We take responsibility for the entire procurement process for raw materials and ensure that our partners around the world also comply with high environmental, social and corporate governance standards.
Suppliers are regularly reviewed, with a particular focus on working conditions, environmental requirements and ethical business practices. We rely on clear structures and systematic ESG risk management. This allows us to identify potential risks at an early stage and manage them appropriately. In addition, our Supplier Code of Conduct obliges all our business partners to comply with international standards. We also use global ESG risk assessments and external audits to identify violations at an early stage.
We are convinced that cooperation and partnerships along the supply chain are key levers for positive change. That is why we are involved in various initiatives to develop and promote sustainable standards together with our partners. For example, we work actively with industry initiatives such as Bettercoal and RECOSI (Responsible Commodities Sourcing Initiative) to drive improvements directly at source. We have also set up a whistleblower system that enables employees and external partners to report grievances anonymously and are in close contact with competitors, associations and organizations where it makes sense to do so.
Our approach
- 100% of our material suppliers have undergone our ESG due diligence process
- Screening our operations and material suppliers for ESG risks, including human rights risks
- Collaboration with stakeholders to support risk mitigation measures
- Online training programs to raise employee awareness of human rights and environmental risks
- Overall responsibility for our human rights strategy and its implementation lies with the Management Board of Uniper SE
- Review of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the measures taken in the company by our own human rights officer
- Culture of open communication to ensure the involvement of employees
Reporting Human Rights Concerns
In accordance with Section 8 of the German Supply Chain Act, we maintain dedicated channels for reporting human rights concerns, ensuring all stakeholders can safely and confidentially raise issues at any time.
To support this, we offer internal and external whistleblowing channels, available to all parties—anonymously and in verbal or written form. Reports can be submitted to whistleblowing@uniper.energy or to our independent external hotline at uniper-compliance@simmons-simmons.com, operated by Simmons & Simmons. These channels are part of our broader due diligence framework aligned with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and international human rights standards.
Sector dialogue energy industry
The “Sector Dialogue on Respect for Human Rights along the Global Supply and Value Chains of the German Energy Industry” initiated by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) is part of the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (NAP). The NAP implements the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) in Germany with the aim of improving the human rights situation along global supply and value chains.
We have been involved in the dialogue, which is organized as a multi-stakeholder process, since it was founded at the beginning of 2023. The sector dialogue currently consists of 21 members made up of companies, associations, trade unions, civil society organizations, the German Institute for Human Rights and the BMAS.
Goals of the sector dialogue
The overarching aim of the dialog is to provide companies with guidance and support them in adequately implementing the human rights due diligence requirements formulated in the NAP along their supply and value chains.
Uniper's CEO Michael Lewis on participating in the Energy Industry Dialogue:
"Fulfilling our corporate due diligence obligations is part of our understanding of responsibility. The energy industry dialog initiated by the BMAS helps us to assess potential human rights risks along the value chains, on the basis of which we can then work specifically on preventive and remedial measures."
