Social responsibility
Social projects close to the core business
Innovative sanitary technology continuously improves the quality of people’s lives. Geberit rigorously pursues this mission. The guideline for employees, the Geberit Compass, sets this out.
In addition to improving quality of life through innovative sanitary products, Geberit also lives up to its social responsibility through its social projects, which it has been carrying out with its own apprentices for many years. These projects always exhibit a relationship to the topic of water and to the company’s core competencies. Apart from being involved in the projects, the young people who take part become familiar with other cultures and acquire new social, linguistic and professional competencies – experiences that will aid their personal and professional development. Furthermore, these social projects make a tangible contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which include giving all humans access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation by 2030.
In 2017, the apprentices travelled to Odessa (UA) to help out at a Ukrainian vocational school attended by over 500 students, most of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. This school offers young people training in a total of 31 professions. The local Geberit company planned the renovation and expansion of the sanitary facilities, then supported by nine Geberit apprentices with work on site in September 2017. Ukrainian students at the vocational school who are training to become plumbers also worked on the project.
Global commitments
Geberit continued its extensive partnership with the Swiss development organisation Helvetas and supported the new Helvetas campaign with a substantial sum of money. The “Change of Perspective” project was also implemented once again, with two Swiss plumbers travelling to Nepal in the autumn, working there for a week with two Nepalese colleagues. This project is set to continue in 2018. In addition, 16 Geberit employees visited Nepal for a voluntary two-week assignment in November 2017, helping a village community in western Nepal to construct a water pipeline. Geberit also made a major donation to support Helvetas-run water projects in Nepal.
The cooperation with the non-profit organisation Swiss Water Partnership was continued. 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.
The Geberit Group’s activities in the area of social responsibility are rounded off by a multitude of other initiatives and fundraising campaigns at a local level. As a basic principle, all social projects and the use of funds are regularly checked by Geberit employees in the respective country or in partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including after completion of the projects in question. For an overview of donations and financial contributions, see Investments in infrastructure and services primarily for public benefit. All donations are neutral from a party political point of view. Furthermore, no donations were made to parties or politicians. As a rule, no political statements are made, and no political lobbying is carried out. This is ensured globally as part of the annual audit of the Code of Conduct.