Governance

ZF LIFETEC is committed to sourcing responsibly and ensuring responsible corporate behavior. Responsible corporate behavior is viewed as another way of keeping people safe and out of harm’s way. Although the number of notifications has been low over the years, it is crucial that any cases are handled properly, with appropriate measures taken as necessary.

ZF LIFETEC pursues a comprehensive compliance strategy:

Bribery in any form is not tolerated, whether among employees, business partners, or through business practices that could create the impression of manipulation or illegal influence. This applies irrespective of any alleged regional customs. Business partners are expected to ensure their employees follow the law and proceed with integrity.

Any misbehavior or infringement by an employee will subject them to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

The company’s clear stance on the “ban of corruption” is reflected in various policies, such as the Code of Conduct or its Corporate Compliance policy statement. Additionally, we are committed to upholding best practices in anti-money laundering, data protection, and information security.

Code of Conduct

ZF LIFETEC’s Code of Conduct defines the base requirements for responsible behavior. It is divided into three categories and addresses internal affairs, external interactions and efforts to better the planet. It is closely aligned with the pillars of the sustainability strategy and emphasizes the priority areas.

The Code of Conduct is subdivided into three general categories:

Our World concerning primarily internal affairs

ZF LIFETEC aims to provide equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and prohibits discrimination or harassment. ZF LIFETEC strives to have an injury-free workplace and safe facilities and to ensure that record-keeping and reporting across all company records meet legal and regulatory requirements.

In the World focusing on external interactions

ZF LIFETEC expects its suppliers to comply with the ZF LIFETEC Business Partner Principles (BPP) and its employees to report potential or actual violations of any element of the BPP or the law.
ZF LIFETEC seeks to compete fairly, honestly, and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including international antitrust and competition laws.
ZF LIFETEC does not tolerate any form of corruption, bribery and money laundering.
ZF LIFETEC respects everyone’s right to privacy, keeps personal data secure, and uses it only for business purposes.

For the World covering efforts to better the planet

ZF LIFETEC contributes with its products to reducing emissions, protecting the climate, and enhancing safe mobility.
ZF LIFETEC acts following human rights regulations, the principles of the UN Global Compact, and recognized international labor and social standards, such as ILO and OECD Guidelines.

ZF Trustline

ZF LIFETEC provides an anonymous reporting channel for compliance breaches such as anti-trust, money laundering, labour-related topics, human rights and other values through the “ZF Trustline”. Reports can be submitted anonymously, and all reports are treated with strict confidentiality within ZF LIFETEC.

Management

The Executive Board of ZF LIFETEC comprises two Board members who manage the company with the support of a skilled international team of three divisional heads and various functional heads. Together, they form a strong team dedicated to sustainable growth.

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Business Partners

ZF LIFETEC has defined sustainability requirements for its suppliers. On decarbonization, ZF LIFETEC demands its suppliers to have a roadmap to become climate neutral by 2040 and to meet ZF LIFETEC’s 2030 intermediate targets among other factors. Suppliers are evaluated based on a sustainability score.

ZF LIFETEC requires suppliers to accept its Business Partner Principles (BPP) as a basic requirement for engaging in contractual relationships and expects that business partners must:

Conduct business with integrity, act in compliance with all applicable laws and implement the core values and principles laid out in the Business Partner Principles.
Ensure that the same is put into practice throughout the business partners' supply chain.

The requirements and core principles laid out in the BPP follow national and international laws, principles and conventions, such as the principles of the UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Business Partner Principles cover the following topics

Business Partner Assessment

Audit rights, Taxes, Accounting & Financial Reporting

Standing Up for Free and Fair Market Behavior

Antitrust and Competition Law

Facilitating Ethical Behavior

Combating Bribery and
Corruption, Money Laundering, Conflicts of Interest

Concentrating on Security and Privacy

Handling of Information Security, Data Privacy, IT
Security, Intellectual Property

Preserving the Planet and Protecting Others

Sustainability

Following Rules

Product Compliance, Artificial Intelligence, Export Controls and Sanctions

What drives us

On Preserving the Planet and Protecting Others: Sustainability in particular, ZF LIFETEC's business partners must respect and uphold all applicable laws as well as nationally and internationally recognized human rights standards. In addition, they have to ensure that human rights are respected and, particularly, that human dignity is safeguarded in all of their business activities. Lastly, ZF LIFETEC requires its business partners to be aware of their social responsibility towards their employees.

Sustainability requirements

On environmental protection, ZF LIFETEC is also going beyond its Business Partner Principles and has established clearly defined sustainability requirements that are applied in its supplier selection process. These requirements are:

ZF LIFETEC requires its suppliers to have a clear roadmap to become climate neutral by 2040.

Suppliers have to provide a detailed product carbon footprint (PCF) calculation.

Suppliers have to use 100% green electricity as early as possible and latest by start of production. This request also extends to the indirect supplier base of ZF LIFETEC’s direct suppliers.

Suppliers have to increase the share of secondary raw materials and must provide detailed information about the percentage of secondary raw materials in the product.

Steel suppliers should use the steel mill with the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Management of relationships with suppliers

ZF LIFETEC evaluates its suppliers’ sustainability performance based on a dedicated sustainability score. Based on the results of the sustainability score, ZF LIFETEC determines its responsible spend. Furthermore, ZF LIFETEC sources locally where possible and actively manages its localization rate for production and non-production materials.

Declarations, Policies and Reports

ZF LIFETEC is in the process of establishing its own ESG reporting according to certified standards and frameworks. For more information please visit the ZF Group download center to access reports and related information.

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Governance

Governance

ZF LIFETEC pursues a comprehensive compliance strategy:

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is subdivided into three general categories:

Our World concerning primarily internal affairs

In the World focusing on external interactions

For the World covering efforts to better the planet

ZF Trustline

Management

Business Partners

The Business Partner Principles cover the following topics

Business Partner Assessment

Standing Up for Free and Fair Market Behavior

Facilitating Ethical Behavior

Concentrating on Security and Privacy

Preserving the Planet and Protecting Others

Following Rules

What drives us

Sustainability requirements

ZF LIFETEC requires its suppliers to have a clear roadmap to become climate neutral by 2040.

Suppliers have to provide a detailed product carbon footprint (PCF) calculation.

Suppliers have to use 100% green electricity as early as possible and latest by start of production. This request also extends to the indirect supplier base of ZF LIFETEC’s direct suppliers.

Suppliers have to increase the share of secondary raw materials and must provide detailed information about the percentage of secondary raw materials in the product.

Steel suppliers should use the steel mill with the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Management of relationships with suppliers

Declarations, Policies​ and Reports

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Data Privacy

Essential

Statistics

Declarations, Policies and Reports