Social responsibility

Social responsibility at Geberit

Our approach

Geberit assumes social responsibility with a focus on ensuring fair opportunities on the job market and creating long-term career perspectives. This commitment is put into action in two complementary areas: on the one hand, through projects aimed at promoting vocational training in the sanitary industry while also improving access to clean water and the sanitary infrastructure in developing countries. On the other hand, through the integration of people with disabilities working in and around its own sites. To do this, Geberit works together with social workshops and creates inclusive workplaces in its own plants. In this way, a targeted contribution is made towards increasing individual employment opportunities and improving the quality of life of many people over the long term.

Projects with apprentices

Geberit has been carrying out social projects with its own apprentices in developing and newly industrialised countries since 2008. This social commitment has now become a tradition: under professional supervision, the apprentices renovate sanitary facilities in educational, social and health institutions and gain intercultural, linguistic and professional competencies. They also act as ambassadors for the company and its social commitment. The social projects make a tangible contribution to Goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations, which aims to give all humans access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation.

In 2025, ten apprentices from Germany, Austria and Switzerland travelled to Kenya. They installed 23 toilets, 8 washbasins and 16 showers at Kagwe Girls School in Kiambu County in northern Kenya and ensured a reliable water supply. The project will benefit 1,200 schoolchildren and their teachers.

Globally engaged

With its social engagement strategy, Geberit expressly reinforces the company’s contribution to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all (Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations). This is put into action in various vocational education projects. Since 2024, a dual vocational training programme for sanitary specialists in Kenya has been run in collaboration with the Hilti Foundation and the Swiss foundation Swisscontact. The training centre in Karen near Nairobi was built and fitted out in 2024. In addition to donating materials, Geberit plays a key role in developing the curriculum and in the further training of the teachers and training leads. The local apprentices were also supported with scholarships. In 2025, 35 apprentices from the second student intake successfully completed their training. Since the start of the programme, 163 apprentices have taken part in sanitary training; almost 80 have already completed their apprenticeship. Around 80% of the graduates have been employed as sanitary specialists following completion of the programme. Around 25 local sanitary companies contribute to the programme by providing apprenticeship positions.

In Ukraine, the local Geberit sales company continued its long-standing vocational education project in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Swiss foundation Swisscontact and the Ukrainian Ministry of Education. Between 2023 and 2025 (third implementation phase), 2,067 people completed their sanitary training. The completion rate was 88%. Additionally, 23 teachers from 22 vocational schools took part in further training. As there is very high demand for short-term courses for adults, two new training centres received accreditation in the reporting year, where more than 100 people took part in sanitary training. Furthermore, 19 vocational schools were supported with sanitary equipment and learning materials. A further 35 schools and educational institutions received 700 Geberit washbasins. The company’s commitment in Ukraine was significantly expanded in the reporting year: Geberit is participating in the rebuilding programme of the Swiss Federation run by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). By the end of 2027, the sanitary facilities in around 150 vocational training institutions should be modernised. Geberit is providing over 5,300 toilets and washbasins for this project. Installation will be carried out by the Ukrainian students themselves – supervised by their trainers and specialists from Geberit. This will lead to the simultaneous creation of modern infrastructure and new skills. The corresponding contractual agreements were concluded by the end of the reporting year. The start of renovation work is planned for the beginning of 2026.

Additionally, Geberit supported the “L’Unique Foundation” from Basel, which installs sanitary facilities in schools in Nepal, and also the competition for young professionals held by Swiss Water Partnership, a network of over 70 Swiss organisations that develops innovative solutions for global water problems.

All social projects are regularly supervised and evaluated by employees on site or in cooperation with NGOs – including after completion of the projects in question. Donations (product donations and financial contributions) totalling CHF 4.1 million (previous year CHF 4.1 million) were made during the reporting year.

Integration and inclusion

The Geberit Group’s social commitment is rounded off by a multitude of initiatives on inclusion and social cohesion at a local level. At various Geberit sites in Europe, such as Germany, Austria, Poland, France and Switzerland, for example, production, assembly and packaging work is regularly awarded to workshops for people with disabilities. In the reporting year, a total of 30 partner institutions in 12 countries were supported. This work amounted to CHF 9.6 million (previous year CHF 8.9 million).

Financial expenditure in the area of social engagement

The following figure offers an overview of donations, financial contributions and orders to social institutions/workshops (see also the sections “Globally engaged” and “Integration and inclusion” above).

Since the reference year 2015, the total financial expenditure here has increased by 59% from CHF 8.6 million to CHF 13.7 million.

All donations are neutral from a party-political point of view. No donations were made to parties or politicians. This is ensured globally as part of the annual review of the Code of Conduct.