Global economic, ecological and social trends and events are increasingly defining market parameters for international businesses. As a consequence, the Linde Group has decided to bolster its long-term shareholder value policy with a corporate responsibility strategy. For us, corporate responsibility means adopting a responsible approach toward employees and natural resources, toward the funds entrusted to us, and toward the promotion of societal interests.

Like our business strategy, our corporate strategy is based on our vision of LeadIng. The embedding of the four dimensions of corporate responsibility – environment, human resources, society and the capital markets – into our everyday business activities creates our platform for long-term commercial success.

Vision and values
Oriented internationally from the very outset, Linde has distinguished itself from the day of its founding by technological competence, innovative engineering, customer orientation, and dependability. The values and objectives of today’s Linde Group are a natural outgrowth of this fertile philosophy.

“LeadIng” is the word we have chosen to describe our potential and corporate ambition of being a leading player worldwide in each of our fields of operation and an exemplary enterprise in every respect. Future competence, a dedication to our beliefs, and an awareness of responsibility define the core ethos by which the Linde Group is seeking to attain this goal.

Strategy
Our strategy of corporate responsibility is keyed to these basic beliefs. It is designed to incorporate the key criteria relevant to the four dimensions cited above into our corporate decision-making and to progressively advance Linde’s status as a global leader in these areas as well.

In August 2005, the Linde AG Executive Board voluntarily adopted a Corporate Responsibility Policy as a central component of its corporate responsibility strategy. This policy is obligatory for all of our business segments.