As sustainability gains in importance for many companies around the world, customers from all industries are challenging Linde with enquiries on related topics. Fulfilling these requirements is often a prerequisite for project acquisition or further cooperation.
What do our customers ask of us?
What do customers ask of us?
Click on the aspect you are interested in.
Commitment to customers' codes of conduct
Some customers ask us at Linde to commit to their codes of conduct. Always consult with your responsible Compliance Officer. They are prepared to guide you through the process.
Compliance representations & warranties / Sustainability clauses in contracts
Some customers have representations, warranties and clauses pertaining to sustainability or compliance in their terms and conditions or include them directly in contracts. As an example, these clauses can cover the absence of criminal offences on the part of Linde, references to customer’s code of conduct, or a right to arrange sustainability audits at our sites without previous notice.
Do not sign these clauses without involving Legal Services, as serious liabilities could arise for our company. Contact Legal Services for support.
Sustainability questionnaires
Often, customers send Linde questionnaires asking for detailed information on sustainability activities and performance.
When filling in these questionnaires, please note that:
All information given should be aggregated on a Group level.
Only information and indicators that are publicly available should be communicated (see Linde data and information in the corporate responsibility report and Linde corporate website).
For information that is not covered in these publications, contact the Group Corporate Responsibility team. They will provide you with the necessary information or give you guidance where the information requested is not available.
Shared sustainability online databases
Some of our customers have joined forces to evaluate their suppliers' sustainability performance. They invite their suppliers – including The Linde Group – to register on a web portal. There, suppliers can store sustainability questionnaires or results from sustainability audits. Suppliers can then allow their customers to access this data and information. This approach saves resources, as the information is provided only once and is then available for several customers.
The Linde Group has global accounts for some of these web portals, for example SEDEX and Ecovadis. Please contact the Group Corporate Responsibility team for support if you are asked by a customer to join a database as a mandatory requirement for business relations. We can enable your customer to access these web portals or – in case your customer requires further action – we will guide you through the process.
Audit requests
On-site audits are a common tool for customers to get proof that The Linde Group is living up to its sustainability commitments. Topics covered in these audits vary – from quality audits with a module on safety and environmental protection to social audits checking also The Linde Group’s human rights compliance and integrity.
Customers might ask to come on site to review whether we have implemented measures that fulfil their criteria. In other cases they may ask us to mandate an independent audit company to conduct the requested audit.
As these audits expend considerable resources at Linde, your first attempt should be to offer information on Linde's sustainable performance instead, for example by referring to our corporate responsibility report and our good position in sustainability ratings. Sometimes Linde can also avoid further audits by providing reports from previous audits.
For cases where an audit is unavoidable, The Linde Group has negotiated a frame contract with a global service provider for sustainability audits. Please contact the Corporate Responsibility team for further information and guidance.
Audit Requests Information from Group HR on social audits at Linde sites
Enquiries on specific sustainability topics
Customers might approach you with enquiries on specific topics that are relevant in the context of corporate responsibility, for example human rights and labour standards, product stewardship, product carbon footprint or legal compliance. These questions are often based on legislation or requirements our customers face from their own customers.
Often, you can answer these questions using information that is published in the Linde corporate responsibility report or on the Linde Group's corporate website.
If the requested information is not covered in these publications, please consider the following:
For questions regarding the CO2 footprints of Linde products please turn to Alexis Reece.
For enquiries related to "conflict minerals", please refer to the company statement on conflict minerals.
For any other enquiry related to sustainability, reach out to the Group Corporat