Supporting and collaborating with local communities
As a socially responsible company, Sika supports local communities. Community engagement for Sika is the process of working collaboratively with neighborhoods to address issues affecting the well-being of its residents, improving the lives of the communities and its members. This involves partnerships with NGOs and associations that help mobilize resources and influence the prospects of those neighborhoods in a positive way. Sika defines “communities” as non-commercial stakeholder groups of local companies, neighborhoods, educational institutions bringing forward social activities and projects, environmental programs, and the development of recovering programs.
“Sika Cares” program
The “Sika Cares” program started in 2019 and focuses on improving the quality of life of children, adults, and families in the local communities in which Sika operates worldwide.
Sika employees enjoy the intangible benefit of giving a feeling of connectedness and the satisfaction of trying to make the world a better place. The company aims to support local third parties to help people to develop themselves. Promoting self-help can encompass a portfolio of information, techniques, and tools that help individuals access new know-how and improve their situation in a sustainable way.
Through education and awareness campaigns, community members become advocates for sustainable living, driving positive behavioral changes that ripple through society. Cooperation with and support for existing and professional charity organizations is given priority. “Sika Cares” focuses on the following thematic areas:
Investment in good education gives young and underprivileged people the most important tool they need to lead an independent life. Sika provides support on training and capacity building in terms of refurbishment and construction projects. The company promotes quality education for orphans and vulnerable children or neighborhood-focused employability approaches. In this way, Sika increases employment opportunities for socially disadvantaged people.
The health and dynamism of communities also depend on the infrastructure in place for people and the environment. This is where Sika comes in with its expertise and product solutions, providing housing and accommodation for social NGOs, enabling, and optimizing health and safety infrastructures, or traffic/transport services and facilities for the local communities.
Sika employees support projects which link social causes with ecological interest: projects raising awareness on climate change, community health and safety, initiatives promoting the provision of drinking water in dry areas or technological development to stimulate the economic growth of local communities. Sika seeks to promote on-the-ground self-help. Supporting self-management involves enabling and instructing people about their condition and care and motivating them to care for themselves and to expand their quality of life by capacity-building.
Healthy communities rely on campaigns and solutions in support of health promotion and disease prevention across a wide range of dimensions. By recognizing and working to improve their impact on health and well-being among their own employees, across global value chains, and within local communities, Sika aims to help to foster and benefit from a more robust economy and marketplace, a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce, and more resilient supply chains and communities.
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Actual and potential negative impacts on local communities
In 2025, fewer than 5% of Sika’s General Managers indicated – by means of their annual ESG Confirmation – that they have received complaints from local communities regarding Sika’s operations. The very few complaints received were primarily related to noise, odors, and dust. Most of them have been resolved. Sika fosters an ongoing dialog with local communities, e.g., through open-door events or special phone numbers to contact the local management.
When opening a new site, Sika follows defined steps to interact with communities. The planning process focuses on compliance with all laws and regulations, which required approvals are in place, coordination with local fire departments, as well as information and interaction with the neighboring community. The steps of this process include early-stage contacts with local authorities regarding environmental, commercial, health and safety aspects as well as information sessions for the local neighborhood. Actions and initiatives are partly adapted to the local situation.