3. Organisational profile

Geberit Group

Geberit offers customers high-quality sanitary products for applications in private residential construction and public buildings. The products are used in both renovation projects and new buildings.

The product area Installation and Flushing Systems comprises all sanitary installation technology plus a broad range of flushing systems for toilets and is divided into the two product lines Installation Systems and Cisterns & Mechanisms. The product area Piping Systems comprises all piping technology found in buildings for drinking water, heating, gas and other media and is divided into the product lines Building Drainage Systems and Supply Systems. The Bathroom Systems product area comprises virtually all relevant furnishings in a bathroom and is divided into the product lines Bathroom Ceramics & Furniture, Showers & Bathtubs, and Taps & Controls.

For further information on the product range, see www.geberit.com > Products > Product range.

For net sales by product areas in 2019, see Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2019 > Net sales.

The Geberit Group has its headquarters in Rapperswil-Jona (CH).

Geberit has its own representatives in 50 countries. The products are sold in 120 countries throughout the world. The company has 29 specialised production companies in 14 different countries close to the most important sales markets and a central logistics centre in Pfullendorf (DE), as well as a network of 13 European distribution sites for the ceramics business.

For a list of the countries in which Geberit operates, see Financials > Consolidated financial statements Geberit Group > Notes > Note 33.

Geberit AG, the parent company of the Geberit Group, is a stock corporation (AG) under Swiss law.

In terms of market cultivation, Geberit relies on a three-stage distribution channel. The vast majority of products are distributed via the wholesale trade. Dealerships then sell them to plumbers and present them at exhibitions and other events where end customers can gain information. At the same time, Geberit provides plumbers and sanitary engineers with intensive support through training and advice. This leads to increased demand for Geberit products from wholesalers.

For net sales by markets and regions as well as by product areas, see Business Report > Business and financial review > Financial Year 2019 > Net sales.

The Geberit Group’s market capitalisation reached CHF 20.1 billion at the end of 2019 (previous year CHF 14.2 billion). For the consolidated balance sheet with details of current assets, non-current assets, equity and liabilities, see Financials > Consolidated financial statements Geberit Group > Balance Sheet. In 2019, net sales amounted to CHF 3,083 million (previous year CHF 3,081 million).

At the end of 2019, the Group had 11,619 employees. For the number of business sites, see GRI 102-4.

At the end of 2019, the Geberit Group employed 11,619 staff worldwide (previous year 11,630 employees), equivalent to a small decline of 11 employees or 0.1% compared to the previous year. An increase in personnel in various sales companies and an increasing number of apprentices in Germany and Switzerland was offset by a net reduction in staff numbers in production, which was primarily attributable to the termination of the remaining employment relationships as part of the closure of two ceramics plants in 2017.

For key figures on the workforce by employment type, employment contract, region and gender, see Key figures sustainability > Employees and society.

There were no major changes in the reporting year to the Group structure, see also Financials > Consolidated financial statements Geberit Group > Notes > Note 2.

The precautionary approach plays an important role for Geberit as a production company. This approach is described in the Geberit Code of Conduct.

The Geberit Group has a Group certificate in accordance with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) that is valid until 2021. 28 of the 29 production plants, central logistics, and the management company incorporating all Group functions at headquarters in Rapperswil-Jona (CH) are certified in accordance with these three standards or OHSAS 18001. By the end of 2020, all production plants will be covered by these standards. In addition, five German plants are certified according to ISO 50001 (energy) and ten sales companies according to ISO 9001 (quality).

In the environmental area, the company remains committed to its ambitious goals of improving the relative environmental impact and relative CO₂ emissions by 5% annually. In addition, a CO₂ target was developed in 2016 that is compatible with the two-degree target set out in the Paris Agreement and with the Science Based Targets Initiative. It comprises a reduction of absolute CO₂ emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 6% between 2015 and 2021 to under 240,000 tonnes (based on organic growth). In the area of occupational safety, the aim is to halve the frequency and severity of accidents by 2025 based on the reference year 2015.

The Geberit Production System (GPS) is implemented at all plants. Best-practice standards in production are uniformly implemented using methods such as SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies), TPM (Total Production Maintenance), 5S (Workplace Organisation Methodology) and CIP (Continuous Improvement Process).

An extensive system for the control and management of all risks involved in business activities is in place throughout the Group. For further information, see Business Report > Corporate Governance > Board of Directors > Information and control instruments vis-à-vis the Group Executive Board.

In 2017, Geberit played a key role in establishing a new platform for the European sanitary industry – the European Bathroom Forum (EBF). One of the first tasks was the launch of a new European water label as a voluntary and flexible instrument to support customers in the selection of resource-efficient products. This aims to help achieve the EU goals for resource efficiency. Geberit is also planning to take part in “Operation Clean Sweep” to prevent the pollution of the environment with plastic pellets, see also GRI 102-13.

Geberit is involved in various associations and organisations that make a contribution toward sustainability. In addition, various Geberit companies are members of national associations on topics such as green building, environmentally friendly production, energy, waste management and employee protection.

The company has been a member of the Transparency International organisation since June 2000 and supports its objectives for combating corruption. Since 2006, Geberit has voluntarily applied the comprehensive guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for sustainability reporting and has thereby made an active contribution towards ensuring transparency and comparability in this reporting. Geberit has also been a formal member of the UN Global Compact since October 2008 and was a founding member of the local Swiss network in 2011. Geberit has been a member of the non-profit organisation Swiss Water Partnership since 2012. This platform seeks to bring together all those involved in the topic of water supply (from academic, economic as well as public and private spheres) to collectively address future challenges and promote international dialogue on water.

For major commitments see www.geberit.com > Company > Sustainability > UN Global Compact and Memberships.