Code of Conduct for Business Partners

Foreword

IGZ - DIE SAP INGENIEURE offers comprehensive services for managing and optimizing processes in logistics, production, distribution, and transportation management based on standard SAP software. Within the IGZ Group, we also act as a general contractor for intralogistics solutions. Through such sustainable, end-to-end solutions and continuous innovation in conjunction with standard SAP software, we set the standard in production and logistics in the digital age. This enables us to deliver high-performance and competitive projects for our customers.

We are a modern, fast-growing, and owner-managed family business. It is therefore important to us to bring these values and fundamental principles to life every day—together with our partners. Commitment, professionalism, strict adherence to deadlines, and a focus on quality, as well as respectful, appreciative, and long-term collaboration, are the cornerstones of our corporate culture.

 

Scope of Application

The current version of this Code of Conduct applies to all partners, suppliers, service providers, customers, and other business partners of IGZ and thus serves as the essential foundation for every business relationship with the IGZ Group. This Code of Conduct is also available at any time on our website at www.igz.com.

We expect our business partners and their employees to act responsibly and to adhere to the principles set forth in this Code of Conduct. If our business partners engage third parties (e.g., subcontractors or agents) in the course of their business relationships with IGZ, these third parties must also be bound by this Code of Conduct. The principles contained herein represent our minimum requirements.

 

1. Corporate Responsibility

For us, observing and complying with legal and regulatory requirements is a matter of course. All business partners and their employees are personally responsible for observing the legal regulations, regulatory requirements, and principles of ethical conduct within the scope of their activities.

What we expect from our business partners:

  • Respect for the dignity, privacy, and personal rights of every individual
  • Training and regular updates for employees on applicable occupational health and safety measures, safety standards, and safety procedures to ensure a safe work environment
  • Commitment to improving working conditions
  • Ensuring a healthy, safe, and hygienic work environment
  • Implementing necessary, appropriate, and verifiable measures and/or maintaining corresponding systems to identify, assess, and prevent potential hazards to employee health and safety
  • Conserving and using resources responsibly to prevent harmful effects on people, living organisms, and the environment in general
  • Providing employees with fair compensation that meets, at a minimum, the legally mandated and guaranteed minimum wage. In the absence of statutory or collective bargaining agreements, compensation is based on industry-specific, locally customary wage rates and benefits that ensure an adequate standard of living for employees and their families.
  • Respect for the right to freedom of association and the formation of interest groups
  • Ensuring working conditions that meet, at a minimum, the respective national legal requirements

What we will not tolerate under any circumstances from our business partners:

  • The use of forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking
  • Violations of legal requirements regarding occupational safety and health, as well as environmental protection
  • Failure to comply with legal requirements regarding product safety, labeling, and packaging, as well as the use of hazardous substances and materials
  • Discrimination based on skin color, gender, religion, age, nationality, social and/or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, worldview, or any other individual characteristics protected by applicable law
  • Any form of harassment or defamation (e.g., physical, sexual, or psychological) in the workplace, or participation therein

 

2. Business Relationships and Market Conduct

Our market-leading position is based in particular on the key success factors of innovation, technology, efficiency, quality, financial strength, transparency, and partnership on an equal footing with our business partners.

What we expect from our business partners:

  • Compliance with antitrust and competition laws
  • Compliance with applicable laws governing the import and export of goods, services, and information
  • Compliance with applicable legal provisions regarding anti-money laundering

What we will not tolerate under any circumstances from our business partners:

  • Behavior that hinders, restricts, or distorts free and fair competition
  • Collusive arrangements regarding prices, terms, allocation of market shares, or coordination of bidding or production strategies with other market participants
  • Exchanging cash in any form, except for very small amounts
  • Tolerating any form of bribery, whether in the form of cash payments, other forms of benefits, or unusual gifts (the only exceptions being customary promotional gifts of minimal value, e.g., “giveaways”)
  • Making offers, providing benefits, or making promises that could be construed as an attempt to influence or bribe a business partner or public official in order to gain business or personal advantages. Such offers, benefits, or promises must neither be made nor accepted.

 

3. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Our actions are guided by the principle of avoiding any kind of conflict of interest.

What we expect from our business partners:

  • Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
  • Disclosure and prompt resolution of any existing conflicts of interest
  • Making decisions based on sound judgment and by balancing all business interests
  • Avoiding disruptions to business relationships, particularly those arising from conflicts involving personnel and employees
  • Termination of the business relationship in the event of persistent, irreconcilable personnel conflicts

What we will not tolerate under any circumstances from our business partners:

  • Attempts to poach or make job offers to our member companies’ employees
  • Creating conflicts of interest through secondary employment or (equity) holdings in companies that compete with IGZ

 

4. Protection of Trade and Business Secrets

Innovation and know-how are key factors for success in a competitive environment and are therefore particularly important to us.

What we expect from our business partners:

  • Protection of sensitive business, technical, and financial information, trade secrets, know-how, and the intellectual property of IGZ and third parties
  • Use of confidential data exclusively for the purpose of direct collaboration

What we will not tolerate under any circumstances from our business partners:

  • Disclosure or unauthorized use of confidential information without our prior express written consent, particularly to third parties, even after the termination of a business relationship
  • Reproduction, reconstruction, and/or imitation of sensitive information, trade secrets, know-how, and intellectual property, particularly software (reverse engineering)

 

5. Data Protection

Our business partners can always rely on us to comply with the relevant laws and regulations governing the protection of personal data.

What we expect from our business partners:

  • Compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations, in particular the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

What we will not tolerate under any circumstances from our business partners:

  • Misuse of personal data belonging to employees, customers, suppliers, and third parties

 

6. Information Security

We place great importance on the security of our information and systems. Our business partners can trust that we take all reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our data.

What we expect from our business partners:

  • Compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding information security.
  • Implementation and maintenance of appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data and IT systems.
  • Prompt reporting of security incidents and potential threats to the appropriate contacts.
  • Training and raising employee awareness regarding information security.

What we will not tolerate under any circumstances from our business partners:

  • Unauthorized access to confidential information, systems, or networks.
  • Distribution of malware or other malicious programs.
  • Neglect of security measures that could compromise information security.
  • Disclosure of security-related information to unauthorized third parties.

 

Consequences of Violations

Business partners are required to notify us immediately of any violations of this Code of Conduct. To remedy a violation or take appropriate corrective action, the affected companies and individuals will be granted a reasonable period of time. IGZ must be informed, without being asked and in a timely manner, of all measures taken and their effectiveness.

In the event of violations of this Code of Conduct, we reserve the right to take legal action and pursue claims for damages. In the event of serious violations or failure to implement appropriate corrective measures to prevent further violations of any kind, we also reserve the right to terminate the business relationship without notice.

Handling of Complaints

Complaints or reports of violations of this Code of Conduct may be submitted for clarification to our designated contact point at the following email address: compliance@igz.com. Complaints or reports of violations will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and may also be submitted anonymously upon request.

Code of Conduct for Business Partners

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