Woodbridge is committed to protecting and improving the environment and the communities in which we conduct business. Our commitment to Social Responsibility is embedded throughout the company’s tenants.
In particular, Woodbridge’s Mission Statement describes the following, “The Woodbridge Group® provides products globally that continuously improve the consumer experience through superior comfort and appearance in a socially responsible way“.
Our corporate social responsibility program has five pillars:
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
In addition to complying with all laws, we firmly believe in conducting our business with honesty, integrity, fairness and respect throughout the organization.
We require that our Woodbridge Teammates respect and act in a manner sensitive to the cultures and customs of the countries in which we operate, as well as the communities and environment where we conduct business.
The Woodbridge Way is a comprehensive guide for all of our Teammates related to various legal, social and ethical matters and contains, among others, requirements relating to the following:
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Compliance with Laws
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Health, Safety and Environment
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Respect for People and Human Rights
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Teammates’ Rights
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Conducting Business with Honesty, Integrity, Fairness and Respect
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Open Door Policy
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Protection of Personal Information
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Financial Reporting
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Compliance with Antitrust and Competition laws
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Use of Confidential Information
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Company Records
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Bribery and Corruption
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Inside Information
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Conflict of Interest
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Reporting and Compliance Procedures
In addition, we have implemented comprehensive corporate policies and related standards and procedures that give specific guidelines related to the following:
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Our Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy which provides strict directions regarding bribery, extortion and corruption.
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Our Competition Law and Antitrust Compliance Policy which requires that all of our operations globally comply with applicable competition laws.
Our Global Corporate Compliance Committee is responsible for implementing and maintaining a global corporate compliance program.
Our Community Involvement
Woodbridge believes that each and every person can – and should – have a positive impact on the world.
Community involvement at Woodbridge can be seen in three distinct groups: (1) at the corporate level, (2) from its individual employees, and (3) from a related private Canadian charitable foundation. Each of these three groups participates in community involvement by donating both time and money to a variety of charitable and not-for-profit organizations in Canada and around the world. Some of the areas of focus that have traditionally been supported are as follows: medical research, healthcare (facilities and causes), education (i.e. post-secondary institutions, mentoring female engineering students and improving access to education for disadvantaged youth), childhood disability, diabetes research, mental health initiatives, global poverty and global disaster relief. Local community initiatives are supported in each of the communities in which we operate around the world. Woodbridge’s head office, as well as many of its global subsidiaries, runs several in-house fundraising and awareness-raising campaigns throughout the year, including the Movember Challenge, holiday toy drives and United Way Campaigns. Volunteerism is promoted and celebrated.
Our Environmental Sustainability
As a manufacturing company we understand the need to minimize the impact of our operations and our products on the environment.
Our Products
We are committed to the reduction of our consumption of precious resources and to the continuous improvement of vehicle fuel economy. Our strategy is to constantly expand our green technologies. We strive to continuously eliminate waste in the supply chain, to develop more environmentally-friendly raw materials and products and to develop lightweight products that promote reduced emissions and better fuel economy in the vehicles we supply. It is the policy of the Company to actively pursue process innovation and fundamental research to prevent environmental pollution through the reduction and elimination of all forms of waste from our operations, including the reduction of energy consumption and the resultant release of greenhouse gas emissions.
The following are a few examples of green technologies that we have developed and commercialized:
GreenLite™ optimized parts provide a smaller environmental footprint, at equal or better performance and cost, for seat cushions, seat frames, overhead systems and various trim components.
StructureLite™ EPP technology allows for the elimination of heavy, complex components, such as metal frames.
BioFoam™ bio-based polyol technology allows for the replacement of petrochemical-based chemicals with bio-based material in the manufacture of polyurethane foam.
CompactFoam™ which promotes the sale of smaller vehicles and the associated reduction in carbon based fuel by reducing the actual foam content of automotive seats which allows smaller vehicles to have the same comfort as larger vehicles.
TrimLine FIP™ thin profile trim parts which reduce the use of chemical adhesives in assembly processes which reduces VOC emissions.
Our Operations
Woodbridge believes that protection of the natural environment is of utmost concern in the operation of our business. We strive to have everyone within the organization take responsibility to comply with all applicable environmental laws, regulations and standards in our product development and manufacturing activities. Our commitment to the environmental can be seen in:
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Our core Value of Health, Safety & Environment
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Our comprehensive Environmental Management System
Our Supply Chain
Woodbridge works closely with its supply base to ensure that its principles regarding working conditions, business conduct and diversity sourcing are shared by its suppliers.
