3. Organisational profile
GRI 102-1 NAME OF THE ORGANISATION
Geberit Group.
GRI 102-2 ACTIVITIES, BRANDS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Geberit offers customers high-quality sanitary products for applications in private residential construction and public buildings. The systems are used in both renovation projects and new buildings.
The product area Sanitary Systems comprises all sanitary installation technology plus the broad range of flushing systems for toilets and is divided into the four product lines Installation Systems, Cisterns and Mechanisms, Faucets and Flushing Systems, and Waste Fittings and Traps. The product area Piping Systems comprises all piping technology found in buildings for drinking water, heating, gas and other media and is divided into the product lines Building Drainage Systems and Supply Systems. The product area Sanitary Ceramics comprises the product lines Bathroom Ceramics and Ceramics Complementary Products.
For further information on the product range, see www.geberit.com > Products > Product range.
For 2018 sales by product area and product line, see Business Report > Business and financial year > Financial Year 2018 > Sales.
GRI 102-3 LOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS
The Geberit Group has its headquarters in Rapperswil-Jona (CH).
GRI 102-4 COUNTRIES WITH BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Geberit has its own representatives in 49 countries. The products are sold in 117 countries throughout the world. The company has 30 specialised production companies in 14 different countries close to the most important sales markets and a central logistics centre in Pfullendorf (DE), as well as a network of 13 European distribution sites for the ceramics business.
For a list of the countries in which Geberit operates, see Financials > Consolidated financial statements Geberit Group > Notes > Note 33.
GRI 102-5 OWNERSHIP AND LEGAL FORM
Geberit AG, the parent company of the Geberit Group, is a stock corporation (AG) under Swiss law.
GRI 102-6 MARKETS SERVED
In terms of market cultivation, Geberit relies on a three-stage distribution channel. The vast majority of products are distributed via the wholesale trade. Dealerships then sell them to plumbers and present them at exhibitions and other events where end customers can gain information. At the same time, Geberit provides plumbers and sanitary engineers with intensive support through training and advice. This leads to increased demand for Geberit products from wholesalers.
For sales by markets and regions as well as by product areas and product lines, see Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2018 > Sales.
GRI 102-7 SCALE OF THE REPORTING ORGANISATION
The Geberit Group’s market capitalisation reached CHF 14.2 billion at the end of 2018 (previous year CHF 16.3 billion). For the consolidated balance sheet with details of current assets, non-current assets, equity and liabilities, see Financials > Consolidated financial statements Geberit Group > Balance Sheet. In 2018, sales amounted to CHF 3,081 million (previous year CHF 2,908 million).
At the end of 2018, the Group had 11,630 employees (previous year 11,709 employees). For the number of business sites, see GRI 102-4.
GRI 102-8 COMPOSITION OF THE WORKFORCE
At the end of 2018, the Geberit Group employed 11,630 staff worldwide, which is 79 employees or 0.7% fewer than in the previous year. The drop is due to a cut in production. In addition to synergies and efficiency-enhancing measures, the main reason for this was the termination of individual employment relationships – which mostly took place in the final quarter of 2018 – as part of the closure of two ceramics plants in France in the previous year. Specific activities at various sales companies had the reverse effect, however.
For key figures on the workforce by employment type, employment contract, region and gender, see Key figures sustainability > Employees and society.
GRI 102-10 STRUCTURAL CHANGES
There were no major structural changes in the reporting year, see also Financials > Consolidated financial statements Geberit Group > Notes > Note 2.
GRI 102-11 CONSIDERATION OF THE PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH
The precautionary approach plays an important role for Geberit as a production company. This approach is described in the Geberit Code of Conduct.
The Geberit Group has a Group certificate in accordance with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational health and safety) that is valid until the end of 2021. At the end of the reporting year, all production plants were certified in accordance with ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environment). The Geberit Safety System was implemented worldwide in 2018 and all of our production plants will be certified according to the new occupational safety standard ISO 45001 by the end of 2019. Five German plants are also certified according to ISO 50001 (energy).
In the environmental area, the company remains committed to its ambitious goals of improving the relative environmental impact and relative CO2 emissions by 5% annually. In addition, a long-term CO2 target was developed in 2016 that is compatible with the two-degree target set out in the Paris Agreement (science-based). It comprises a reduction of absolute CO2 emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 6% between 2015 and 2021 to under 240,000 tonnes (based on organic growth).
In the area of occupational safety, the aim is to halve the frequency and severity of accidents by 2025 based on the reference year 2015.
The Geberit Production System (GPS) is implemented at all plants. Best-practice standards in production are uniformly implemented using methods such as SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies), TPM (Total Production Maintenance), 5S (Workplace Organisation Methodology) and CIP (Continuous Improvement Process).
An extensive system for the control and management of all risks involved in business activities is in place throughout the Group. For further information, see Business Report > Corporate Governance > Board of Directors > Information and control instruments vis-à-vis the Group Executive Board.
GRI 102-12 EXTERNAL INITIATIVES
In 2017, Geberit played a key role in establishing a new platform for the European sanitary industry – the European Bathroom Forum (EBF). One of the first tasks was the launch of a new European water label as a voluntary and flexible instrument to support customers in the selection of resource-efficient products. This aims to help achieve the EU goals for resource efficiency.
GRI 102-13 MEMBERSHIP OF ASSOCIATIONS
Geberit is involved in various associations and organisations that make a contribution toward sustainability. In addition, various Geberit companies are members of national associations on topics such as green building, environmentally friendly production, energy, waste management and employee protection.
The company has been a member of the Transparency International organisation since June 2000 and supports its objectives for combating corruption. Since 2007, Geberit has voluntarily applied the comprehensive guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for sustainability reporting and has thereby made an active contribution towards ensuring transparency and comparability in this reporting. Geberit has also been a formal member of the UN Global Compact since October 2008 and was a founding member of the local Swiss network in 2011.
Geberit has been a member of the non-profit organisation Swiss Water Partnership since 2012. This platform seeks to bring together all those involved in the topic of water supply (from academic, economic as well as public and private spheres) to collectively address future challenges and promote international dialogue on water.
For major commitments, see www.geberit.com > Company > Sustainability > UN Global Compact and Memberships.