Sustainability

All new and existing suppliers are required to adhere to the ZF LIFETEC Business Partner Code of Conduct. They represent the key values that are indispensable for us. More precisely, these principles contain guidelines specifying fundamental requirements for collaboration with our business partners.
The Code of Conduct addresses topics such as human rights, labor standards, occupational health and safety, environmental protection, business ethics, compliance, and Sustainability in the Supply Chain.

Numerous countries, such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Germany, have enacted laws to enhance human rights and environmental protection within global supply chains.
These laws require companies to uphold human rights by adhering to specific due diligence obligations. These obligations extend to the company's own operations, the activities of their direct partners, and those of indirect suppliers. Consequently, a company's responsibility now spans beyond its own premises, covering the entire supply chain.

A crucial aspect of meeting corporate due diligence and legal requirements involves tools that enable the assessment of working conditions. To support this, ZF has joined the Responsible Supply Chain Initiative (RSCI), which promotes sustainable supply chains in the automotive industry.

We strive to maintain a responsible and resilient supply chain for Critical Raw Materials (CRM), as outlined in the Material Change Report by Drive Sustainability. CRM are raw materials of significant economic importance that carry high supply risks, including environmental and social concerns. We prioritize transparency, traceability, and circularity of raw materials to prevent and mitigate ESG risks associated with their extraction and processing. This commitment is reflected in our raw material sourcing standards, which are included in contractual agreements with suppliers. Our expectations for suppliers include mandatory reporting of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold (3TG) smelters and refiners through the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT), mandatory reporting of cobalt and mica smelters through the Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT), and meeting circularity targets related to the proportion of recycled raw material content.