Engaging with stakeholders on our material issues

Listening and responding to our priority stakeholders is a core part of our sustainability management approach. These stakeholders are the people who affect our business or who are affected by it.

The feedback we receive from these stakeholders helps us to understand their expectations and prioritise issues effectively. This informs our overall sustainability approach and our ability to deliver against shared sustainability goals.

We have identified six stakeholder groups: Customers, Suppliers, Employees, Owners and Investors, Local communities, Public and Regulatory Agencies, which are currently of primary importance to our sustainability approach.

Our Progress Review highlights examples of how we have engaged with these key stakeholders on the topics most material to them.

Materiality matrix 2018

Materiality matrix: glossary of material issues and SDG(s) directly supported

Biodiversity

Contributing to the preservation of biodiversity along Givaudan's value chain.

Zero hunger Life on land Partnership for the goals

Climate change

Mitigating effects on climate change along Givaudan's value chain by reducing emissions and adapting our capabilities.

Responsible consumption and production Climate action

Consumer health and wellbeing

Developing products and services that promote the health and well-being of people as they experience our ingredients in every-day consumer products.

Zero hunger Good health and well-being Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnership for the goals

Deforestation

Identifying raw materials linked to deforestation and collaborating with suppliers and other key partners to avoid deforestation along Givaudan’s supply chain.

Responsible consumption and production Climate action Life on land Partnership for the goals

Having a balanced workforce which reflects the societies in which Givaudan operates, including efforts to eliminate all discrimination and to ensure the opportunity for people from all backgrounds to succeed.

Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Partnership for the goals

Economic performance

Operating a profitable business model for the long-term viability of the Company.

Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Employee health, safety and wellness

Providing a safe and healthy working environment and encouraging responsible employee behaviours.

Good health and well-being Decent work and economic growth

Governance and business conduct

Ensuring business practices are in alignment with international standards, local laws and Givaudan standards in countries of operation. Safeguarding the effective functioning of the governing bodies of Givaudan.

Human rights

Ensuring that Givaudan respects human rights by acting with due diligence, as defined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Zero hunger Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Partnerships for the goals

Labour/management relations

Fostering collaborative labour relations with employees and employee elected representatives.

Decent work and economic growth

Local community development

Recognising and supporting the broader development goals of local communities where Givaudan operates in and sources from.

Zero hunger Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Partnerships for the goals

Product environmental and societal impact

Optimising the impact of our products within our whole supply chain, in the way they are designed, manufactured and ultimately used by the consumer, both in terms of environmental impact and ability to positively affect societal issues.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

Product quality and safety

Ensure our products are safe and comply with all applicable laws, regulations as well as customer requirements.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production

Raw material availability

Ensuring a stable supply of raw materials used in Givaudan's products.

Zero hunger Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Responsible sourcing

Fostering compliance with high standards in health, safety, social, environmental and business integrity in the way we source.

Zero hunger Decent work and economic growth Life on land Partnerships for the goals

Talent management

Effectively recruiting, developing, engaging, deploying and retaining a balanced workforce that meets future business imperatives.

Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Partnerships for the goals

Traceability

Understanding the supply chain and tracing the provenance of raw materials we use from their origin to the final formulation.

Decent work and economic growth Responsible consumption and production

Transparency and reporting

Disclosing an adequate level of information and data in alignment with recognised frameworks and in compliance with local laws and regulations.

Responsible consumption and production

Waste management

Pursuing a culture of waste elimination by adequately managing all Givaudan's waste streams.

Responsible consumption and production

Water stewardship

Optimising the use of intake water and ensuring the quality of discharged water. Assessing and addressing water risks at owned operations and in our supply chain.

Clean water and sanitation Responsible consumption and production Partnerships for the goals

Women’s empowerment

Implementing policies and programmes that are consistent with promoting equal opportunities for all.

Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Partnerships for the goals

Stakeholder engagement

The table below shows our key stakeholder groups along with some of the ways in which we interact with them and the topics which interest them.

Stakeholder	Dialogue channel	Key topics
Customers	Ongoing dialogue Customer sustainability requests Audits Customer innovation days Conferences and events At associations and advocacy organisations	Climate change Consumer health and well-being Human rights Product environmental and social impact Product quality and safety Responsible sourcing Transparency and reporting Traceability
Suppliers	Assessments Supplier audits Collaborations to improve performance Multi-stakeholder groups Supplier events: capacity building, discussing issues Direct engagement with supplier relationship managers	Responsible sourcing Raw material availability
Employees	Works Council consultations Employee engagement initiatives Annual performance dialogue Talent management processes Learning and development opportunities Green Teams, engagements and ongoing dialogue	Employee health, safety and wellness Diversity and inclusion Talent management Women’s empowerment
Owners and investors	Annual General Meeting/half-year meeting Annual investor road shows Briefings with analysts Conferences with investors and other financial stakeholders	Economic performance Raw material availability Talent management Transparency and reporting
Local communities	Community development programme survey Local site community engagement programme Ongoing dialogue with local authorities and community organisations Green Teams engaged in social activities within the communities we operate Givaudan Foundation Local partners (NGOs or cooperatives) acting as Givaudan agents	Employee health, safety and wellness Consumer health and well-being Product environmental and social impact Human rights Diversity and inclusion Transparency and reporting
Public and regulatory agencies	UNGC consultation Industry association consultation and commenting on emerging regulations CDP project workshop Membership of working groups/forums Media	Product quality and safety Responsible sourcing Product environmental and social impact Employee health, safety and wellness Transparency and reporting Human rights