Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s corporate culture has always been characterized by responsible behavior – whether with respect to products, employees, the environment, or society. Consequently, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is committed to upholding human rights within its sphere of influence and welcomes the Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. This set of principles created a global framework for countries to protect human rights, and for companies to respect these rights, by setting forth key principles in their business practices. Countries are obliged to establish a regulatory framework for [...]

Our corporate culture has always been characterized by responsible behavior – whether with respect to our products, our employees, the environment, or society. Our approach and our conduct have evolved from a history dating back nearly 350 years; they are derived from our Mission Statement and our Values, and shaped by the external initiatives that we support. Our aim is to operate as a global company that creates added value for consumers, our market partners and the community and that helps them lead better lives. We strive to achieve positive recognition for our company in the community and are committed to operating safely and respecting the environment. Our [...]

[...] We strengthen our company's ability to act by recruiting, developing and motivating the most suitable employees. We want to help society function better and aim to set the example for ethical conduct. Mankind is confronted with major global issues, such as climate change, the increasing demand for affordable, renewable energy, and a growing need for access to health – especially in emerging and developing countries – and the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions. We are aware that our business operations impact our environment and the people around us. However, we also believe that responsible company management makes a contribution toward resolving global [...]

[...] process safety involves the interaction of man and machine, we consider it highly important for our employees to be well-trained and to receive further training on a regular basis. In 2012, a new internal continuing education program was set up for site managers – as well as for production, engineering and EHS managers at the individual sites – and rolled out within the Chemicals divisions. The primary topics here included systematic risk identification in processing plants, explosion protection, and static electricity.

[...] in accordance with the charters, guidelines and principles of our company. All legal entities and employees are part of our Group-wide commitment to increasing access to health. Through our programs and charter on Access to Medicines in Developing Countries, we strive to lead and form partnerships to improve global access to medicine, thereby improving the lives of patients. The Charter covers the following topics: pharmaceutical donations and philanthropy, research and development for neglected tropical diseases (