Product Stewardship

Sika’s assessment and improvement of the health and safety impacts of its products is state-of-the-art. The company utilizes global Product Compliance software with one common database, product stewards for all finished goods categories, trainings for all local users, benchmarking, and quality control. Sika’s management strives to avoid any negative impact on customer health and safety through its products. Precautionary measures are taken to mitigate risks related to product safety.

Sika issues documentation about occupational safety, how to wear safety equipment, and the safe transportation and storage of goods. All product information, specifically Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and Product Data Sheets (PDSs), are reviewed regularly. Information on the SDS of individual products can be found on the website of the local Sika companies. 

Sika products must be accompanied by a SDS in compliance with the country’s legal requirements and in the required local language when distributed or sold. Packaging and labeling must meet local compliance standards, as well as the Sika branding and labeling rules. The company creates, maintains, and publishes SDS, using the global Product Compliance System. To safeguard legal compliance and customer safety, the requirement for all local Sika companies is that the SDS shall not be older than two years. This is monitored by Global Regulatory & Product Compliance and reported quarterly to all responsible Area Managers, General Managers, Regional Operations Managers, EHS Managers and Product Stewards.  

A central corporate REACH and Chemical Regulatory Department (the Regulatory & Product Compliance Team) coordinates all corporate activities, covering the requirements of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), Classification, Labeling and Packaging (CLP), as well as other relevant chemical legislation to ensure the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can arise from chemicals. 

A wide range of chemicals are used in the formulation of Sika’s products. This includes hazardous chemicals which are fundamental to achieve the technical requirements such as loadbearing strength and longevity of buildings and structures. The company aims to reduce these substances from products and production processes wherever possible.

Sika has a comprehensive risk management system structured at Group level which is effective for all its subsidiaries. Risks are identified at an early stage and integrated into strategic decision-making processes. As part of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors (BoD) yearly, the risk “Changing Product Compliance requirements and regulations” was confirmed to be one of the top risks. The risk is defined as “Changing product compliance requirements for products, product solutions, production processes, and procurement, driven by changing customer requirements and regulations”.

In the due diligence process for acquisitions, the teams involved, such as EHS, Product Stewardship, and Legal, collect information including material management and environmental compliance. Potential acquisitions can be stopped if the analysis of a company’s product portfolio does not meet the necessary requirements.

In 2023, the company reviewed the Sika Banned Substance Process, with a view to accelerate progress in this important area and continue to review and assess the use of substances of concern. As a result, Sika introduced the “Sika Substance Risk Management (SSRM)” process. The latter, which applies at Group level, supports the organization in assessing and treating substances with an elevated risk potential based on the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) hazard classification. This internal process is complementary to local legal requirements, emphasizing Sika’s uncompromising commitment to quality, safety, and environmental sustainability.

Moreover, the Sika Substance Risk Management (SSRM) Policy regulates the use of defined hazardous substances in Sika operations and in products. Depending on the category, Sika prohibits or restricts the use of these substances in products above a defined concentration limit. Use in production is subject to specific permits.

Substances falling under the “SSRM” definition must be checked for replacement by alternative substances in all processes defined in the Sika Product Creation Process (PCP) and processes of Regulatory & Product Compliance. Based on the classification of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), “Substances of Concern” are divided in two main categories:

• Category 1: substances which shall not be used in any sales products (both manufactured and trading products), all materials handled in manufacturing plants and supply chain. Only substances used for R&D purposes are exempt.
• Category 2: substances which may be used in controlled manufacturing processes as long as the defined concentration limits are not exceeded in the final product.
  

The main goal of the Marketing function at Sika is to support business growth, generate and nurture customer leads, and create a globally recognized brand. Packaging is essential for such purposes as it is used to identify Sika products. It enhances the appearance of the label for product promotion and provides information about the correct and safe use of the product.  

The marketing and labeling activities at Sika provide customers and stakeholders with compliant, accurate, and valuable information regarding classification, labeling, and packaging (CLP) rules and the application of its products. Labels should include legal and regulatory requirements, as well as customers’ requirements, depending on the customer type (either distribution or direct sales).