How we conduct ourselves - earning trust by behaving responsibly, with integrity and doing what we say we will do - is essential if we are to achieve our vision and create value for our stakeholders. It is also the right thing to do and protects our reputation.
For more information about how we "Behave Ethically and Transparently" see page 58 of our 2020 Annual Report.
We engage with stakeholders on ethical topics within our sector. For example we are an active participant in many of the local medical device trade associations of the countries in which we operate, notably MedTech Europe and AdvaMed in the US.
We have developed a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, and a series of Global Policies which cover a range of business conduct and compliance issues, focusing particularly on anti-bribery and anti-corruption. We strive to ensure that all employees complete the necessary training, and completion is carefully monitored.
We also make available a Compliance Helpline (for employees and third parties) to report suspected breaches.
Any issues reported are reviewed by our ethics and compliance function and the resulting investigation and outcome of any significant issues are overseen by the Audit and Risk Committee.
Being transparent with our stakeholders about how we run our business is a vital part of building strong, long-term relationships based on trust. Our disclosures and reporting are assessed and scored by a range of external ESG analysts and other organisations and we use this information to benchmark our progress.
