Stakeholder Dialogue

Fair & respectful exchange

The dialogue with our customers and business partners, the capital market, political representatives, non-government organizations, the communities in which our sites are located, and our employees, is very important to us. We treat our stakeholders with respect and fairness and provide them with comprehensive, truthful, and understandable information through various channels. By doing this, we are encouraging and promoting regular exchanges.

Overview stakeholder dialogue: Content and dialogue formats

Employees The success of the Company is based on the skills and success of our employees. Employees’ concerns are addressed at regular works meetings. The intranet and the digital employee magazine promote mutual exchange and the transfer of information.	Main topics	HR policy decisions, compensation, training, communication, corporate development, investment projects and initiatives, strategy, etc.
	Methods	Meetings, committee work, joint projects, events / conferences (digital or face-to-face), Annual Report, blogs and social media, intranet, employee magazine, internal communication and employee meetings of the Board of Executive Directors at sites, etc.
Customers and business partners Dialogue with our customers helps us to better understand their needs and align our products and services accordingly. We provide comprehensive information on the internet. In addition to personal discussions, satisfaction analyses provide us with concrete indications for improvements.	Main topics	Quality assurance, production conditions, adherence to regulations and standards, compliance, etc.
	Methods	Surveys, meetings, user training, trade fairs, joint projects, social media, press and public relations, plant tours, etc.
Shareholders / investors / analysts / banks We present our business at regular roadshows and conferences, answer questions raised by representatives of the capital market, and gather suggestions and ideas.	Main topics	Company assessment, corporate strategy, goals, financing, results, risks/opportunities, competition, sustainability issues etc.
	Methods	Annual General Meeting, Annual Report, quarterly reporting, Capital Markets Day, meetings with analysts / investors / banks / rating agencies, surveys, telephone calls, conferences, roadshows, etc.
Politics and administration As a member of various associations and organizations, we contribute our positions directly or indirectly to the political debate in national and European dialogues with representatives of governments, specialist authorities and parliaments.	Main topics	Social acceptance, Social Licence to Operate, environmental issues, climate and energy issues, industrial and raw material issues, economic developments, strategic orientation, job security, etc.
	Methods	Confidential direct talks (online and face-to-face), meetings, workshops, committee work, press and public relations, plant tours, etc.
Site Communities It is important for us to be good neighbors to the communitites and regions in which our sites are located. We create trust at our sites through dialogue with the communities and residents.	Main topics	Social acceptance, environmental issues, projects for improving water protection, economic development, job opportunities, structural change, etc.
	Methods	Meetings with selected stakeholders, events, information offices, open houses, press and public relations, plant tours, etc.
Non-government organisations/general public We provide comprehensible explanations of potash mining in Germany under the conditions of international competitiveness and international as well as national environmental legislation by means of various formats.	Main topics	System relevance, social acceptance, potash mining, projects for improving water protection, environmental issues, job security, etc.
	Methods	Public information events, presence at trade fairs and specialist conferences, plant tours and mine excursions, information office, personal conversation, etc.

UN Global Compact

We support the UN Global Compact

K+S signed the United Nations Global Compact in 2015. We therefore support the ten principles of the Global Compact in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

These are reflected in the Code of Conduct to which all employees of the K+S Group are bound. Launched in 2000, the Global Compact provides a platform for exchange between its over 13,000 members worldwide: companies, cities, scientific institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact (German only)

EITI Initiative

EITI – Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

K+S is participating in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) advocates greater financial transparency and accountability in the extractive industries sector.

K+S is involved in D-EITI and is a member of the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) for the salt and potash sector. Since the German Federal Government announced its intention to implement the EITI in July 2014, many milestones have been achieved.

The first D-EITI Report makes the value contribution of the German raw materials sector transparent to an interested public. For this, German companies in the raw materials sector reported their tax expenditures transparently and document their responsible handling of revenue flows. In accordance with EITI’s principle of payment reconciliation, the authorities as payees reported the payments at the same time. The two figures were reconciled.

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

Associations

K+S is actively involved

K+S is actively involved in global sustainability initiatives and promotes dialogue between different stakeholders. Here, it is important to us to be up to date and play our part in shaping the international sustainability discussion.

K+S is a member of many associations. Some of our company representatives perform official functions and are involved in working groups. These include:

European Potash Producers Association (APEP)
Federation of German Industry (BDI) via the Association of the Potash and Salt Industry (VKS)
Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) via the Association of the Potash and Salt Industry (VKS)
European Association of Mining Industries, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals (EUROMNINES)
European Salt Producers’ Association (EUSALT)
International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)
International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)
German Agrochemical Industry Association (IVA)
Association of the Potash and Salt Industry (VKS)

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Community Involvement

We are committed to our responsibility towards people, the environment, communities, and the economies in the regions in which we operate.

K+S Sustainability goals 2030

K+S is committed to three areas of action: Society & Employees, Environment & Resources and Business Ethics & Human Rights. We have set ourselves concrete sustainability goals and KPIs in the underlying topics.

Employees

We continuously develop the potential of our employees. At the same time, we are constantly on the lookout for talents with fresh ideas for our company.