The world around us our shared concern

Consistent with our better together aspiration, we relentlessly pursue to be the preferred supplier for our steel wire products and solutions, by continuously delivering superior value to our customers around the world. This is our Vision, our Field of Play.

With this Vision statement, we describe what we want to be, where we want to compete and invest in, and how we are running our business: better together.

better together sums up the unique cooperation within Bekaert and between Bekaert and its stakeholders. We are committed to delivering long-term value to all of them and as such, create sustainable business partnerships. To us, sustainability is about economic success, about the safety and development of our employees, about lasting relationships with our business partners, and about environmental stewardship and social progress. This way, Bekaert translates sustainability into a benefit for all stakeholders.

Our sustainability efforts and activities are focused in such a way that balanced consideration is given to the interests of all respective stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, partners, local governments and the communities in which we are active. (GRI 102-40) (GRI 102-42)

Sustainability standards

Bekaert’s Sustainability Report 2016 has been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core option. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a non-profit organization that promotes economic sustainability. Bekaert’s responsible performance in 2016 has also been recognized by its inclusion in the Ethibel Excellence Index (ESI) Europe - a reference benchmark for top performers in terms of corporate social responsibility based on Vigeo’s research - as well as in Kempen SRI. In 2016, Bekaert was awarded a silver recognition level from Ecovadis, an independent sustainability rating agency whose methodology is built on international CSR standards. In response to growing interest throughout the supply chain to report on the carbon footprint of operations and logistics, Bekaert also participates in the Climate Change and Supply Chain questionnaires of CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project).