Code of Conduct

Sandvik puts ethics and sustainable business practices first.

Sandvik has a long history of working in accordance with applicable laws and internationally recognized principles, as well as in partnership with our local communities. Our Code of Conduct is built on our internal core values and external principles, such as the International Bill of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption as outlined in the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact. We are also committed to adhering to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The Code of Conduct is a vital component in The Sandvik Way, our governance framework. It shows us how we need to act as individual employees, as a company and what ethical standards we should adhere to in our day-to-day work, and it is an important enabler for achieving our 2030 Sustainability Goals.

Speak Up

Employees and external parties who witness a violation of the Code of Conduct, laws or our policies can report the violation, anonymously, through the global whistleblowing tool Speak Up. All reports are assigned an investigator from the relevant business area that conducts the investigation. The Ethics Office oversees the effectiveness of the Speak Up process. Reports, investigations and remediations are recorded, monitored and included in reporting to the Audit Committee.

No retaliation may be taken against an employee or business partner who, in good faith, voices their concern, as is outlined in the Speak Up policy.

Sandvik’s reporting tool, Speak Up, is publicly and directly accessible by all stakeholders. They can raise concerns about the organization’s negative impacts on them, including human rights concerns, and the process allows for grievances to be identified and addressed. In addition, certain countries have local grievance mechanisms and other mechanisms to support employees beyond legal requirements, such as foundations that provide rehabilitation and financial support in relation to health and well-being. The European Works Councils and relevant local unions have been involved in the setup of local whistleblowing channels and appointment of investigators. In 2022, Sandvik interviewed Speak Up users as part of its work to review and improve the mechanism with a particular focus on non-retaliation.