Sustainability
Sustainability in all its dimensions is a central component of our corporate strategy. The Schaeffler Group will operate climate-neutral starting in 2040. This target includes the entire supply chain and is underpinned by ambitious medium-term sustainability targets. We want to face up these challenges together with our business partners. Our aim is to make the supplier network transparent in order to identify and minimize risks at an early stage. In this way, we also meet the requirements and expectations of our customers and other stakeholders together.
- Developing supply chain sustainability in partnership
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Sustainable procurement policy
- Sustainability self-assessment
- Conflict Minerals Policy and Critical Raw Materials Policy
- Human Trafficking Policy
- Statement on respect for human rights
- Supplier training and action guide of BMAS
- Environmental protection and work safety
- Prohibited and declarable substances
- Climate protection and energy efficiency
Developing supply chain sustainability in partnership
The Schaeffler Supplier Code of Conduct is the basis for responsible cooperation with our suppliers.
We conduct a sustainability-related risk assessment of our suppliers.
We reduce the identified risks through global standards, assessments, and audits.
Self-Assessments provided by our suppliers give us a more detailed insight into their sustainability performance.
In sourcing decisions, we take the sustainable actions of our suppliers into account.
Supplier Code of Conduct
In order to meet our responsibility and the expectations of our customers and stakeholders, we have defined corresponding requirements for our suppliers in our Supplier Code of Conduct. To ensure consistent compliance, these must be passed on to the entire supplier network. The supplier's acceptance of the Schaeffler Group Supplier Code of Conduct therefore represents a mandatory basis for all existing and future business relationships.
Sustainable procurement policy
Sustainability is defined by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Our customers also make their procurement decisions based in particular on aspects of environmental protection and social responsibility. Going beyond legal sustainability requirements, as well as assessments by NGOs and investors, a sustainable purchasing strategy is becoming increasingly important.
In line with this, we set ourselves a binding framework with our "Sustainable Purchasing Policy" in which we meet our needs for products, processes and services in a way that achieves value on a lifecycle basis by benefiting not only us as an organization, but also society and the economy, while minimizing damage to the environment.
Sustainability self-assessment
To understand and develop the sustainability performance of identified suppliers, we use the standardized Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) on sustainability from the Drive Sustainability initiative. Suppliers selected for this purpose receive an invitation via NQC Ltd. to complete the questionnaire on the SupplierAssurance platform. If your company is already registered on NQC Ltd., we look forward to hearing from you so that we can view your SAQ.
FAQ – Supplier Sustainability Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)
Guideline for improvement of SAQ-Score
This guideline provides you an approach for the improvement of your SAQ-Score as well as an exemplary prioritization of topics.
Conflict Minerals Policy and Critical Raw Materials Policy
Schaeffler does not directly source any of the minerals concerned for its value creation, but is aware that conflict minerals may occur in the supply chain. Schaeffler therefore demands of itself and its suppliers that all Schaeffler products are free of minerals whose trade is used directly or indirectly to finance conflicts in states or which originate from mining activities in conflict or high-risk areas.
Against this background, Schaeffler requires responsible sourcing of these minerals in its supplier network and refers to the guideline "OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict Affected and High Risk Areas" for this requirement.
Schaeffler expects from the suppliers identified as relevant for Conflict Minerals Compliance to report regarding the presence of Conflict Minerals on an annual basis, using the globally accepted format – RMI CMRT Reporting Template.
Procedure/process flow | Conflict Minerals & Critical Raw Materials Reporting
The latest version of the reporting template can always be downloaded from the Responsible Minerals Initiative website - Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (responsiblemineralsinitiative.org)
Human Trafficking Policy
Almost every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims. Therefore, Schaeffler Group pays special attention to human trafficking.
The Human Trafficking Policy describes fundamental principles and measures to prevent forced labor and human trafficking. The policy applies to all areas of our company. We request our business partners and their supply chains to implement effective measures to prevent forced labor and human trafficking and to regularly monitor their effectiveness.
Statement on respect for human rights
As an internationally operating company, Schaeffler is aware of its social responsibility and is therefore unequivocally committed to respecting human rights throughout its entire value chain. Our comprehensive approach includes not only our own business activities, but also all stakeholders along the value chain, such as suppliers and business partners. The aim is to identify any violations and address them through appropriate measures - if necessary, up to and including the termination of business relationships. The company's own voluntary commitment including a description of the salient human rights issues, processes and measures are set out in the Human Rights Statement.
