Principles of Ethical Corporate Governance
Our business activities are guided by economic, environmental and social considerations. Our corporate principles include transparency, integrity and treating people and resources with respect. We foster dialogue with employees, business partners and collaborators. Clear values and strategic objectives serve as our guiding principles. Transparent processes and an open corporate culture support the exchange of information and collaboration.
Unsere Stakeholder
We like to stay in regular contact with our stakeholders, whether that’s by phone, email, in person, at trade fairs or at our offices. These conversations help us understand their needs, expectations and concerns – including where things might not be going so well. Communication isn’t a one-way street. We invite everyone to engage in open dialogue with us at any time.
| Stakeholders | Key concerns | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Owners | Reliable figures, security, responsible business practices, clear strategic direction and meaningful goals, profit expectations, long-term business continuity, good company reputation, positive corporate culture and communication, increased resilience, employee involvement in company development | Profit, company value, reputation and external feedback, competitiveness, capacity for innovation, internal atmosphere, conversations with employees and idea-sharing |
| Employees | Secure employment, work-life balance, fair pay, good working conditions, opportunities for development, a pleasant and safe working environment, effective communication and information sharing, transparency around company goals, health support measures, goals and career prospects, positive company image, ability to contribute ideas and drive change | Pay, complaints, training opportunities, loyalty, satisfaction, company image, sickness rate, staff turnover, workplace atmosphere, participation in the HEBIE GROUP Academy |
| Customers | Help with development and design, innovative products, in-person contact and trade fair exchanges, good margins and discounts, good value for money, trust, product safety and non-hazardous materials, high quality and reliability, strong image for Hebie and tubus, good marketing, credible claims, long-term relationships, high service level, delivery reliability, clear communication, partnership approach, product training, transparent and useful information, helpful POS materials, marketing support for end customers, good handling of complaints, reliability, high supplier ratings, eco-consciousness and reduced emissions, sustainable packaging | Sales, profit margin, number of customers, repeat business, market presence, customer happiness, customer loyalty, feedback and reviews, new customer enquiries, cancellations, overdue payments, trade show attendance, carbon footprint, use of raw materials and resources, Code of Conduct, ESG requests, REACH declarations |
| End customers | Good value for money, trust, product safety and non-hazardous materials, fair production, high quality and reliability, credible claims, friendly personal service, repair options, warranty, clear and honest information | Number of enquiries, online reviews, social media interactions |
| Suppliers | Orders, long-term collaboration, mutual benefit, on-time payments, good flow of information, appropriate volumes and pricing, planning certainty, communication on sustainability developments and requirements (EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), etc.) | Delivery times, orders, audits, visits, communication, economic and social standards, supply chain transparency, Code of Conduct, REACH declarations |
| Networks/ associations/ initiatives |
Developing shared positions or standards on industry topics, cooperation on sustainability projects, representing industry interests, political advocacy for the transport transition, fair market conditions, joint and regional initiatives, strengthening democracy, mobility transition | Industry standards, political achievements in transport policy (transport transition), knowledge sharing |
| Influencers | Working with brands, reviewing products, advocating for better mobility, sharing the feeling of freedom and adventure that comes with cycling | Number of enquiries, mentions/tags on social media, user-generated content |
| Media | Mobility transition, the “Made in Germany” label, financial interests (advertising revenue), strengthening bicycle culture | Number of enquiries, conversations, interviews |
| Universities and research | Bachelor’s and master’s theses, collaboration on sustainability projects and industry topics, knowledge development on alternative materials | |
| Government | Local economic development and investment, environmental and climate protection, business tax revenue, mobility concept, energy transition, secure employment | Working groups, site visits |
| Nature (silent stakeholder) |
Ecosystem conservation, renewal of natural resources, sustainable raw material extraction, biodiversity preservation, safeguarding and equitable use of rare earths, natural CO₂ storage, oxygen generation | Data and statistics, studies |
Leading with integrity
Our company values are the foundation of how we work together and shape our culture. Even our mission statement highlights key principles such as reliability, down-to-earth thinking, a strong focus on our employees and a collaborative approach with our business partners. Development is very dynamic, which is why we always reflect on our values in order to shape them in a future-oriented and mutually sustainable way. For a high level of identification.
our mission statement
Commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
By committing to 11 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to our company, the HEBIE GROUP aligns itself with the objectives of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. The SDGs serve as a framework for addressing CSR issues within the company. New employees are informed about our CSR programme when they join the company. All staff receive a personal CSR workbook. Active participation and the contribution of new ideas are welcomed.
Building resilient communities and financial independence
A key part of how we operate is our commitment to financial sustainability – the foundation that allows us to keep growing our businesses for the long term. Financial independence is central to our philosophy, in that we aim to fund future investments ourselves rather than taking on the risks of external financing. This approach supports the long-term, organic growth of our company, even if this means, in some cases, accepting that projects cannot be implemented immediately. We also believe each of our products should be able to stand on its own two feet financially, so we avoid cross-subsidising from other areas of the business. This helps us build a resilient HEBIE GROUP that’s better equipped to weather external shocks, global disruptions and times of crisis.
CSR assessment for transparency in the supply chain
Although exerting influence over larger suppliers can present a challenge for us as a medium-sized enterprise, we carry out audits and assessments of selected key suppliers – in addition to random on-site visits – based on internally defined criteria. The assessment covers various social, environmental and compliance-related areas:
- Occupational health and safety
- Fair pay
- Working hours and rest periods
- No child labour
- Employee rights
- Human rights
- Equal opportunities
- Use of natural resources
- Climate and environmental protection
- Climate-related emissions
- Climate-related emissions Reporting and international standards
- Anti-corruption
The results are used to systematically gather information about our suppliers and help ensure that assessments are comparable. A key focus is on identifying and assessing potential risks within our supply chain. We also review the further development of our procedures and incorporate defined criteria into our procurement decisions. The design of these measures forms part of an ongoing development process.
A responsible future
Our Code of Conduct sets out our commitment to treating one another with respect, fairness and consideration, and to rejecting exclusion, discrimination and hostility. Employees and business partners are required to adhere to these principles.
Our quality management system lays the foundation for clear processes, up-to-date practices and transparency. It also helps us identify areas with potential room for improvement. Aligned with the ISO standard, it promotes a process-oriented approach across the HEBIE GROUP by focusing on specific tasks or groups of tasks. We apply and continuously refine the system at Hebie in Bielefeld and tubus in Münster as part of our commitment to ongoing improvement. This ensures traceable workflows, credibility with our customers and the ability to meet evolving customer expectations.
Compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) is overseen at Hebie in Bielefeld and at tubus in Münster by internally appointed data protection coordinators. In addition, an external data protection officer is involved and supports the relevant data protection processes and staff training.
Another key focus for us is building long-term success through sustainable profits. We therefore focus on business practices geared towards the long term in order to support the company’s economic stability, rather than simply generating short-term revenue.
Job securityEmployment, human rights, and health and safety at work are key areas of focus for the HEBIE GROUP. The people in our company play a vital role in our development, transformation and economic success.
Product responsibility for modern mobilityThe HEBIE GROUP develops and manufactures reliable bicycle components. We set the highest standards for our products in terms of quality, safety and durability. We expect our business partners to provide us with all relevant product information to ensure that documentation is in order and that legal requirements are met.
“Sustainable Packaging” Project
You will soon find out more about our “Sustainable Packaging” funding project here..
