ElringKlinger regards a shared understanding of ethical and sustainable conduct as an essential basis for its business relationships. For this reason, the ElringKlinger Group has developed a "Code of Conduct for Suppliers" that sets out expectations regarding the conduct of its suppliers with regard to human rights, fair working conditions, environmental concerns and corruption.

Suppliers working for ElringKlinger in both the automotive and non-automotive sectors undertake to comply with the "Supplier Code of Conduct" as part of the individual project.

Globally ramified supply chains pose a variety of challenges for respecting human rights. As an international company with sites worldwide, we are aware that we bear a special responsibility within the global flow of goods. As part of our Statement of Principles for Human Rights, we are therefore committed to strengthening human rights and preventing human rights violations.

ElringKlinger has set itself an ambitious goal: By 2030, ElringKlinger aims to be CO₂-neutral in Scope 1 and Scope 2 and in the long term across the entire supply chain. In order to be able to assess the environmental impact associated with the products in all phases of the product life cycle, we rely on the support of our suppliers. For this reason, ElringKlinger requires its supplier to have a CO₂ footprint per sales unit for each bid submitted, which corresponds to the calculation of the applicable guideline ("CO₂ Guideline for Suppliers of the ElringKlinger Group").

Every product manufacturer is responsible for all aspects of their products – from production and use to recycling and disposal. Since ElringKlinger products are incorporated into end products, the Group generally does not recycle or dispose of them. This makes it all the more important to pass on information on the material and chemical composition of semi-finished products and components within a standardized material database. The IMDS (International Material Data System) has established itself as an exchange and management system for material data within the automotive industry and is also continuously maintained by ElringKlinger.

ElringKlinger avoids the use of materials whose mining and marketing is under the control of violent military and paramilitary groups. The so-called conflict minerals include tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. Some of the conflict-laden raw materials come from the Congo and neighbouring countries and are partly used to finance smouldering conflicts in these regions. In ElringKlinger's products, the raw materials are used in very small quantities. In order to use these materials from exclusively conflict-free areas, ElringKlinger maintains close contact with its suppliers and knows the origin and source of the raw materials purchased.