Stakeholder dialogue
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Systematic stakeholder consultation
In the spring of 2009 the Group conducted a telephone survey of 33 stakeholders, the results of which were fed into the Sustainability Strategy and this Sustainability Report.
One very positive outcome of the survey was that more than 60% of those surveyed were aware of the sustainability initiatives implemented by the Zumtobel Group and its brands, particularly in the fields of product stewardship and in-process environmental protection. On average the interviewees rated the Zumtobel Group as better than its competitors in terms of sustainability. Stakeholders identified product stewardship as the highest priority (particularly energy efficiency and light quality). As well as reporting in the form of a Sustainability Report and on the Zumtobel Group website, stakeholders said that they wanted to be personally involved, through individual consultations and "round table" events.
The Zumtobel Group "Stakeholder overview" was developed for this survey. Interviewees were selected for their relationship with the Zumtobel Group or its brands and as appropriate representatives of their stakeholder group.
In the spring of 2009 the Group conducted a telephone survey of 33 stakeholders, the results of which were fed into the Sustainability Strategy and this Sustainability Report.
One very positive outcome of the survey was that more than 60% of those surveyed were aware of the sustainability initiatives implemented by the Zumtobel Group and its brands, particularly in the fields of product stewardship and in-process environmental protection. On average the interviewees rated the Zumtobel Group as better than its competitors in terms of sustainability. Stakeholders identified product stewardship as the highest priority (particularly energy efficiency and light quality). As well as reporting in the form of a Sustainability Report and on the Zumtobel Group website, stakeholders said that they wanted to be personally involved, through individual consultations and "round table" events.
The Zumtobel Group "Stakeholder overview" was developed for this survey. Interviewees were selected for their relationship with the Zumtobel Group or its brands and as appropriate representatives of their stakeholder group.
Customers
The managers of Zumtobel Group brands maintain very close and direct contact with their customers. The Thorn and Zumtobel brands, for example, actively involve their customers in development processes – through initiatives such as product development workshops. The brands also promote an awareness of sustainable lighting solutions among their customers through personal consultations, training and cross-media communications.
Network partners
Working in cooperation with academic and scientific institutions, artists, designers and architects – its network partners – the Zumtobel Group promotes energy efficiency and light quality, developing sustainable lighting solutions and special-purpose luminaires to achieve a balance between these requirements.
Employees
The Zumtobel Group promotes transparent communication among its employees and between employees and management. This involves initiatives including decentralised, personal information updates provided by local management, regular discussion forums – like the newly updated Klartext and Z-Net events – and employee surveys. Employees are also kept up to date through the employee magazine, a regular newsletter and the intranet.
Investors
The Zumtobel Group has an outstanding track record on investor relations, updating investors and analysts on a regular basis with initiatives including investor conferences and roadshows, quarterly telephone conferences for analysts and the annual Capital Markets' Day. In 2007 the Group's Investor Relations department won the David Award presented by the IVA (Austrian investors association), receiving praise from the judges for its compact and comprehensive corporate information and its effective strategies for reaching out to private investors. (see "Investor Relations").
Suppliers
Both the Lighting and Components segments are focused on building long-term supplier relationships, making supply management a high priority for both segments. The Components Segment has a particularly impressive track record for building strong, collaborative relationships that have lasted over many years.
Politics
The Group's active membership of manufacturer associations, lighting technology groups and standards committees is the basis for a dialogue with the political sphere, with the aim of setting new benchmarks for industry standards in the field of sustainable lighting solutions. The Zumtobel Group is also represented in various employers' associations. By way of example, representatives of the German lighting plants chair the employers' association in Lippe as well as its Electrical Engineering and Metalworking committee, and have delegated one board member to the Metalworking and Electrical Engineering Industry association of North-Rhine Westphalia. Another representative is on the advisory council of the Metalworking and Electrical Engineering Industry employers' association in Hesse and Dr. Harald Sommerer is a member of the committee of FEEI – the Association of the Austrian Electrical and Electronics Industries.