Annual Report 2012 - Knorr-Bremse AG.

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Corporate responsibility and
sustainable development
Sustainable development and corporate responsibility
(CR) again had an important part to play in fiscal 2012 and
were taken forward at the company.
In the year under review, one central aspect of Knorr-
Bremse’s CR activities was the redefinition of its corporate
values (“Entrepreneurship”, “Reliability”, “Technological Excellence”,
“Passion” and “Responsibility”) and of the policies
based on these values. The principles and strategic
objectives of responsible business practices were defined
in a CR policy and guidelines laid down to illustrate how
the Group interprets CR and sustainable development. A
globally binding Code of Conduct was also drawn up as a
frame of reference for how to behave in line with the requirements
of the law and of company rules and regulations.
a result, the local people are in a position to establish a
secure livelihood and build a brighter future.
Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. was founded in response
to the tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004 to provide
effective and lasting help to the victims. In the year under
review, 46 aid projects were realized in a total of 23 countries
on four continents. The projects are supervised on
a voluntary basis and with great dedication by Knorr-
Bremse employees. In 2012, by providing EUR 1.6 million
in funding, Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V. reached out to
help some 50,000 people.
One key focus of the Group’s commitment to CR was the
further anchoring of the international principles of the
UN Global Compact in its business practices. The year under
review brought the completion of a Group-wide survey
that reviewed the implementation of the principles of
the Global Compact. The aim of the survey was to determine
which systems and local approaches are being used
to ensure compliance with labor, environmental and social
standards and respect for human rights, and in which
areas there is room for improvement. A plan of action
based on the findings was then drawn up. Knorr-Bremse
published some of the survey findings in its second Global
Compact Communication on Progress.
As in previous years, in 2012 Knorr-Bremse supported the
charitable organization Knorr-Bremse Global Care e. V.,
which was founded in 2005, providing funding for its activities
in the amount of EUR 1.5 million. The main focus of
the organization’s activities in 2012 was again on projects
designed to sustainably transform the situation of people
in need by helping them to help themselves. Examples
included an integrative farming project in Kenya which,
by providing theoretical training and better quality plants
and seeds, aims to improve the food security situation. As