Supply Chain (LkSG) and Material Compliance

Our obligations along the supply chain

The NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group has been implementing the Supply Chain Act since 2023. We want to reassure our customers and all our colleagues that our products are made with raw materials and components from sustainable production and that it goes without saying that our partners along the supply chain are also committed to human rights.

Supply Chain Act (LkSG)

Our Statement of Principles According to LkSG

The Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG) has been in force since 01/01/2023. This law is intended to make compliance with human rights in the supply chain mandatory.One element of this is defined due diligence obligations.

Since 2023, the law initially applies to companies with at least 3,000 employees. Getriebebau NORD GmbH & Co KG with 1,670 employees in Germany would not be obligated to comply with the law until 2024 but is aware of the importance of the law and is already taking responsibility this year.

As a globally active family company, we are aware of the influence and impact that our business activities have on society. Therefore, we are intensively engaged with the topic of CSR. This is the abbreviation for Corporate Social Responsibility and means voluntarily taking responsibility for social, ecological and economic aspects both nationally and internationally.

As a company with international ties, NORD recognizes its special responsibility to work towards improving the situation of worldwide human rights along our supply chains and to shape business relationships socially for sustainable development. Increasing integration into global procurement and sales markets often poses risks due to the lack of transparency and the often inadequate enforcement of internationally recognized human rights in supply chains.

NORD commits to respect, protect and uphold the human rights of individuals. In our understanding, this includes fair wages, appropriate working conditions and preventing the exploitation of children. Equality between women and men is a matter of course for us and we do not discriminate against anyone because of their gender, ancestry, ethnicity, language, home country and origin, religion, religious or political views, or because of a disability. We reject corruption as well as forced labour and human trafficking.

We expect our suppliers and our employees in all areas of the company and subsidiaries to respect, protect and comply with the human rights of each individual. Both within our business operations and throughout the supply chain, it shall be ensured that human rights and environmental violations are prevented and that those affected have access to remedy.

We at NORD stand for these guidelines and teach our employees to live up to these values in the company. This begins with conscious perception of violations of these principles that are picked up and dealt with via defined processes to then result in appropriate measures for the company. This also applies to information revealed by third parties.

Here is the link to our whistleblower system: Whistleblowers

We prepare a constantly updated, IT-supported risk analysis that is based on country indices and the 13 risk fields of the LkSG.

A human rights officer has been appointed to monitor the risk analysis and report to the management at least once a financial year. In the event that the analysis shows violations of a human rights-related or environmental obligation, possible remedial actions are defined, and corresponding steps are taken to eliminate them.

We also commit to encourage compliance with the contents of this policy by our suppliers and promote scope for action as far as possible in the further value creation chain. We also reserve the right to verify that our suppliers observe our Code of Conduct, which is binding for suppliers. This may take the form of questionnaires, assessments or audits. In case of doubts regarding compliance with this policy, the supplier is requested to take appropriate countermeasures, and to report the case to their relevant contact in our company.

You can find further information on our Company Policy and Code of Conduct here .

Learn more in this video from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Download our statement of principles

As a globally active family business, we are aware of the influence and impact that our business activities have on society. Therefore, we are intensively engaged with the topic of CSR.

Material Compliance

Manufacturers but also importers, dealers or suppliers of goods are obligated to ensure that their products comply with all material regulations (material compliance). The chemicals regulation REACH and the EU Directive RoHS are examples for the implementation of material compliance; data regarding these regulations must be disclosed and documented along the supply chain.

The REACH regulation was issued by the European Union to improve protection of human health and the environment against the risks that can be posed by chemicals. (Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)

The RoHS Directive is also an EU regulation that controls and restricts the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The aim is to reduce and limit the input of these substances as pollutants into the environment and at the same time reduce exposure to humans during the manufacturing and recycling processes. (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances)

Download manufacturer's declaration on the REACH Regulation

The Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) was developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) to help companies provide their customers with accurate information on the country of origin of minerals and the smelters and refineries they use.

Conflict minerals in this context refer to raw materials that contribute to the financing of violence and human rights violations in the producing countries; this is to be curbed through the implementation of the EU regulation.

Download Conflict Minerals Report (CMRT) (ZIP)

PFAS are a group of industrial chemicals that includes a very large number of substances. They are organic compounds in which the hydrogen atoms are completely ("perfluorinated") or partially ("polyfluorinated") replaced by fluorine atoms. Due to their special properties, they have been widely used for a long time in many industrial sectors and also in the household.

The best-known substance groups of PFAS are:

Perfluorinated sulfonic acids (best known representative: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS))
perfluorinated carboxylic acids (best known representative: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)).

On 07.02.2023, ECHA pre-published the restriction dossier on the broad restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

As a responsible company, we take this issue very seriously. We keep ourselves informed about current developments in this area, among others through the VDMA and ZVEI associations. As soon as the REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, a European chemicals regulation, is updated and PFAS are included in the candidate list as substances of very high concern, we will take appropriate action and live up to our responsibility.