Governance

Doing business the right way

We are committed to always doing business the right way. We operate with the highest standards of integrity and honesty and comply with all applicable laws and regulations in all dealings within our business, with others (including customers, suppliers and public authorities) and with the communities in which we operate. Our Code of Conduct sets out our commitments and our expectations for employees and business partners on how to do business the right way. Further information can be found here.

Preventing bribery and corruption

We do not tolerate any forms of bribery or corruption and comply with all applicable anti-bribery and corruption laws. We have set out our position clearly within our Code of Conduct and have implemented various policies and guidelines including our Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy. Ardagh is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and is committed to working in alignment with the UNGC’s principles, including that it is against corruption in all its forms.

How we manage compliance

Our Code of Conduct sets out the commitment to acting with integrity. This commitment does not stand alone. It is supported by a compliance framework to ensure that we appropriately manage compliance within our business. Our Chair and CEO set a clear tone from the top – they ensure that all employees are clear about the importance of acting with integrity and adhering to our Code. The Board has the entrusted the Audit Committee with the oversight of the compliance function, our risk management and our Code of Conduct (including business ethics).

The Audit Committee has established a Compliance Committee to drive the implementation of our Code of Conduct and ensure that appropriate policies are in place to address Ardagh’s compliance risks. The Compliance Committee is also responsible for reviewing compliance violations and reporting these to the Audit Committee. The Compliance Committee includes representatives from across the business.

In addition to robust governance structures, strong leadership, and a clear tone from the top, compliance issues are reviewed as part of our overall risk management system. Through this we identify and assess our compliance risks, implementing mitigation measures where necessary. We provide employees with training on our Code of Conduct (including business ethics and various key risk areas, such as anti-bribery and corruption and competition compliance). Our compliance programme, including elements related to business ethics and corruption risk, is regularly reviewed with the input of third-party expertise as necessary.

Corporate governance

We are committed to upholding high standards of corporate governance. Our established governance structures ensure clear accountability and responsible decision-making. Information about our Board of Directors, including details of our board committees and their respective responsibilities, is available on our Investor Relations page.

Risk management

Ardagh Group’s enterprise risk management framework includes systems and processes for identifying, monitoring and mitigating business, operational and legal risks. Guided by our risk framework, the business assesses risks through both top-down and bottom-up approaches, monitoring, controlling, and mitigating risks as needed.

Ardagh is exposed to a range of risks that could materially and adversely affect our operations. These risks are generally categorised as:

  • Business, products and industry
  • Supply chain
  • Economic, market and political conditions
  • Employees and operations
  • Information technology systems
  • Legal and regulatory matters.

Our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Committee regularly reports to the Audit Committee who oversee risk management. In addition, management, including our Chief Risk Officer, informs and updates the Audit Committee and the Board of any material incidents, as necessary.

Green bonds

The objective of issuing Green Financing Instruments is to assist in financing Ardagh Group’s initiatives to lower our carbon footprint as well as increase our investment in sustainable projects to transition to a low-carbon and circular economy. The issuance of these Green Financing Instruments will also enable Ardagh Group to engage with those investors who are committed to allocating capital in support of these objectives.

Green Financing Framework (PDF 2.3 MB) Allocation and Impact Report 2022 (PDF 2.6 MB) Second-party opinion (PDF 762 KB)

Policies and Standards

To see our Policies and Standards, please visit our Media Centre.