People
Woodbridge is committed to maintaining global working conditions and standards that result in dignified and respectful treatment of all Teammates within all our global operating locations, and extends to those employees in our supply chain. Our expectations of our suppliers are clearly laid out in our Standard Terms and Conditions and our Supplier Requirements Manual. In particular, we expect that our suppliers will have appropriate policies, procedures and systems in place to support the following standards:
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Child labour shall not be utilized.
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Any form of forced or compulsory labour is prohibited.
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Workers, without fear of reprisal, intimidation or harassment should be able to communicate openly with management regarding working conditions. They shall also have the right to associate freely and join labour unions and workers’ councils in accordance with local laws.
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Workers shall be protected against any form of harassment and discrimination in any form, including but not limited to gender, sex, age, religion, disability and political beliefs.
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Workers shall have a safe and healthy workplace that meets or exceeds all applicable standards for occupational health and safety.
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Workers shall be compensated with wages and benefits that are competitive and comply with local law, including minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits.
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Working hours shall comply with all applicable local laws regulating hours of work.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
All Woodbridge suppliers are required to comply with Woodbridge’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and its Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy and all applicable federal, provincial, state and local laws, ordinance, rules, codes, standards and regulations.
Diversity Sourcing
We have committed to the sourcing of goods and services from minority and women-owned businesses and have established a Diversity Supplier Development Council which is charged with the responsibility of developing and administering the Diversity Supplier Development Program.
Diversity Supplier Development Policy
It is the policy of The Woodbridge Group to encourage opportunities for minority and women-owned business organizations in order to promote economic development. The Woodbridge Group recognizes its responsibilities to the customers that it serves and the communities in which it conducts its business. The sourcing of goods and services from minority and women-owned businesses must be a function of our routine purchasing practices at all levels of our organization. No potential supplier will be precluded from consideration on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, age or national origin. Every Woodbridge Teammate who is delegated the responsibility of either directly or indirectly expending corporate funds for the purchase of goods or services is charged with the task of adhering to this policy.
Our People
At Woodbridge, we believe that our people are our most important resource.
From the beginning, our corporate Purpose which clearly sets out our aim “to deliver safe workplaces and the profitability required to create and sustain rewarding jobs.” As such, we have been committed to protecting this valuable resource in four important ways:
Safety
Since the formation of the Company, Teammate safety has unquestionably been Woodbridge’s top priority. This can be seen in:
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Our core Value of “Health, Safety & Environment”
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Our world-class Health and Safety Management System
Fairness and Respect
In addition, we are deeply committed to protecting our Teammates’ human rights and promoting and ensuring non-discrimination and diversity in the workplace, as evidenced by:
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Our core Value of “Respect People & Diversity”
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Our Workplace Fairness and Respect Policy which provides our Teammates with comprehensive protections relating to discrimination and various forms of harassment
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Our Equal Employment Opportunities Policy Statement that says, in part, that: “It is the policy of The Woodbridge Group to continue to provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic”
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Our Open Door Policy which sets out our long-standing system which allows all Teammates to take any concerns up-the-management-chain until the issue is resolved
Teammates’ Rights
Woodbridge is committed to maintaining global working conditions and standards that result in dignified and respectful treatment of all Woodbridge Teammates within all our global operating locations. As such, we make the following commitments to our Woodbridge Teammates in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics:
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Child labour shall not be utilized.
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Any form of forced or compulsory labour is prohibited.
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Woodbridge Teammates, without fear of reprisal, intimidation or harassment, have the right to communicate openly with management regarding working conditions.
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Woodbridge Teammates also have the right to associate freely and join labour unions and workers’ councils in accordance with local laws.
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Woodbridge Teammates shall be protected against any form of harassment and discrimination in any form, including but not limited to gender, sex, age, religion, disability and political beliefs.
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Woodbridge Teammates shall have a safe and healthy workplace that meets or exceeds all applicable standards for occupational health and safety.
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Woodbridge Teammates shall be compensated with wages and benefits that are competitive and comply with local law, including minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits.
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Woodbridge will treat all Teammates with dignity and respect.
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Working hours shall comply with all applicable local laws regulating hours of work.