Social and governance

Fostering ethical behavior through our Code of Conduct

We want to do the right things in the right way. That is why we have a Code of Conduct. All employees, business partners, and the Board of Directors are expected to follow the principles stated in the Code.

Colleagues gathered around a laptop in an office sitting area.

Doing the right things

Our Code of Conduct is at the heart of everything we do, outlining our core values and shaping our corporate culture. It emphasizes the importance of ethical business practices, and that we treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and respect.

Examples of what the Code includes:

  • Fair treatment: We ensure equal opportunities and respect for all, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
  • Environmental responsibility: We minimize our environmental impact by reducing waste and upholding high standards in terms of safety, health, environment, and quality.
  • Transparency: We maintain open communication with stakeholders and encourage reporting of any wrongdoing through our SpeakUp system.
  • Anti-corruption: We have zero tolerance for all forms of corruption and bribery. This applies to all business dealings and transactions in all countries where we operate.
  • Safety and well-being: We prioritize a safe and healthy work environment with strict safety protocols and regular training.
  • Human rights: We uphold human rights by ensuring fair labor practices, preventing child and forced labor, and promoting safe working conditions.

Why we have a Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct fosters a corporate culture based on ethical business practices. This video describes why the Code is important and how we implement it in our daily work.

The Code always applies 

While laws and standards vary across the countries we operate in, we always adhere to our Code of Conduct – even when it sets higher standards than local regulations. Available in over 30 languages, our Code of Conduct is accessible to all our stakeholders.

To ensure we live by our values, we have made implementing the Code a key part of our Group targets. All our employees need to sign a compliance statement annually and take our Code of Conduct training every two years. Also our significant business partners are required to confirm compliance with the Code by signing our Business Partner Criteria.

Learn more about our Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct site

Our Code is accessible to anyone through our external Code of Conduct site. It is available in multiple languages and includes our Business Partner Criteria, which our significant suppliers and distributors need to sign.

Code of Conduct training

We invite you to take our online training to discuss different ethical dilemmas. The training is available on a separate site and all in all it takes an hour to complete. It is available in multiple languages and can be done individually or jointly.

Report a concern

If you suspect a breach of our Code of Conduct or any other type of wrongdoing, we encourage you to report a concern through our external system SpeakUp. You can report anonymously in your local language.