Siegwerk launches supplier engagement initiative

Siegwerk has held its first supplier engagement sessions under SustainUP, the company's global sustainable procurement program, recently conducting interactive webinars and workshops in Mumbai, India, to equip local suppliers with practical knowledge and tools for responsible business practices.

The Supplier Engagement Initiative, focusing on India as one of Siegwerk's most important sourcing markets, represents the first program of its kind in the inks and coatings industry. The training program addressed three key areas: grievance redressal mechanism, fair wages and working hours, and occupational health and safety.

Through globally offered webinars and an intensive workshop in Mumbai, suppliers gained understanding of regulatory requirements, sustainable business expectations and best practices. Siegwerk also shared its own approach and challenges, fostering transparency and collaboration to help suppliers make informed decisions.

The training initiative was supported by the Centre for Responsible Business, a New Delhi-based think tank, which provided expert guidance and local insights. The content focused on high-risk areas of the supply chain and was designed for small and mid-sized suppliers, who often face resource constraints when meeting complex sustainability and human rights requirements.

'We need our suppliers to walk this path with us,' said Cathleen Hansohm, global supplier sustainability manager at Siegwerk. 'SustainUP is about partnership, trust and shared responsibility. By supporting our suppliers today, we are enabling a more resilient and sustainable supply chain for tomorrow.'

'Regulations set the floor, but our ambition is impact,' noted Hansohm. 'By embedding human rights due diligence, decarbonization efforts and environmental responsibility into supplier engagement, SustainUP helps us to turn regulatory expectations into measurable improvements and thus fueling change across our supply chain.'

Siegwerk launched its SustainUP program in mid-2025 to integrate sustainability into the company's procurement processes. All training materials and webinar recordings are now available on the newly created SustainUP website.