Sustainability in the Supply Chain

ZF maintains a global network of more than 60,000 suppliers, from small family-owned businesses up to large groups of companies.

With such a vast number of supply chain partnerships, ZF Group understands that our Sustainability Strategy targets will only succeed with the support of our suppliers and other partners driven by mutual collaboration.

We believe that only combined efforts can make the difference and lead us towards a more sustainable world in the future.

Main Fields of Action

Social Standards and Responsible Sourcing

To ensure Human Rights due diligence within Materials Management, a multi-stage due diligence process anchors our responsibility for the supplier network. It is part of the ZF Code of Conduct and sourcing process as a legal requirement.

Environmental Responsibility

Climate change legislation and world-wide initiatives fighting for a carbon neutral future are reflected in our Sustainability strategy. We have set up our climate neutrality target for 2040 in all three carbon scopes.To support this challenging goal, we work towards interim 2030 targets where we developed the strategy for 80% carbon reduction in our Scope 1 and 2 and 40 % reduction per sales in the value chain. Our decarbonization targets go alongside Social Responsibility and Responsible Sourcing.

Designing Sustainable Supply Chains

In addition to costs, time, and quality, sustainability and resilience are increasingly important factors in the management of supply chains. Disruptive changes, such as climate change or electrification in the automotive sector, are contributing to an increasingly volatile business environment. ZF responds with a clear strategy towards an integrated, resilient, and sustainable value chain.Our future and existing suppliers are to present their commitment to sustainability standards, which are assessed and become mandatory, ensuring our climate journey starts at the very beginning.

Trainings for Suppliers

To support our suppliers in all these processes, we continuously adapt our training offer on the ZF Supplier Academy.All our suppliers are invited to multiple live webinars.Our trainings are conducted on regular basis, they are free of charge, and communicated on the Supplier Board and via Supplier Letters.

ZF Recognition and Awards

Read more about awarding the best with the ZF Supplier Award and read more about the supplier's SUS Performance - the basis for our success.