Policies

PODRAVKA d.d. enjoys the trust of numerous consumers in the region and around the world who have recognized the value of its corporate culture, resulting in safe and high-quality products and services.

The continuous improvement of product safety and quality is supported by the application of the leading food safety standards IFS Food (International Featured Standard-Food) and BRCGS Food Safety, supported by the principles of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.

The company implements a culture of good corporate governance in such a way that it:

• ensures high-quality and safe products for consumption for all consumers through the food supply chain; from the procurement of the highest quality raw materials and packaging materials, production, all the way to the distribution of finished products to the market
• fulfills the requirements of food safety legislation in all markets where the company is present
• recognizes the importance of and fulfills food protection requirements with the aim of preventing product misuse and counterfeiting, protecting brands, and informing consumers about the product they consume
• recognizes and implements market requirements in the field of the food industry, especially in the area of food safety
• maintains and improves communication in the food supply chain with suppliers, customers, and all interested parties
• implements the principles of food safety and quality culture by spreading awareness of the importance of implementing food safety and quality principles at all levels of the company
• respects tradition and introduces modern trends
• applies the principle of sustainability by integrating social and environmental goals
• does not use ingredients in products that contain or are made from genetically modified organisms
• provides resources to employees for the implementation of activities and a safe working environment
• continuously takes care of employee development to acquire a high level of technological knowledge and corporate governance skills
• manages risks through established business processes

In this way, the company builds and maintains the trust and respect of its employees, consumers, and clients.

This policy applies to Podravka d.d. and the foreign sales subsidiaries of Podravka d.d.
Management Board

Podravka d.d., one of the leading food companies in Southeast, Central and Eastern Europe, was founded in 1947. Numerous consumers in more than sixty countries around the world have recognized the value of Podravka’s products and have placed their trust in us.

One of the company’s set priorities is to prevent intentional contamination of food products and the food supply chain as a result of human actions.

The company has established supply chain security management through the following core guidelines:

• recognizes the importance of and improves the application of U.S. CTPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) criteria and the EU AEO (Authorised Economic Operators) program
• implements and improves the application of food protection principles against intentional contamination with biological, chemical, physical, or radiological substances by applying Food Defense principles with the aim of preventing product misuse and protecting brands
• implements and improves the system for preventing product misuse and counterfeiting by conducting vulnerability assessments of input materials (Food Fraud)
• implements procedures aimed at protecting the company and the supply chain from criminal activities such as drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking, and illegal smuggling
• ensures a safe environment for its employees and all stakeholders
• carries out threat assessments and works to reduce potential risks, in accordance with the level of risk
• raises awareness and educates employees
• raises awareness among suppliers, service providers, and other stakeholders
• maintains cooperation with customs in order to ensure a higher level of supply chain security
• provides resources for the implementation of requirements related to supply chain security as requested by external stakeholders and the legal regulations of the markets where the company is present

Responsibility for implementing the company’s supply chain security principles lies with everyone involved in the food supply chain.

This policy applies to Podravka d.d. and the foreign sales subsidiaries of Podravka d.d.

Commitment to reducing potential occupational health and safety risks is an integral part of Podravka’s business activities through which we build a safe and healthy environment for our employees and other stakeholders.

By managing the introduced occupational health and safety management system, Podravka has both the need and the desire to continuously promote the culture of occupational health and safety itself by applying and improving the requirements of the ISO 45001 standard and its principles, committing to:

• protect the health of all employees by providing a safe and healthy working environment
• provide all necessary resources for the continuous improvement of the occupational health and safety management system taking into account the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties in accordance with its own context
• continuously train, develop, and educate employees and thereby ensure better employee competencies and raise awareness regarding occupational health and safety
• carry out risk assessments and opportunities of the health and safety management system, recognize and eliminate hazards, and minimize and control risks to the health and safety of our employees
• operate in accordance with Podravka’s core values, legal and regulatory requirements, applicable regulations, implemented standards, and recognized occupational safety rules
• implement established occupational health and safety objectives and monitor the effectiveness of the realization of established occupational health and safety objectives that are aligned with the company’s overall strategic objectives, thereby ensuring continuous improvement of the entire system
• enable the participation of all interested parties through transparent communication and understanding of their needs and expectations in the process of improving the occupational health and safety management system
• timely inform all stakeholders of the occupational health and safety system about the safety and health risks to which they may be exposed at Podravka workplaces
• ensure additional health protection for employees in order to preserve their health and working ability

Through the provisions of this Policy, we encourage occupational health and safety system stakeholders to act actively and take responsibility for occupational safety aspects over which they have personal control and authority or over which they act through authorized representatives and workers’ safety representatives.

