GRI 2-29 Identification and selection of stakeholders, plus stakeholder engagement

Significant stakeholder groups for Geberit are customers, shareholders, analysts, the media, employees and trade unions, neighbours, municipalities and authorities, research institutes, suppliers, transport companies, associations, non-government organisations and the general public.

A systematic guided dialogue with stakeholders helps Geberit to identify possible conflict issues and opportunities for further development and to respond to these in good time. On national and international levels, the Geberit Group and its local companies maintain relations with organisations and institutions in the respective countries that direct requests and suggestions to the company. The stakeholders have been identified as important for systematic stakeholder dialogue as they fulfil at least one of two criteria: either the stakeholder group exerts a strong influence on the economic, environmental or social performance of Geberit and/or the stakeholder group is strongly affected by the economic, environmental or social performance of Geberit. An external stakeholder panel helps Geberit to review its assessment of important stakeholder groups and their concerns.

In 2022, Geberit consulted an external Stakeholder Panel for the sixth time. Their mandate was to give feedback on the sustainability performance, materiality analysis, CO₂ strategy, strategic approaches on the topics of diversity and inclusion, and ESG governance. The results are presented in the Panel Statement. The external review and the recommendations contained therein are dealt with in detail in the response from Geberit to the Panel Statement.

Based on the stakeholder analysis, Geberit identifies both potential for conflict and opportunities, and pursues a cooperative approach when it comes to discussing and further developing possible measures with the stakeholders concerned. Feedback from stakeholder dialogues is incorporated into the Materiality analysis and into the Sustainability strategy.

Engagement of stakeholders according to stakeholder group:

Customers

Technical advisors working in the field who are in daily contact with plumbers, sanitary engineers and architects.
In the reporting year, some 60,000 professionals were provided with education and further training on Geberit products, tools, software tools and installation skills at 30 Geberit Information Centres in Europe and overseas. Furthermore, some 18,000 people took part in a wide range of webinars and alternative training formats.
The further expanded trade fair concept first presented in 2022 with its open, modular booths was used again in the reporting year. Geberit was present with a large booth at the leading global trade fair ISH in Frankfurt (DE). In addition to this, other important presentations were made at VVS in Odense (DK), the Energiesparmesse trade fair in Wels (AT) and at BouwBeurs in Utrecht (NL).
Further expansion and intensification of social media presence and the sending of newsletters.

For further information, see Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2023 > Customers.

Shareholders and analysts

Shareholders have statutory participatory rights.
Regular telephone conferences, bilateral meetings, conferences and roadshows with the CEO, CFO and Head Corporate Communications and Investor Relations.

Media

Regular conference calls, bilateral meetings and interviews with the relevant media for Geberit.
Sustainability topics and in particular Geberit’s performance in this area play an important role in the media activities of Geberit.

Employees and trade unions

Geberit Europe Forum with employee representatives from most European countries, during which a member of the Group Executive Board and the Head Corporate Human Resources meet with the delegates.
Training and feedback opportunities on topics regarding the Code of Conduct.
Group-wide Geberit Integrity Line to enable all employees across the world to report irregularities anonymously in the corresponding language.
Regular employee survey of all employees of the Geberit Group, most recently in 2021. The next survey is planned for 2025. Furthermore, short surveys on specific topics in individual areas and companies are due to take place in the meantime.

For further information, see Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2023 > Employees.

Neighbours, municipalities and authorities

Consultation with and inclusion of the neighbours of production plants in larger construction projects.

Research institutes

Partner of the research platform NEST (Next Evolution in Sustainable Building Technologies) at EAWAG (aquatic research institute of the ETH Domain) and Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) in Dübendorf (CH). In the Water Hub, systems are tested that use water and waste water as efficiently and diversely as possible.
Cooperation on technological trends and developments directly related to sanitary technology with Empa Dübendorf, University of Applied Sciences OST Rapperswil, University of Zurich, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland Brugg-Windisch, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (all CH), as well as the Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences and the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences (both DE) and others.

Suppliers

Initial contact within the scope of the assessment procedure and implementation of the Code of Conduct for Suppliers.
Regular discussions with suppliers on site.
On-site audits (quality, environment, occupational health and safety) carried out by Geberit and external partners.
Integrity Line for suppliers for anonymously reporting irregularities in the procurement process or non-compliance with the Code of Conduct for Suppliers.
Increased exchange on product data during the creation of environmental product declarations (EPDs), on sustainable product solutions and on possibilities of reducing CO₂ emissions in the supply chain.

For further information, see Procurement or Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2023 > Procurement.

Transport companies

Discussions with transport service providers based on the results of environmental monitoring.

For further information, see Logistics or Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2023 > Logistics.

Associations

Involvement in various associations and organisations with participation in corresponding management bodies and programmes, see GRI 2-28.

Non-government organisations and the general public

Membership of the charitable organisation Swiss Water Partnership, which brings together members from academia, civil society, and the public and private sector to address challenges in the area of water.