Sustainability

Sustainability management: Lived in all areas of the company

Sustainable development is a core activity at Bayer; it is lived in all parts of the company. Group-wide control of this task is handled by the Bayer Corporate Sustainability Board, the most important committee for sustainability management at Group level. The Corporate Sustainability Board is made up of the members of the management boards of the subgroups responsible for research and technology and the heads of the Corporate Center departments Corporate Human Resources & Organization, Communications and Environment & Sustainability. Chaired by the Group Management Board member responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment, this body meets quarterly to jointly establish the sustainability strategy and objectives, adopt Group directives and decide on key initiatives.

This committee defines annual goals, oversees the implementation of measures and adopts corresponding Group directives. The sustainability objectives of the Group and of the subgroups are documented in our Sustainability Program 2006+.

Our policy guidelines

Bayer’s sustainability management is based on long-term values and clear guidelines. Our mission statement “Bayer: Science For A Better Life” is reinforced by internal Bayer policy guidelines and positions and by our voluntary commitments to international sustainability initiatives.

Voluntary commitments	Selected positions and policy guidelines
Responsible Care Initiative UN Global Compact World Business Council for Sustainable Development	Sustainable Development Human Rights Corporate Compliance Nanotechnology and Gene Technology Biomonitoring Responsible Lobbying

To raise awareness of legal compliance and corporate responsibility among its workforce, Bayer updated its compliance program in 2008. The new Corporate Compliance Policy highlights the fact that principles such as a strict ban on corruption and anti-competitive practices, fair and respectful working conditions and the protection of intellectual property rights are core aspects of compliance at Bayer.

Furthermore, in 2009 a Group-wide code of conduct for responsible lobbying came into effect that binds all lobbyists and consultants of the company to clearly identify themselves as such and to represent the company’s business interests. In 2008 – 2009, we also further optimized our strategy for implementing sustainability in purchasing and developed basic sustainability standards that form a code of conduct for our suppliers.

Our standards

Our Group-wide directives provide a clear and unified framework of action for all parts of the company. In addition, the subgroups enact systems and rules that address their specific requirements.

To ensure uniformly high health, safety, environmental protection and quality standards, Bayer has established HSEQ management systems in all subgroups and service companies that are aligned to acknowledged international standards (see table).

The HSE data are pooled via the Group-wide site information system BaySIS®. Through continuous updating and expansion of HSEQ directives and through internal audits, each organizational unit ensures that its management systems meet the specific requirements.

Bayer production sites with certifications and audits (in %)
	2007	2008
Certified to ISO 14001 or validated to EMAS standards	33	34
HSE management system based on other external standards*	10	21
Certified to OHSAS 18001	8	8
Sites with a Bayer-audited HSE management system	64	77

* e.g. the Responsible Care Management System in the United States, the Agrichemical Warehousing Standards and CropLife Manufacturing Code of Practice in Canada, and Industria Limpia (Clean Industry) in Mexico
see also Reporting principles

All subgroups and service companies have the quality management systems that their business necessitates. Quality standards and norms are often defined on a branch-by-branch basis.