Holzindustrie Schweighofer cooperates with International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA)

• Already second year of cooperation – further collaboration planned
• Fighting corruption as an important component of the company’s security architecture
• IACA providing support for the roll-out of the new Code of Conduct

Holzindustrie Schweighofer, one of Europe’s leading wood processors, is committed to strengthening a sustainable timber industry in Romania. For this reason, the company presented an action plan for a sustainable timber industry in Romania as early as January 2017 and has since implemented measures that exceed all legal requirements. The introduction of a group-wide Code of Conduct defining the basic rules of the company's commitment for all employees is an important component of the company’s action plan for a sustainable timber industry in Romania.

Anti-corruption trainings
The company was able to establish a collaboration with the renowned International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) for the introduction of its new Code of Conduct. The top and middle management was trained in anti-corruption measures and integrity in a series of tailored seminars. These and other trainings on anti-corruption and competition law are part of the Schweighofer Group’s compliance programme and are held on a regular basis.

Building awareness
“IACA has a clear focus on anti-corruption trainings and awareness building in the public sector and has a network of renowned experts, making us a unique institution worldwide. Moreover, supporting and advising companies on these issues is also of importance to us. In this respect, our partnership with Holzindustrie Schweighofer is valuable for us and we are pleased to support the company in its compliance process with tailor-made, intensive trainings," says Martin Kreutner, IACA Dean and Executive Secretary.

Strengthening the company’s position by means of transparency
Transparency and accountability are of great importance to Holzindustrie Schweighofer; ethically correct behaviour, especially in challenging environments, as sometimes asserted by environmental protection groups in Romania, plays an important role in this regard. The company, which does not harvest any trees itself and whose main principle is to comply with all laws and regulations at all times, has set itself the goal of making its entire supply chain transparent to civil society. An essential pillar of this transparency offensive is the company’s own GPS tracking system Timflow, which monitors the transport routes of every truck that delivers roundwood to Holzindustrie Schweighofer’s plants in Romania. The collected data is publicly available online to all interested individuals.

Michael Proschek-Hauptmann, Head of Compliance and Sustainability at Holzindustrie Schweighofer: “Well-trained and sensitized employees with a clear sense for ethically and legally correct behavior are an important part of a secure supply chain.” A largely transparent conduct and an ethically correct commitment are the cornerstones of a positive company development. "We are convinced that this approach will also sustainably strengthen our position in the market," concludes Proschek-Hauptmann.

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