By actively assessing effectiveness and continuously investing in measures to improve the occupational health and safety system, Podravka’s Management Board ensures the prerequisites for achieving the objectives defined by this Policy.

The Podravka Group continuously improves its management system in accordance with the social responsibility guidelines of ISO 26000, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and the OECD corporate governance guidelines.

The Podravka Group implements corporate social responsibility in the following ways:

• it is transparent in its decisions and actions that have an impact on society and the environment
• it respects, takes into account, and responds to the interests of its stakeholders, thereby improving cooperation with investors, owners, state authorities, media, suppliers, customers, the community, and consumers globally
• it maintains communication with all stakeholders, customers, and clients
• it encourages employee motivation and productivity and positively affects the attraction and retention of employees, improving the application of ethical principles
• it respects international norms of behavior and applies the principles of respect for the rule of law
• it respects human rights and recognizes their importance
• it implements the principles of social and environmental responsibility through the company’s business processes and throughout the value chain
• it provides resources for the implementation of this policy and raises employees’ awareness of responsibility for its implementation
• it manages impacts, risks, and opportunities and transparently reports to key external stakeholders

The Podravka Group operates in accordance with the following principles from the OECD guidelines for socially responsible business:

accountability → transparency → ethical behavior → respect for stakeholder interests → respect for the rule of law → respect for international norms of behavior → respect for human rights

The principles of socially responsible business are implemented through the following business areas of the Podravka Group:

organizational governance → human rights → labor relations → environment → fair business practices → consumer issues → community involvement and development

Priorities are defined by the company’s business processes, procedures, policies, the Podravka Group Sustainable Business Strategy, and business practices.

This policy applies to the Podravka Group.

The food company Podravka d.d. is one of the leading companies in Southeast, Central and Eastern Europe. Through the core values that guide us for 75 years and across more than 60 markets, we build and maintain trust and respect with all our stakeholders. We continue the integrated management system and strengthening of corporate culture through responsible energy management.

The company is focused on the development and continuous improvement of the energy management system in such a way that it:

• sets energy goals at the corporate level
• provides the necessary resources for achieving energy goals
• raises awareness of the need for efficient energy management throughout the entire supply chain, from suppliers and customers to all interested parties
• fulfills legal requirements and other requirements in the field of energy management
• procures energy-efficient products and services
• designs technical solutions for buildings, energy and technological plants and processes with the aim of improving energy performance
• reduces energy costs
• applies new technologies with the aim of increasing energy efficiency, energy use, and energy consumption
• transparently and objectively presents energy consumption and assesses risks
• reduces negative environmental impact without negatively affecting business operations and profitability

As a socially responsible company, Podravka, by applying this policy, strives for greater awareness among all stakeholders with the aim of responsible energy management.

This policy applies to Podravka d.d.

Environmental protection is the first of the four pillars of the Podravka Group Sustainable Business Strategy. Through continuous business development and the improvement of business processes, products, and services, the negative impact on the environment is reduced.

Through a strategic approach to sustainability and a focus on environmental protection, the Podravka Group seeks to integrate sustainability into all business processes and applies the following core guidelines in its operations:

• fulfilling all legislative requirements related to the environment, in Croatia and in all markets where the company is present
• applying the principles of sustainable development in business operations
• acting with the aim of achieving energy efficiency and self-sufficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy sources thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily CO₂
• improving production processes with the aim of reducing food waste, and managing food waste through the application of circular economy principles
• responsibly managing waste with the aim of reducing the total amount of waste generated and reducing the amount of municipal waste generated
• responsibly managing wastewater by taking care of wastewater quality
• reducing water consumption in the production process by increasing the share of recirculated water
• applying the principles of responsible agricultural production by reducing the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides and acting continuously to improve soil quality
• applying the concept of sustainability and biodiversity conservation through the implementation of RSPO certification as well as ECO certification of part of the organic products and their distribution
• implementing consumer requirements in the field of packaging use, and continuously increasing the share of environmentally friendly packaging solutions, thereby contributing to reducing packaging waste and implementing the circular economy
• managing risks through an integrated system of analyzing potential risks throughout the entire business, proactive and preventive action, and continuous improvement of the company’s management system
• continuously taking care of employee education so that they develop awareness in the field of preservation, sustainable use, protection, and improvement of the environment

Based on the above, Podravka builds and maintains trust and respect among all key stakeholders throughout the value chain.