Material compliance
- Processes to ensure the responsible procurement of minerals from conflict and high-risk areas are continuously improved and expanded
- The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) was joined
Comprehensive material requirements
Bestandteil des GNFK StartThe Schaeffler Group aims to comply with all relevant guidelines for the materials and substances used as well as to consider these when selecting suppliers. Therefore, the Material Compliance department works closely with the Purchasing department responsible for production materials. Legislation, public standards, and customer requirements relevant to the Schaeffler Group are regularly assessed, and criteria are developed for consideration when selecting suppliers. The material requirements also apply to chemical substances, purchased parts, and packaging and materials in manufacturing processes and products.
Important criteria and key regulatory frameworks for both supplier selection and the orders themselves are outlined in the Schaeffler standards on “Prohibited and declarable substances”. This was updated at the end of 2020, communicated to suppliers, and training was offered. Suppliers are required to inform the company as soon as more recent information is available than that already reported to the Schaeffler Group. Relevant regulations include “Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals” (REACH), “Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances” (RoHS), the EU Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV), the EU Directive on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP), the chemical regulation, and the Dodd–Frank Act.
The Schaeffler Group primarily uses the automotive industry’s International Material Data System (IMDS) for declaring substances. This system is required for labeling the substances in purchased products and their materials.
In addition, the SCIP1) database of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has been used to declare substances of very high concern (SVHC) since 2021.Bestandteil des GNFK Ende
More information on the comprehensive material requirements is available at: Prohibited and declarable substances
Reinforcing standards through partnerships
Already a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), the Schaeffler Group also joined the IRMA in the reporting year – an initiative to introduce a standard that applies to all raw materials in the industrial mining sector. This standard was developed as part of an intensive multi-stakeholder process. By joining the initiative, the Schaeffler Group is most interested in reinforcing its use of the standard and improving effects in the early life cycle phases.
Responsible procurement
Bestandteil des GNFK StartIn addition to the appropriate use of hazardous substances, the responsible procurement of raw materials such as tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold is an important topic for the Schaeffler Group, as their extraction contributes to financing armed conflicts or human rights violations in some countries. The company uses the Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiries (RCOI) procedure to ascertain from which regions sub-tier suppliers source components with critical materials, and, where appropriate, initiate targeted supply chain actions.
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2021 |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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Response rate of surveyed suppliers on the use of conflict minerals1) 2) |
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82.8 |
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87.5 |
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90.0 |
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Coverage rate of certified smelters in the supply chain2) |
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99.7 |
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100 |
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100 |
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Compared to the previous year, the response rate2) of the suppliers surveyed fell slightly to 82.8 %3) (prior year: 87.5 %4)). The lower response rate is due to the fact that a higher number of suppliers was surveyed. 99.7 %3) of the smelters reported in the pre-supply chain are certified by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) or are not located in risk areas as defined in the RCOI.
The corresponding conflict minerals report is provided to customers upon request. With cobalt incorporated into the conflict minerals report in 2020, the Schaeffler Group examined its supply chains with a focus on the conflict mineral mica in 2021 and prepared its first internal Mica Report at the end of 2021.
Based on the Material Change Report5), the company defined a list of materials with high priority. The Schaeffler Group has also developed a Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Policy, which will be shared with relevant suppliers through mid-2022.Bestandteil des GNFK Ende
The Schaeffler Group’s Conflict Minerals Policy is available at: Schaeffler Group Conflict Minerals Policy
1) SCIP – Substances of Concern in articles as such or in complex objects (products).
2) Response rate of relevant suppliers surveyed on the use of conflict minerals as defined by the Responsible Minerals Initiative.
3) 2021 value checked in interim status in December 2021.
4) Survey period from March to February of the following year.
5) Published as part of the Drive Sustainability initiative of the original equipment manufacturers (OEM).