Sustainability Report 2022_23

Safeguarding Our Future with Sustainability
8
Central aspects of corporate
governance
As an internationally active stock company with its registered
seat in Altenberge, Schmitz Cargobull AG is subject to the
regulations of German stock corporation law, capital market
law, and co-determination law as well as the provisions of
its Articles of Association. Schmitz Cargobull is not listed on
the stock exchange.
With its two bodies, the Management Board and the Supervisory
Board, Schmitz Cargobull maintains a two-tier management
and supervisory structure. An intensive, continuous
dialogue between the Management Board and the Supervisory
Board forms the foundation for efficient company
management. Furthermore, the family council serves as
an organisation to express the owners’ will. Supervisory
board members are nominated by the family council on
the employer side and by the IG Metall trade union on the
employee side in accordance with the requirements of the
German Stock Corporation Act. The Supervisory Board
advises and monitors the Management Board and appoints
its members. It has equal representation in accordance with
the German Stock Corporation Act and meets four times a
year to be informed about current company developments.
In addition, a financial audit committee meets on a regular
basis.
The Management Board and Supervisory Board conduct
a regular dialogue on strategic measures, planning, business
development, the risk situation, and management and
corporate compliance. With regard to the strategic development
of the company in terms of sustainability, the Supervisory
Board acts in a supervisory and advisory capacity.
The Sustainability Report is reviewed and approved by
the Supervisory Board.
Utilising the existing mechanisms, the Supervisory Board
ensures that conflicts of interest are avoided or mitigated.
These mechanisms include the Code of Conduct, employment
contracts, the four-eyes principle or functional controls
Fulfilment of our due diligence obligations
Schmitz Cargobull is conscious of its corporate responsibility
and has committed itself to fulfilling its corporate due
diligence obligations towards people and the environment in
the form of a Declaration of Principle. This applies to the
company’s own area of business as well as to the upstream
and downstream activities in the value chain.
Employees, business partners and other stakeholders can
submit information on possible violations of our due diligence
obligations with regard to human rights or and the environment
at any time – anonymously and through various channels.
Schmitz Cargobull has appointed external ombuds persons
for this purpose. As lawyers, they are subject to statutory
confidentiality obligations.
The contact details for our ombudspersons can be
found on our website.
Nevertheless, violations of our due diligence
obligations with regard to human rights and or environment
can occur despite our preventative and control measures.
If a possible violation is identified, we will immediately initiate
a regulatory process to prevent any negative impact on
human rights and the environment. The effective implementation
of our due diligence obligations with regard to human
rights and the environment is constantly reviewed and
adapted as part of a continuous improvement process. We
will report on future developments and progress to ensure
the fulfilment of our due diligence obligations in our regular
sustainability reporting and also as part of the annual
Federal Office of Economics and Export Control Report
(BAFA).
➔ GRI 2-1, 2-9, 2-10, 2-12, 2-14, 2-15, 2-16, 2-23, 2-24, 2-25, 2-26