Responsible procurement

Heidelberg Materials currently collaborates with over 130,000 suppliers and business partners across more than 50 countries. Given the complexity of our global network and the predominantly local nature of our business relationships (accounting for approximately 90% of our global expenditures), it is crucial for us to ensure reliable information exchange at every level of our supply chain.

As a leading producer of building materials, we use natural resources responsibly and focus on measurable improvements. We are reducing CO₂ intensity, increasing circularity, and scaling lower‑carbon products across our portfolio. Guided by our Sustainability Commitments 2030, we support the UN Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating on areas where our technologies and operations can deliver tangible impact.

Our tools

As part of our responsible procurement initiative, we have launched a global risk assessment program for our supply chain. Its aim is to identify sustainability challenges before they become problems. IntegrityNext and Avetta are global program providers with extensive experience in monitoring corporate safety, skills, and social responsibility. They help us to audit and assess our suppliers in relation to our sustainable supply chain standards.

In addition to our focus on human rights, our vision for a sustainable supply chain also means that we call upon our suppliers to commit to reducing greenhouse gases. We proactively communicate this message in various ways, including at meetings with suppliers and through initiatives such as virtual supplier days on the topic of sustainability. We motivate our suppliers to be transparent about their  CO₂ emissions, actively reduce their carbon footprint, and have their reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 
 

Our goal

Progress with respect to responsible procurement is made transparent with the help of the Supplier Sustainability Performance Rate. This KPI provides information on the percentage of Heidelberg Materials’ spend with critical suppliers who have received a green ESG rating from our partner IntegrityNext. Suppliers are evaluated on the basis of criteria covering human rights, compliance, environmental protection, occupational safety, and responsibility in the supply chain. 

A supplier can only receive a green ESG rating if it offers full transparency in answering extensive ESG questions and if the assessment by our partner IntegrityNext does not reveal any significant risks in the above-mentioned topic areas. Our aim is to achieve a Supplier Sustainability Performance Rate of at least 80% by 2030. 
 

Our training videos

We provide training materials on sustainability topics for suppliers and recognize the importance of providing training and instruction to service providers working at our plants. Suppliers are encouraged to distribute these resources within their organizations and throughout their value chains to raise awareness of these important topics.

In our videos, you will learn about our commitments and actions in the areas of environmental protection, fair wages, and occupational health and safety. Discover how you, as our valued partner, can help us uphold the highest standards to ensure a sustainable and safe future.