Stakeholder dialogue
The KION Group is in regular dialogue with a wide range of stakeholder groups, either directly, via surveys, or at events. This enables it to identify their requirements on the Company at an early stage and incorporate them in decisions.
The KION Group’s key stakeholders are customers, employees, investors, shareholders and suppliers. In addition, the KION Group and its operating units are members of numerous industry associations and international institutions. > Table 5 includes a selection of sustainability-related association activities:
Table 5 Sustainability-related association activities of the KION Group
Organisation
Function performed
AFNOR – French Standardisation Association
Chair of the committee UNM85: Chariots de Manutention (industrial trucks)
CEN – European Committee for Standardisation
Chair of assorted committees of the Industrial Trucks – Safety technical committee, including the Sustainability committee
DIN – German Standards Institute
Chair of assorted committees such as Industrial Truck Safety
FEM – European Federation of Material Handling
Executive Board/chairmanship
FGMA – Expert Consortium of German Mechanical Engineering Businesses
Member of the Executive Board
Hertie Foundation
Member of the Executive Board
ISO – International Organization for Standardization
Chair of assorted technical committees, including the Sustainability of Industrial Trucks
VDMA – German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association
Chair of industrial trucks
Member of the Blue Competence initiative
As part of implementing its sustainability management system the KION Group also identified its relevant stakeholders. Its Sustainability steering committee is continuing the development of this analysis. As part of the planned expansion of its materiality analysis, the list will be supplemented by its operating units’ specific analyses.
The KION Group is in regular dialogue with its stakeholders on a range of topics (> Table 6). Of particular significance is the dialogue with customers, as understanding their requirements is the central factor in the Company’s success. To help in this regard, numerous tools along the supply chain ensure active dialogue, which often provides important stimuli for the Company (see the section Products and solutions).
The KION Group Code of Compliance contains clear and stringent regulations on how to deal with political parties and elected officials. Consequently, the KION Group does not maintain any political relationships beyond its association work.
Table 6 Stakeholder dialogue
Stakeholders
Format
Selected content
General public
Journal articles, social media, campaign days, the section on sustainability in the KION Group Annual Report 2016
Sustainability management, social aspects, environmental protection, transparent reporting on sustainability
(Industry) associations
Participation in symposiums and working groups, membership of numerous associations such as ISO, DIN, VDMA, FEM
Energy efficiency, product specifications, product safety, product lifecycle sustainability
Financial market
Section on Sustainability in the KION Group Annual Report 2016, answering questions in the context of investor discussions
Sustainability management, social aspects, environmental protection, transparent reporting on sustainability
Legislative bodies/policy makers
Dialogue with authorities, association work
Approvals, inspections
Distributors
Distributors’ Board, regular plenary sessions (annual kick-off and year-end events)
Zero Accident Philosophy at Linde Material Handling
Customers
Regular customer visits, service helpdesk, complaints management, customer events, trade fairs and in-house exhibitions, consulting, customer magazines, Internet, LMH Product Clinic, brochures and one-pagers for key account customers
Product features, e.g. efficiency and safety, service offering, ergonomic design of vehicles and systems
Suppliers
Supplier negotiations, supplier audits
KION Group Principles of Supplier Conduct
Local communities
Local events such as the ForkliftCup state preliminary decisions, Training Day, regular exchange with local authorities at the locations
Social and cultural engagement, products, safety standards, LMH as a good employer
Media
Section on Sustainability in the KION Group Annual Report 2016, press events
Sustainability management, social aspects, environmental protection, transparent reporting on sustainability, efficient energy systems, safety technology, sustainability activities
Employees
Management survey, KEEP employee participation programme, suggestion scheme, employee magazine, intranet
Company development
Non-governmental organisations
Dialogue forums with NGOs (e.g. Linde China)
Environmental education
Science and research
Collaborations with education institutions, research projects, information days
Alternative drive technologies, etc.
To enhance dialogue with stakeholders, and to involve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) more closely, since the start of 2017 the KION Group has also supported new, innovative approaches. Among them, it is involved in a feasibility study on SUSTAINALOG, a planned platform designed to strengthen contact between companies and NGOs. It got involved as an increasing number of companies want to integrate NGOs more closely in their stakeholder dialogue activities – in some cases, they are even required to do so by law. However, NGOs do not receive any financial consideration or support in this process, which means further dialogue is often not possible. SUSTAINLOG is intended as a neutral forum for companies and NGOs, ensuring that structured, institutionalised dialogue can take place between these parties.