Type of involvement regular company-wide and division-specific “pulse check” surveys works meetings held by the Works Council intranet communication with comment functions collaboration tools leadership events communication with “climate representatives”, newsletters committees working groups Issues raised and expectations of SMA working conditions working hours and location arrangements mobile working training career opportunities fair, transparent and performance-based remuneration sustainable corporate strategy safe jobs business success equal opportunities

Type of involvement Press releases annual press conference ad hoc messages social media channels interviews background discussions responding to inquiries media center on corporate website Issues raised and expectations of SMA transparent communication sense of responsibility in dealing with sustainability issues compliance with global standards (e.g., UN Global Compact) business success securing jobs working conditions location image and positive reputation renewable energies technological development and innovation

Type of involvement bilateral dialogue via commodity managers purchasing partnerships annual or quarterly discussions Supplier Day supplier training participation in supplier evaluations supplier development with regard to quality supplier audits Issues raised and expectations of SMA reliable partnership compliance with legal regulations fair competition and ethical conduct clear guidelines for quality occupational safety requirements and environmental standards reliable capacity and procurement planning

SMA Sustainability Sustainability management Environment & energy Product stewardship Employees Governance & ethical business Downloads

Sustainability management

Holistic and integrated approach

Responsibility and respect along the entire value chain

For us, sustainable business means combining long-term economic success with environmental protection, ethical behavior and social responsibility. Responsible and respectful treatment of people, the environment and resources with increasing use of renewable energies in all parts of the value chain are the basis for this

Jessica Mannocchi, Head of Sustainability

Sustainable thinking and action

“Our sustainability strategy takes a holistic and integrated approach. Our objective is to integrate sustainability in all business processes and raise awareness among all employees for sustainable thinking and action.”

Jessica Mannocchi, Head of Sustainability

Four areas of action for sustainability

Our globally coordinated sustainability management comprises four areas of action: environment & energy, product stewardship, employees and governance & ethical business .It thus covers all dimensions of sustainability. With a materiality analysis, we have identified the sustainability aspects within these areas of action that are at the center of SMA’s sustainability program. We have set ourselves ambitious objectives in all areas of action and defined measures for achieving these objectives. We continuously measure our success by means of suitable KPIs. More details on the SMA sustainability objectives can be found in the SMA group’s Annual Report 2022.

Stakeholder management

We place high value on ongoing, transparent dialogue with our stakeholders. We regard dialogue with them as an important catalyst for the further development of our sustainability management. One important tool for this is our annual stakeholder analysis, which gives us an insight into important stakeholder groups and their expectations.

SMA stakeholder dialogue

Employees

Type of involvement

regular company-wide and division-specific “pulse check” surveys
works meetings held by the Works Council
intranet communication with comment functions
collaboration tools
leadership events
communication with “climate representatives”,
newsletters
committees
working groups

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

working conditions
working hours and location arrangements
mobile working
training
career opportunities
fair, transparent and performance-based remuneration
sustainable corporate strategy
safe jobs
business success
equal opportunities

Politicians / Legislators

Type of involvement

organization of events
joint initiatives
proactive contact
participation in consultations
personal meetings
presentation of positions via industry associations
involvement in local initiatives

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

transparent communication
sense of responsibility in dealing with sustainability issues
compliance with global standards (e.g., UN Global Compact)
business success
securing jobs
working conditions
location image and positive reputation
renewable energies
technological development and innovation

Press / NGOs

Type of involvement

Press releases
annual press conference
ad hoc messages
social media channels
interviews
background discussions
responding to inquiries
media center on corporate website

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

transparent communication
sense of responsibility in dealing with sustainability issues
compliance with global standards (e.g., UN Global Compact)
business success
securing jobs
working conditions
location image and positive reputation
renewable energies
technological development and innovation

Customers / Major Customers / Distributors / Installers / Project Partner

Type of involvement

Personal and virtual meetings/sales visits
key account management
events
trade fair presentations
customer survey and customer audits
surveys to measure satisfaction and identify potential for improvement
SMA Solar Academy and partner programs for installers

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

quality
reliability
value for money of systems and solutions
contract compliance and delivery reliability
compliance
fairness
sustainability performance of products
product certification
training for installers
innovative applications
lifetime
customer service
holistic collaboration

Investors / Analysts / Rating Agencies

Type of involvement

financial and sustainability reporting
Annual General Meeting
annual Capital Markets Day
one-to-ones with investors and analysts
conferences and roadshows
participation in ESG ratings and rankings

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

transparent and extensive communication on the company’s development
economic profitability
sustainability performance/ESG

Service partners / service providers

Type of involvement

Bilateral exchange with SMA departments
review meetings
steering committee meetings

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

Open and constructive communication
reliable partnership
contract compliance
optimal product support

Suppliers

Type of involvement

bilateral dialogue via commodity managers
purchasing partnerships
annual or quarterly discussions
Supplier Day
supplier training
participation in supplier evaluations
supplier development with regard to quality
supplier audits

Issues raised and expectations of SMA

reliable partnership
compliance with legal regulations
fair competition and ethical conduct
clear guidelines for quality
occupational safety requirements and environmental standards
reliable capacity and procurement planning

ESG Ratings and Rankings

By participating in international sustainability ratings and rankings, we aim to give our stakeholders access to a transparent and independent assessment of our sustainability performance.

MSCI ESG

AAA
(rating scale AAA to CCC)

ISS ESG

Prime (B-)
(rating scale from A+ to D-)

Sustainalytics

16.8 / rank 23 out of 270 companies
(rating scale 0 to 100, the lower the better)

EcoVadis

Gold medal

CDP

Climate Change 2022: B
Supplier Engagement 2022: A-