Better Health for All

AIXTRON's technology solutions enable components used in applications such as UVC LEDs for disinfection in hospitals, water, and air, and nanopore technologies for detecting epigenetic factors influencing diseases.

These applications provide modest health benefits. The company invested EUR 88 million in research and development in 2023, which was approximately 14% of its revenues, with a focus on next-generation MOCVD systems and innovative manufacturing processes, including a EUR 2.1 million project for UVC LEDs to combat pathogens. AIXTRON has been a climate-neutral company since 2019, and its GaN and SiC semiconductors contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. The company maintains a whistleblower system for reporting violations and adheres to GDPR regulations for personal data, storing log files for a maximum of seven days and Google Analytics data for 12 months. AIXTRON offers employees regular occupational medical examinations and flu vaccinations, and implemented a comprehensive hygiene concept during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a very low infection rate. The company's products do not have direct safety implications for users, and its operations do not directly intersect with healthcare workforce development or global health crisis response beyond internal measures.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

AIXTRON SE is a technology company that provides deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry.

Its core business does not involve lending, insuring, moving, or storing money for consumers or underserved populations. The provided articles do not contain any evidence related to the company's involvement in financial services or its impact on economic opportunity for marginalized populations through financial products. Therefore, all KPIs under the 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' value are not applicable or lack relevant evidence.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

AIXTRON SE's CEO to median employee pay ratio is approximately 1.98:1, calculated from a median CEO compensation of $221,064 and a median employee salary of $111,392.

The company's voluntary employee turnover rate was 13.3% in 2021, an increase from 6.6% in 2020. In 2021, 11% of the workforce was on temporary contracts, up from 8.5% in 2020. Regarding worker engagement, 80% of employees reported satisfaction with their pay. The company reported no penalties or fines for occupational safety breaches. AIXTRON's global employment standards and supplier code of conduct prohibit forced labor, child labor, and discrimination, and commit to fair remuneration, working hours, and freedom of association.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

AIXTRON reported zero incidents of forced or child labor in 2023, and no incidents are mentioned for the last three years.

The company prohibits forced and child labor and conducts proactive risk assessments by analyzing product, trade level, and supply chain complexity to identify risks early. AIXTRON's Code of Conduct for Suppliers and Supplier Manual define sustainability requirements and ethical standards, forming the basis for new business relationships and applying to approximately 85% of supplier contracts.

Honest & Fair Business

AIXTRON has a formal whistleblower protection policy with an anonymous hotline and email channels (compl-office@aixtron.com, sb@aixtron.com), established in accordance with the German Whistleblower Protection Act.

The policy emphasizes confidentiality and prohibits retaliation, and mandatory regular training is conducted for all employees worldwide and evaluated by the Compliance Office. The company reported zero financial restatements in its 2024 Annual Report. For ethics complaints, whistleblowers receive confirmation within 14 days and status updates within three months, which is approximately 90 days. The Supervisory Board reported no conflicts of interest for its members in 2024, and all six members are considered independent shareholder representatives. AIXTRON has an Anti-Corruption Policy with binding rules, prohibits cash payments to employees, and sets a de minimis limit of EUR 20 for gifts. Regular mandatory training is conducted for employees worldwide and evaluated by the Compliance Office. The company's non-financial Group statement received a limited assurance report from KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, and external experts (Deloitte) reviewed the Risk Management System (RMS) and Internal Control System (ICS) based on IDW PS 981 and PS 982 auditing standards.

Kind to Animals

AIXTRON SE is a technology company providing deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry. Its core business model does not involve animal-derived products, animal testing, animal agriculture, or direct animal-related operations. Therefore, several KPIs related to cruelty-free certification, alternative testing, humane certifications, ethical input substitution, cage-free sourcing, animal testing policy and volume, animal agriculture ethics, and animal-free R&D collaboration are not applicable to the company's operations. While AIXTRON converted 12,500 m² of its premises into bee and insect pastures, no measurable biodiversity impact or species recovery metrics are provided to score the wildlife conservation impact KPI.

The company's supplier audits in 2023 did not specify animal welfare as a criterion, and its R&D investment does not explicitly mention animal-free innovation. The company's engagement with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and conflict minerals regulations does not directly relate to animal welfare policy.

No War, No Weapons

AIXTRON has a policy to address conflict minerals in its supply chain, based on the OECD Guidelines and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).

The company requires suppliers to disclose mineral origins and actively removes suppliers linked to proven human rights violations or environmental damage. A complaint process is in place for reporting such issues, and a Supplier Code of Conduct sets ethical and legal standards related to conflict minerals. AIXTRON prioritizes respect for human rights throughout its value chain, including supplier relationships.

Planet-Friendly Business

AIXTRON SE sources 100% of its electricity from renewable energies, achieving a score of 50.

The company's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions were 431,424 tCO2e in 2023, an increase from 380,265 tCO2e in 2022. While this figure is below 0.5 M tCO2e, the absence of an annual decline prevents a positive score, placing it at -10. AIXTRON has been climate neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2019, and for part of Scope 3, by offsetting through certified climate protection projects, including a 500 MW solar park in India. These offsets use projects certified according to the "Verified Carbon Standard", which maps to a -10 tier. In 2023, 79% of its capital expenditures were aligned with the EU Sustainable Taxonomy, scoring 10. The company reported no environmental compliance violations in 2023, earning a -50. AIXTRON aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, which is a target year >2050, resulting in a -90. The company supports projects with positive impacts on local populations in Peru and Uganda, such as rainforest protection and energy-efficient stoves, indicating a basic climate justice program at -40. However, there is no formal deforestation policy or verified implementation beyond supporting a sustainable forestry project, leading to a -90.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

The provided articles outline AIXTRON's general ESG policy and commitment to sustainability, including compliance with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

The company also supports the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act and EU Conflict Minerals Regulations and has a Conflict Minerals Complaint Process. However, the articles explicitly state a lack of specific quantitative data or concrete details regarding any of the KPIs related to Respect for Cultures & Communities, such as formal partnerships, revenue reinvested in local development, cultural appropriation incidents, cultural impact assessments, local employment ratios, or community grievance mechanisms. Therefore, no KPIs can be scored based on the provided evidence.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

AIXTRON implements multiple waste reduction initiatives, including optimizing disposal channels

, separating waste with a pictorial labeling system rolled out in 2023 , and working with professional waste management companies to return waste to the materials cycle . Hazardous waste management involves working with specialist local companies for disposal, using catalytic cleaning processes for exhaust gas to avoid hazardous waste, and incurring no contaminated wastewater . The company strives to keep hazardous waste amounts low, with total hazardous waste at 38,046 kg in 2023 . Most product components are designed for very long service life, indicating at least industry-standard durability . AIXTRON has not incurred any penalties or fines due to violations of occupational health and safety regulations, which could include waste disposal . The company emphasizes efficient and resource-optimized material management . Suppliers are required to meet high environmental performance standards, including compliance with international minimum sustainability standards, as outlined in the Supplier Handbook .