Merck 2014 Annual Report Download - page 64

59GROUP MANAGEMENT REPORT → FUNDAMENTAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GROUP → Corporate Responsibility
HealthCulture
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CR
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CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AT THE GROUP →
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Responsible conduct plays a key role in the company’s corporate
culture– with respect to employees, products, the environment,
and society. Over the course of nearly 350-year history of Merck
KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the principle of corporate responsi-
bility has become a firm pillar of corporate governance. It is part
of daily conduct and is thus a fundamental prerequisite for the
Group’s business success.
STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT
Our corporate responsibility (CR) activities are directed by our
Group-wide CR Committee, which consists of representatives from
the businesses and relevant Group functions. Stefan Osch mann,
Vice Chairman of the Executive Board, became chairman of this
committee in January2015. As a global company, our ambition is
to create added value for consumers, market partners and the
community while also helping them lead better lives.
Mankind is confronted with global societal challenges such as
climate change, resource scarcity and insufficient access to health
in low- and middle-income countries. We believe that we can help
resolve these global challenges through our innovative products
in the Healthcare, Life Science and Performance Materials sectors,
as well as through responsible governance.
All of our CR activities come under the umbrella of “responsible
governance” (see page 63 et seq.). Based on our corporate strategy,
at the end of 2014 we selected three strategic spheres of activity
from our CR framework in which we seek to excel. Our aim is to
hone the Group’s competitive edge while helping to sustainably
secure its future.