Stakeholder engagement

Engaging with Lindt & Sprüngli’s stakeholders is an important element of our Sustainability Plan. We are in continuous dialogue with stakeholders to define and advance our Sustainability Plan, and involve representatives of the most relevant groups in our DMA Process (see Our material topics in the Impact, risk, and opportunity management chapter). The scope of stakeholder engagement is broad. We work closely with our suppliers to define and jointly develop sourcing criteria. Our employees from different departments work on the implementation of our Roadmap to net-zero. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide input on best practices and amplify the voice of local stakeholders. Farmers share insights into local challenges, opportunities, and impacts in our supply chain. Customers and distributors of our products help us stay informed about topics relevant to local markets and consumers. We value open discussion with the different stakeholder groups as they make unique contributions to informing our practices and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Group Management and the Board are informed as necessary regarding stakeholder inputs. This includes reviews of assessments and reports from investors, analysts, proxies, and NGOs, employee surveys, and works council engagements.

Based on our size, global presence, and the nature of our business, we participate in select industry groups, membership associations, and multi-stakeholder initiatives at Group and local levels. We may engage in specific debates of legitimate interest to us, either directly or through trade associations. The Group does not use corporate funds for the express purpose of political campaign contributions. To learn more about the organizations in which we participate to discuss sustainability challenges and help create broader positive change, or to find out more about the associations which represent our most significant financial contributions and/or participation in projects or leadership roles, visit our Memberships & Partnerships page on the Lindt & Sprüngli website.