The materials made by VDM Metals enable many different industries to operate efficient and resource-saving processes. Even so, sustainable practices are not merely an adjunct to our core business. At VDM Metals, we are committed to our corporate responsibility.
Occupational safety and health are key aspects of our company culture and, alongside efficiently producing high quality products, are equally important corporate goals. We at the VDM Metals Group protect our employees through the responsible action of all managers, promote professional expertise and job satisfaction and thus ensure the economic success of our company. The statutory provisions can be considered minimum requirements.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, the Group strives constantly for a high level of occupational health and safety throughout the entire Group. Through consistent prevention, VDM Metals Group reduces possible hazards and accidents to a minimum inside and outside of the Company. This also includes trust and cooperation between all internal and external participants. To this end, we commit ourselves to investigating both current and future processes, products and other activities in the interests of operations that observe health and safety.
To ensure a continuous improvement of occupational health and safety, the occupational and health protection management system and the processes, measures and goals defined therein are continuously checked and adjusted at regular intervals.
In the interests of integrated comprehensive occupational and health safety, VDM Metals Group strives to integrate its suppliers and customers into its processes through consulting and the sharing of information. We all accept shared responsibility and undertake concerted efforts to demonstrate zero tolerance for behaviors that are unsafe and detrimental to health.
For VDM Metals, environmentally and energy-oriented company management is not just a contribution towards environment protection and the conservation of resources, but it is also a means of helping the company to thrive in the long term.
VDM Metals endeavors to prevent the company from causing harm to the environment. Where harmful environmental incidents occur, potential harm to the environment is kept to a minimum with safety precautions.This also includes cooperation with the competent authorities in a spirit of trust.
In particular, to reduce water and air pollution at all its locations, VDM Metals conducts cost-benefit analyses to identify the best available methods and techniques for this purpose. The same applies to energy consumption.
The limits specified by statutory regulations are treated as minimum requirements. In connection with ongoing improvement of in-plant environmental protection, the company aspires to higher standards of environmental protection. In this context, both existing and future processes, products and other activities are considered with a view to their potential for reducing environmental impacts and conserving resources.
To ensure continuous improvement in our corporate objectives regarding environmental protection, the environmental and energy management system is reviewed at regular intervals and adjusted as required.
We are aiming to reduce energy consumption in the long term, use energy sparingly and enhance our energy efficiency in a continuous improvement process.
Quality serves as a major contribution to the continual and successful development of VDM Metals.
Our products are used in highly demanding environments. Absolute perfection and conformity starting at the suppliers across the entire value-creation chain at VDM through to customers is essential to our success.
Continual improvement is a core element of the way we do business. In doing so, we pay attention to product attributes, company processes and management systems, opportunities/risks, usage of resources, effects on the environment, and employee skills.
The knowledge of our employees of technologies and applications, as well as their experience in development and production enable economically successful innovations. We actively integrate suppliers and customers as development partners.
VDM is characterized by outstanding technical consultancy skills, thorough analysis, and strict implementation of requirements on an industrial scale.
Our operational excellence is based on quantitative analysis of data and information, measurable success criteria (“quality objectives”) and consistent implementation. We deploy powerful methods andcontinually develop these in harmony with technological advancements.
We work according to an open “error culture” and thus promote transparency across our services
At VDM Metals compliance means adherence to legal regulations and observance of our code of conduct and company policies.
At VDM Metals, we are also committed to compliance with national and international regulations. Observance of applicable laws and regulations is the foundation of economically responsible action for us. Trust, responsibility and reliability are an essential part of our corporate culture.
Our code of conduct summarizes the most important codes of conduct in one document. It regulates conduct within the work environment as well as proper behavior towards colleagues and employees. It also emphasizes prevention of corruption and anticompetitive practices, handling of criticalbusiness information, quality assurance and our social responsibility.
A Supplier Code of Conduct specially designed for our external business partners is in place, and we continuously monitor compliance with this code on the basis of a risk-based approach.
If you intend to give a hint on compliance issues, please use the whistleblower-tool of the Acerinox Group.
Compliance violations are violations of internal company requirements or applicable law. This includes, in particular, violations of human rights and environmental protection regulations. Both of the above-mentioned notification systems meet the requirements for establishing a complaints procedure pursuant to Section 8 of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz).
Additional Information and links
EcoVadis
The Acerinox Group as well as VDM Metals are certified by EcoVadis, a sustainability rating platform for global procurement chains. Within the EcoVadis process, scorecards are used to rate and monitor the environmental, ethical, and social practices of suppliers and business partners.
Metal Alliance for Responsible Sourcing/Responsible Minerals Initiative
We are a member of the Metal Alliance for Responsible Sourcing (MARS). MARS supports companies in creating an integrated risk management system based on the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
As a processor of metallic raw materials, VDM Metals is also a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and uses its resources.
California Supply Chains Act
We support the letter and spirit of the Act, and make reasonable steps as appropriate to evaluate and address against the risks that the materials we purchase and incorporate in the products we sell are the subject to the evils of human trafficking and slavery. Our customer notification identifies the extent of what we do.
Conflict Minerals
Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (EU) 2017/821 created a statutory framework for dealing with and importing "conflict commodities." At VDM Metals, we include cobalt alongside tantalum, tin, tungsten, their ores (cassiterite, columbite-tantalite and wolframite) and gold. VDM Metals minimizes risks in the raw materials supply chain, following the principles of the OECD Due Diligence Guideline. In this context, VDM Metals has recognized and applies the RMI industry standard to best minimize risks.
Further information and links