Our Philosophy

Introduction

As an international company represented in 17 countries across Central Europe, Pointner & Rothschädl Group’s top goal since 1945 has been long-term business relationships with partners and satisfied customers. Fairness, openness and respect for all customers, partners and staff is as a matter of course for us.

As an efficiently organized company with a highly trained team, high-quality portfolio and tailor-made service, we are a reliable partner not only to customers and suppliers, but also to our employees, to whom we offer a respectful and stable work environment.

This Declaration of Commitment is a code of conduct that sets out the values and principles of Pointner & Rothschädl Group. This code of conduct contributes to continuously guaranteeing the high quality of our business activities, customer relationships and work environment. The values, principles and provisions presented here are binding for all employees, and regulate their daily work as well as their interactions with colleagues, customers, suppliers and everyone who is involved in any way with the day-to-day operations of our company.

This guarantees that we, both as indiviudal employees and as a company, always act in compliance with the law and in accordance with ethical, health and safety, and environmental principles, as well as according to quality related requirements.

All employees are representatives of Pointner & Rothschädl Group and shape the company’s reputation through their presentation, behavior and actions.

This code of conduct is based on accepted national and international standards. Special regulations in laws, ordinances, company agreements, internal guidelines (in particular instructions related to procedures and work, safety and quality regulations, etc.) remain unaffected.

Our internal principles are by no means unalterable, but rather are aligned with societal conditions and are continuously developed and changed accordingly.

Dealing with employees, customers and business partners

Interaction with business partners – as well as the interaction between our employees – is characterized by fairness, respect and transparency. We expect all employees, customers and business partners to behave in a respectful and fair manner at all times, and to respect each other’s rights and privacy.

Pointner & Rothschädl Group maintains long-standing customer relationships based on trusting, sustainable cooperation. As an international company, we always deal with our customers, employees and business partners with integrity and tolerance. Thus, we always act respectfully and irreproachably towards customers, suppliers and other external third parties who have a business relationship with Pointner & Rothschädl Group.

Human rights

In accordance with international law, we are commited to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights.

Pointner & Rothschädl Group considers the following rights, among others, to be fundamental and universal:

• protection against any form of discrimination, whether based on ethnic origin, creed, color, nationality, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, membership of a national minority, disability or any other status;
• protection from any form of arbitrary arrest, killing or torture;
• freedom of peaceful assemblies and gatherings;
• freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of opinion and expression.

Forced and child labor are not tolerated. We strictly reject both.
The rights of young workers must be respected and protected under all circumstances.

Safety, health, environment and quality

Pointner & Rothschädl Group strives to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees. All of our employees have a duty to put this principle into practice in their individual actions. For this reason, we use regular training and development opportunities to train our team in health, environmental and safety standards, and to inform them about updated safety measures. This ensures that our employees are always able to adopt and implement these standards and measures.

We strive to continuously improve all of our activities, procedures and work environments. This continuous optimization requires quality control measures, strict target setting, and monitoring the achievement of targets. Our targets also include conserving natural resources and our environment. In addition to our business objectives, we therefore also set ourselves goals in the areas of health protection, safety and environmental protection, allowing us to create the conditions for us to continuously improve and develop as a company in all areas.

In this context, Pointner & Rothschädl Group is committed to the responsible use of energy and raw materials, to minimizing and avoiding processes which are harmful to the environment, and to promoting environmental awareness among employees. Through this, we aim to minimize hazards to the environment and health as much as possible.

Fair competition

Our long-standing business relationships with our customers and partners are characterized by trust, mutual respect and cooperation. For this reason, we advocate fair competition without exception, and expect the same from our business partners. We will not tolerate unfair means or anti-competitive behavior, such as price collusion with competitors or other unfair agreements, or the abuse of a dominant market position, in any way.

Combating white-collar crime and corruption

Corruption is defined as the abuse of a position of trust with the goal of obtaining a material or immaterial advantage to which there is no legitimate claim. Pointner & Rothschädl Group employees are required to act in a manner that is consistently against any form of corruption and bribery, and to unequivocally distance themselves from it. Company management acts as a role model for employees and is committed to responsible corporate governance with integrity. The principle underpinning all our commercial activity is the legal, honest and ethically correct business conduct of all employees. Detailed information on combating corruption can be found in our anti-corruption guidelines.

Conflicts of interest

A conflict of interest exists when the private interests of employees and the interests of the company come into conflict. Potential conflicts of interest should be recognized as early as possible and preemptively eliminated. The same also applies to a threatened disturbance of the peace in the company. A conflict of interest also exists if invitations or gifts to employees exceed an appropriate, customary level (see anti-corruption guidelines). If conflicts of interest cannot be avoided they must be resolved, where possible, in an open and respectful manner. Secondary employment is prohibited if it conflicts with the legitimate interests of Pointner & Rothschädl Group. Further details can be found in the provisions set out in the employment contract.

Dealing with information and data privacy

Pointner & Rothschädl Group employees are obliged to pass on knowledge and relevant information concerning work openly and truthfully to the full extent necessary within the company. Information that is subject to secrecy or confidentiality is excluded.

Sensitive data and information are to be protected to the best of our knowledge and ability from access by third parties. Our employees are required to treat personal data with the utmost care and always protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure or misuse.

Data and information concerning our business partners or provided by them shall serve exclusively to allow the proper conduct of business and the fulfillment of required tasks within the relevant area of the company. Such data and information must be protected from inspection by third parties without exception. Our employees are obliged to conscientiously adhere to this principle at all times.

Scope and implementation

This code of conduct applies equally to all employees of Pointner & Rothschädl Group, regardless of their job, place of work, or position within the company. All employees are obliged to behave in accordance with this code and to dutifully implement the principles formulated herein in their daily work.

Managers in particular are required to inform employees of this code of conduct, to actively encourage its implementation, and to ensure that the principles formulated in it can be adhered to.

Pointner & Rothschädl Group shall inform direct suppliers of the existence and content of this code of conduct. Suppliers are also required by Pointner & Rothschädl Group to comply with the principles formulated herein and compliance will be regularly reviewed.

This applies to all companies of the Pointer & Rothschädl Group, including all subsidiaries such as the PORO Additive companies.

Puch bei Salzburg, January 2021

Thomas Linnemann
(CEO)