Linde has traditionally maintained a high standard of ethical principles. In 2007, the Executive Board developed a corporate philosophy entitled Linde Spirit and devised a new code of conduct known as the Code of Ethics. This was against the background of the reorganisation of the Group and the integration of the British gases company BOC, based on rules relevant to both Linde and BOC. These have now been launched worldwide. Linde Spirit, adopted by the Executive Board in April 2007, describes the three key elements in Linde’s corporate culture: the Linde vision and the values and principles underlying our actions. The Code of Ethics sets out the commitment made by the employees of The Linde Group, to comply with legal regulations and to reinforce and develop the ethical and moral values of the Group. It is in line with our corporate philosophy and with our global values and basic principles. We have also installed a notification system known as the Integrity Line. The Integrity Line is an important part of The Linde Group’s compliance guidelines. It provides both internal and external stakeholders with the opportunity to express doubts and suspicious circumstances.
Both Linde and BOC have adopted ethical principles in their respective organisations for the purchase of goods and services. These principles still apply. In the 2008 financial year, they will be merged, revised and introduced throughout the Group as a supplement to the Code of Ethics.
The Executive Board and the audit committee of the Supervisory Board are each kept informed and up to date by regular reports about the measures taken to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of the compliance management systems and about any breaches of legal rules and violations of the code of conduct.
You can find more information about the Code of Ethics and the Integrity Line here