complete the extensive certification program.
“With the Act on Corporate Due Diligence and SA8000 certification, we are demonstrating due diligence towards our employees, customers, suppliers and society as a whole – and in doing so, clearly substantiate our high standards
regarding sustainability and social responsibility,” elaborated Carolin Grimbacher, Managing Partner of the SÜDPACK Group.
An overview of measures at SÜDPACK
In recent months, the internationally operating film manufacturer analyzed the risks in its supply chain in terms of a sustainable supply chain and fair working conditions. Direct suppliers were examined based on their industry and country risks to identify real and potential risks to human rights and the environment in the supply chain in order to implement the appropriate measures for prevention and minimization. In addition and particularly for suppliers at a high risk regarding these issues, an assessment was performed both in-house and externally with the EcoVadis scorecard. “With regular reporting as well as the examination and updating of risk analyses, we are able to monitor the effectiveness of measures well and, most importantly, continually develop,” highlighted Lisa-Marie Schmidberger, who as Project Manager at SÜDPACK is also responsible for sustainability reporting.
At the same time, the training opportunities that involve social topics have been significantly expanded in order to raise employee awareness of corporate principles and values. For Carolin Grimbacher, the working conditions of key suppliers in particular are “a mirror of our own values that we would like to be sure of in our company group – and that we will continue to update in our sustainability reports. It is in this sense that we set particularly high standards.”
At SÜDPACK, a compliance agent, a compliance committee and a social performance team make sure that all of the applicable compliance rules are known, that they are complied with along the entire supply chain and that ultimately breaches and the resulting risks are minimized.
Moreover, the implementation of complaint mechanisms and a whistleblower system provide different ways for employees, suppliers and all other relevant stakeholders to report incidents regarding risks to and violations of human rights and the environment.
About SÜDPACK
SÜDPACK is a leading manufacturer of high-performance films and packaging solutions for the food, non-food and medical goods industries and also of customer-specific compounds for technically demanding applications.
The family business, which was founded by Alfred Remmele in 1964, is headquartered in Ochsenhausen. The production sites in Germany, France, Poland, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA are equipped with cutting-edge plant technology and manufacture to the highest standards, including the capacity to operate under clean room conditions. The global sales and service network
ensures a high degree of proximity to the customer and comprehensive application technology support in more than 70 countries.
With its state-of-the-art Development and Application Center at its headquarters in Ochsenhausen, the innovation-oriented company offers its customers an
optimal platform for developing individual and tailor-made solutions and also for performing application tests.
SÜDPACK is committed to sustainable development and fulfills its responsibility as an employer and towards society, the environment and its customers. For its sustainable product developments and consistent commitment to a functioning circular economy in the plastics industry, SÜDPACK has received numerous awards. Further information is available at www.suedpack.com
