Deutz adopts human rights code

Deutz has adopted a groupwide human rights code. It documents the drive specialist’s zero-tolerance strategy toward the abuse of universal, inalienable, and indivisible human rights. 

“We take our responsibility for future generations and the environment very seriously. This also means ensuring that human rights are upheld without exception and at all times. The ongoing war in Ukraine, in particular, has shown that we cannot take this for granted,” says Deutz CEO Sebastian C. Schulte. To underline the importance of this topic, Deutz has summarized the human rights principles that are most relevant in its human rights code. It is based on national and internal laws, on conventions and declarations such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, on the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization, and on the United Nations Global Compact. “We view compliance with our human rights code as an essential part of our internal and external interactions. That applies equally to our employees and to our business partners,” Schulte adds. 

Deutz: Taking Responsibility

Deutz firmly believes that the successful and sustainable management of a company depends not only on the achievement of financial targets but also on the manner in which they are achieved. The objective is to strive for commercial success while fulfilling its corporate, social, and environmental responsibilities. This ambition is reflected in the name of the new sustainability strategy, Taking Responsibility. 

As a member of the United Nations Global Compact, Deutz not only supports and respects human rights within its own sphere of influence but is also committed to ensuring that it is not complicit in human rights abuses by third parties. The company therefore expects its customers, suppliers, and other business partners to adhere to its human rights code as well.

Deutz will publish its first declaration of principles regarding its human rights strategy in 2023, which will identify environmental risks as well as human rights risks along the supply chain. 

As part of its overall sustainability strategy, Deutz has had targets relating to aspects of sustainability in the supply chain since 2019. These include monitoring compliance with the Deutz supplier code of conduct, and an assessment of suppliers using an ESG rating platform. The human rights code is available here.