DSM Code of Business Conduct
DSM’s Code of Business Conduct is inextricably linked with our mission of ‘creating brighter lives for people today and generations to come.’ It also matches our core value: ‘our activities should contribute to a more sustainable world.’ The code – building on the DSM Values published in 2002 – was approved by the Managing Board in 2009 and launched in 2010.
At DSM, we collectively embrace the concept of sustainability. To us, being sustainable means simultaneously creating value along three dimensions: social, environmental and economic. In other words, it means a commitment to meeting the triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit. This forms the framework for our Code of Business Conduct, which defines how we choose to do business and interact with all our stakeholders.
Our employees are trained in the meaning and application of the DSM Code of Business Conduct. This training includes an awareness of potential corruption or fraud or other breaches of the code. The Managing Board holds DSM management accountable for code compliance.
The DSM Alert whistle-blower procedure and our management policy support compliance with the Code of Business Conduct. The DSM Compliance Officer responsible for dealing with violations of the code reports to the CEO and is invited to report independently once a year to the Supervisory Board. Proven violations can result in immediate discharge. In line with this policy, 41 employees were requested to leave the company during 2010 for breach of the Code of Business Conduct or other legal or local company regulations.
Compliance with the DSM Code of Business Conduct and with legal and local regulations is regularly audited. DSM is unaware of any cases of breach of human rights or the use of forced or child labor within its operations in 2010.