Supplier training and action guide of BMAS
Continuous joint development can only be successful if we have a common understanding of requirements and the background to them. For you as a supplier, we have therefore created a platform together with our partner BSD/Elevate that gives you access to free training sessions. These trainings serve to clarify your questions in relation to our requirements and to explain the background.
Within the framework of the German Act on Supply Chain Due Diligence Obligation, it is your joint responsibility to use this free offer after registering as a Schaeffler supplier in order to better understand the Schaeffler requirements (free registration with branch code “SGSUP”).
As a further way of use, we also see a targeted binding recommendation of training participation, for example, if we agree on potential improvements with you based on our risk analysis sustainability (Risk Exposure Sustainability or Self Assessment Questionnaire) (free registration with branch code “SGCAP).
The trainings include a learning success check at the end.
All information is subject to the agreed confidentiality agreements as well as the rules of the DSGVo.
Please register for your access with the necessary data and the branch code "SGSUP" or "SGCAP" and follow the instructions: Register EiQ Learn
After your registration, you can log in directly by entering your name and password: Sign In EiQ Learn
Instruction manual BMAS
The Automotive Industry Dialogue developed the action guides for the five core elements of human rights due diligence (policy statement, risk analysis, measures, reporting and grievance mechanism).
They are self-contained guides and fully address the requirements of the National Action Plan (NAP). In addition, the requirements of the LkSG are taken into account and identified separately. The implementation-oriented action guides act as a toolbox and guideposts in the individual and ongoing process of implementing human rights due diligence.
The instructions for action are available for download: Download instructions
Environmental protection and work safety
Environmental protection and work safety are fundamental parts of Schaeffler’s management guideline.
Our EHS policy (environmental protection, occupational health, and safety) describes the principles and is part of the management guideline. We help ensure the continuity and success of our company by creating and sustaining a work environment that is safe, healthy, and conducive to performance and by actively protecting the environment.
The following principles apply to all areas of our company. We are committed to taking responsibility for our employees, society, and future generations.
We encourage our business partners and their supply chain to act accordingly.
Prohibited and declarable substances
In the table below you will find the binding standards regarding "prohibited and declarable substances” for production material suppliers of Schaeffler. Accordingly, all suppliers are required to declare all substances fully and may not supply prohibited substances in products to Schaeffler.
Applicable documents
Please select the appropriate category for your product. If the category is unclear, please contact your Schaeffler contact, e. g. local purchasing department, substance group coordinator or application engineering.
Category A must be selected for purchased products that remain in or on Schaeffler sales products.
Category B must be selected for purchased products that are used in manufacturing processes and maintenance but do not remain in Schaeffler sales products. For purchased parts category B, which are not chemicals and mixtures, item 7 in the conformity declaration does not need to be filled in!
Category C must be selected for purchased products that are used as packaging for Schaeffler sales products and supplied to customers.
Training documents & Examples
Quick Guide to the Declaration of Conformity of S132030-1, Appendix A
Process instruction on prohibited and declarable substances S132030-1
Example: Conformity declaration Category A
Example: Conformity declaration Category B
Example: Conformity declaration Category C
Training on S 132030-1
General information on material compliance
Climate protection and energy efficiency
Our Energy Policy describes the principles of responsible usage of energy resources. This also includes the established energy management system, which ensures a continuous improvement of energy performance in the company. Through the technical delivery conditions S151010-25, we set standards for energy efficiency in the procurement of new machinery and facilities.
With these measures, Schaeffler supports the applicable climate protection targets and thus assumes responsibility towards society and future generations. The following principles apply to all areas of our company worldwide and we therefore also encourage our business partners and their supply chain to follow them.
In our guide, suppliers can find more information on how to manage and reduce emissions:
Calculation of emissions
Climate protection is closely related to the emission or generation of CO2 emissions. A significant proportion of the CO2 emissions of our products are already caused in the supply chain and are referred to as Scope 3 upstream emissions. We therefore expect our suppliers to provide transparent and comprehensible information in this context. An overview of the required, standardized calculation of emissions is shown in the following document.
Product Carbon Footprint Calculation (overview)
In addition to this overview, the PCF Guideline supports with further and more detailed information on the calculation of a Product Carbon Footprint.