Compliance

We can’t succeed without it

Compliance at Sto

Our compliance maxim means that we do not tolerate:

Restriction of free and fair competition
Corruption
Any form of financial crime whatsoever
Other violations of applicable laws

We are resolutely committed to taking action against all of the above.

Along with abiding by laws, regulations, and our own company values, for Sto, compliance provides the foundation for integrity in the business arena: in all that we do, we act in a way that is ethically and socially compliant. The compliance culture and the values of the Sto Group underpin all day-to-day activities and our success. True to our mission: “Building with conscience”.

Photo: © Martin Baitinger, Böblingen, DE

Compliance at Sto

Compliance Management System

Sto’s Compliance Management System consists of several interconnected building blocks. Its aim is to ensure that company rules and laws are complied with at all times. It has three component tasks:

Prevention
The following preventive measures help to communicate our values and create a reliable framework for compliant working:

Risk management at Sto
Our directives
Extensive training and advice for our employees worldwide

Detection
Ways and means of reporting suspected or actual violations of company rules and statutory regulations are essential to facilitate the detection and complete clarification of misconduct.

Response
Every instance of misconduct is investigated thoroughly.

The Compliance Management System follows the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle. By following this logical sequence, the Compliance Management System can be implemented methodically, effectively, and in the optimum manner, as well as being improved by the removal of weak points.

Communication
At Sto, we integrate compliance into our operational and added-value processes. In this context, communication is the key to enshrining compliance at Sto. It is reinforced by what we refer to as the “tone from the top” adopted by the Executive Board at STO Management SE. This method of leading by example embeds responsible conduct permanently in the minds of all employees in the Sto Group.

Business partners

We also want to be sure that there is no way that our business partners can be associated with corruption, money laundering, and fraud, or with other activities that might put the organisation at risk. Therefore, we vet our business partners thoroughly prior to approval and also subject them to monitoring throughout the course of our collaboration.

Reporting violations

The ability for external stakeholders to report possible misconduct via a variety of channels also helps us to respond to problematic circumstances or developments at an early stage. The Chief Compliance Officer Christophe Verolet can be contacted in person by phone or by e-mail by anyone who wishes to submit information.

Online whistleblower system
Reliable reporting of compliance infringements and the protection of whistleblowers against sanctions are indispensable for effective compliance. They contribute to the reporting, comprehensive investigation, and clarification of possible misconduct. The online compliance whistleblower system provides a safe and secure means of reporting information about possible compliance breaches. Relevant information can be reported 24/7. You may submit information anonymously if you wish. The whistleblower system is administered by an independent provider. Data is stored on protected servers located in Germany. The contents of the reports are processed exclusively through Sto. Further information is available on the welcome page for the whistleblower system.

Athletes shake hands after the competition.

Sto Group’s Code of Conduct

The Sto Group is committed to achieving financial success, but it combines this with upholding a sense of social responsibility and a desire to protect the environment. It is a Group that focuses on quality and operates on an international scale.

If we want to achieve success, it is vital that every employee in the Sto Group acts with awareness of the company's mission and brand values. Ensuring compliance with this approach is one of the most important aspects of the work we do every day. We need to uphold and foster a culture of sincerity in which every employee has a sense of personal responsibility for conducting themselves in a legally compliant manner. Our Code of Conduct serves as a binding guideline for acting with integrity.

It is binding for all employees of the Sto Group and applies worldwide. The Code of Conduct summarizes important laws and internal company regulations that govern conduct in the business environment with third parties, in dealing with the public and also for daily interaction within the Group.

Compliance with basic human rights standards

The assumption of responsibility for people and the environment has been an important concern for us since the beginning of the company. We align our business activities to meet the needs of our stakeholders and the environment and to offer sustainable solutions. Our vision of global technological leadership for the humane and sustainable design of built living spaces is based on responsible and ethically impeccable action in all our activities.

We ensure that our products contain only raw materials and materials that have been mined and produced without violating human rights and environmental standards and are committed to complying with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).

We are fundamentally committed to strengthening human rights and preventing violations against them. It is also particularly important to us that all actors along the value chain respect international human rights.