Code of conduct
~ The values we live by ~

Human rights

We are committed to respect for Human Rights wherever we do business and to provide safe and healthy working conditions for our employees, contractors and visitors. 

We strive to make a positive impact on the communities in which we are present.

Preserving the environment

We recognise that we have an important obligation to contribute to preserving the environment and the planet’s biodiversity for future generations.

We strive to carry out all of Givaudan’s activities in a way that preserves and promotes a safe and clean environment, taking into consideration the efficient use of energy and materials, the minimisation of adverse environmental impact and waste generation, and the safe and responsible disposal of residual wastes.

Givaudan’s Environment, Health and Safety Policy emphasises our commitment to comply with environmental laws and regulations applicable to our business in the countries in which we operate.

Diversity and fair treatment

We thrive on diversity and we are committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment where individual differences among employees are respected.

We foster and support a representative workforce reflecting the diverse communities in which we operate.

We recruit, employ and promote employees on the sole basis of the qualifications and abilities needed for the work to be performed, without regard to race, age, gender, national origin, religion or any other category not relevant to performance.

We are committed to providing and contributing to a work environment that is based on mutual respect among employees and is free from harassment based on categories such as race, age, gender, national origin and religion.

Fair employment standards and safe work environment

We believe in fair employment standards to ensure that we are conducting our business in a safe and healthy manner, fostering a work environment for all Givaudan employees where we can all live the Givaudan values and culture.

We contribute to providing a safe, healthy and respectful working environment that is free from any harsh or inhumane treatment and unsafe conditions.

We are responsible for conducting our work in a safe manner and comply with all health and safety programmes, policies, procedures and laws.

We respect every employee’s right to choose his or her employment freely and the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

We pay fair wages, do not demand excessive working hours from our employees and comply with all applicable wage and hour laws.

Child labour

We do not practice or tolerate any form of child exploitation or forced labour.  

We do not provide employment to children before they have completed their compulsory education and in any event not before they reach the age of 15.

We do not engage with suppliers who employ child or forced labour. 

Fraud against Givaudan

We recognise that, as employees, we are entrusted with Givaudan’s assets for the sole purpose of performing our work.

We protect Givaudan’s assets and do not use them for any unauthorised purposes. This applies to physical assets such as money, machinery and IT equipment as much as to category not relevant to performance.

Open communication

We are proud of our culture of collaboration and we believe in and invite open and transparent communication.

We strive to communicate honestly and openly with each other, while safeguarding confidential information and trade secrets.

We disseminate material information about the Company to our external stakeholders in a timely way and as widely and simultaneously as possible. This is done at all times in compliance with the Swiss Listing Rules and other applicable standards.

Protection of confidential information, trade secrets and intellectual property

Givaudan’s business is based on the information and the intellectual property we create, which is one of the Company’s most valuable assets.

We recognise that each of us has an obligation to keep such information and intellectual property safe and confidential.

We take care to prevent accidental disclosure or intentional misuse of confidential information or trade secrets, and we ensure that all information storage devices are safely maintained in confidence at all times.

We do not disclose any confidential information or trade secrets acquired during our employment with Givaudan to any third party, unless we are required to do so by applicable laws or have received Givaudan’s approval to do so.

We practice and understand that disclosure of confidential information to third parties may only occur after those third parties have signed an appropriate confidentiality arrangement with Givaudan.

We only disclose confidential information and trade secrets within Givaudan to those of our colleagues who have a legitimate business need to know them.

We protect Givaudan’s intellectual property and the intellectual property entrusted to us in confidence by our business partners.

Conduct in research, development, application and creation

We believe in an open environment conducive to innovation in research, development, application and creation that is free from any unethical behaviour or other misconduct.

We apply scientific honesty to all our research activities and are truthful when disclosing the results.

We do not use any materials in our products that are prohibited by applicable legislation or industry guidelines.

We are all responsible for compliance with our Principles

These Principles cannot foresee each and every situation in which we might find ourselves. If anyone is unsure of the right way to act in any circumstance, we seek guidance from our local Compliance Officer, Corporate Compliance Officer or a member of our Legal Department.

Givaudan has in place mandatory policies and procedures that apply globally and, in some cases, there are local policies and procedures which are also applicable. These policies can be found on our intranet site. Every employee is required to adhere to these policies and procedures.

Reporting violations

If an employee becomes aware of or suspects any conduct that might involve a violation of these Principles, we raise this with a local Compliance Officer, the Corporate Compliance Officer or the Legal Department. We will not tolerate retaliation against anyone for reporting, in good faith, any actual or suspected non-compliance of these Principles.

If an employee is hesitant to speak with our Compliance Officers or the Legal Department, they are encouraged to use the Givaudan Compliance Helpline to raise any concerns. The Compliance Helpline is confidential, operates in every Company language.

We strive to do business with business partners that adhere to high ethical standards

We expect all of our business partners to adhere to the same high standards of ethics and compliance as we do. We seek out business partners who share our ethical standards and we have introduced a number of processes to help achieve this goal, including a vendor management and audit programme.