The key areas of our corporate responsibility strategy are defined by the Corporate Responsibility Council, a body that was founded in 2004. Following the acquisition of BOC, two further members were appointed to the Council.

The Council has also expanded its areas of activity. “Ethics and compliance” has now been added to the existing organisational areas of activity (employees, environment, corporate citizenship and capital markets), a move that reflects the importance of this subject for both our company and our stakeholders.

“Environment” has been renamed “SHEQ” (Glossary) (Safety, Health, Environment, Quality) to reflect our wider understanding of this subject and our awareness of how the individual facets (occupational safety, environment, health and quality) are intertwined.

Each year, the Corporate Responsibility Council (see graphic below) creates a roadmap detailing the goals for its five areas of activity These objectives align with The Linde Group’s voluntary Corporate Responsibility policy.

The Corporate Responsibility Council meets twice a year. The decisions it reaches are binding for the entire organisation.

The Corporate Responsibility unit is responsible for implementing the Council’s decisions. This central function is anchored within the umbrella Corporate Communication & Investor Relations function at headquarter level.

Professor Dr Wolfgang Rietzle, Chief Executive Officer of Linde AG, and Dr Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board, are members of the Council together with managers responsible for the following Group-wide areas:

• Corporate Communications & IR
• Human Resources
• Internal Audit
• Legal
• SHEQ

Depending on the area in question, the Council must also work very closely with different departments within the company such as Innovation Management or Corporate Strategy.

Corporate Responsibility roots within the company