Consulting Stakeholders

CONSULTING STAKEHOLDERS ON ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL TOPICS; STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
GRI 102-21; GRI 102-40,42,44 

Diverse perspectives are a cornerstone of Oerlikon’s culture. It is with them that we can plant the seeds from which innovation grows. It is therefore very much a part of our culture that we are not only open to, but that we welcome and invite engagement with divergent points of view that can help us understand the needs and concerns of all stakeholders in the industries and communities we serve.

Oerlikon maintains an ongoing exchange with its stakeholders, such as employees, customers, suppliers and partners, investors and analysts, local communities, authorities and government representatives, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions and the media. 

We depend on multiple channels and processes (see the Stakeholder Engagement below) to optimize stakeholder engagement and ensure comprehensive reporting on areas that are material to the business. In addition to one-on-one and focus group conversations, we conduct, as appropriate, internal surveys that aid us in understanding potential issues. We expect our stakeholder engagement strategy to continue to evolve, and we anticipate that we will expand our stakeholder consultation efforts.

In 2020, we performed the materiality analysis and engaged with our stakeholders to identify the key sustainability issues that affect our business and them. From this analysis, eight issues were prioritized by our stakeholders and mapped in the materiality matrix here. These materiality topics form the backbone of our 2030 targets, our commitment and our sustainability actions.

With the annually published report that is compliant with the international GRI Standards, we aim to transparently and credibly communicate about our sustainability progress and our journey toward achieving our 2030 targets, and with full accountability to our stakeholders. 

The report is meant to also serve as a tool for ongoing dialog with our stakeholders. It is important for us to continue the conversation with them and solicit their feedback and suggestions. With their input, we can continually improve our process and ensure that we are advancing our sustainability contributions and upholding optimal governance, environmental, social and sustainability standards in our work around the world.

With that in mind, we are exploring options to gain further insights from stakeholders about their perception of our operations, practices and impact. This is a natural extension of our belief that communication and exchange of ideas are the building blocks of reaching accord and working together toward mutual goals, and that we make progress in business and human welfare when we share a sense of ownership in meeting our targets and objectives.