Better Health for All

During the COVID-19 pandemic, GKN Aerospace played a key role in the VentilatorChallengeUK, producing over 13,000 ventilators for the NHS

, which significantly increased the UK's healthcare capacity . GKN Powder Metallurgy also provides high-performance components for medical devices , indirectly supporting better health outcomes by improving device functionality . The company's core business activities do not generate revenue from products with direct negative health impacts. Information regarding the percentage of the company's product portfolio with health impacts, user safety records, pricing accessibility, vulnerable population reach, health innovation investment, health equity programs, healthcare workforce support, preventative health measures, healthcare data responsibility, healthcare education, or mental health initiatives is not available. Furthermore, environmental pollution control, such as CO2 emissions reduction, falls outside the scope of this ethical value.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

GKN plc is a global engineering business operating in aerospace, automotive, and powder metallurgy sectors. The provided articles contain no evidence that GKN offers lending, deposit, or other financial services to consumers or underserved segments. Therefore, all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to fair money and economic opportunity, which are designed for financial institutions, are not applicable to GKN's business model. While GKN engages in employee diversity and inclusion programs

, charitable donations , and skills development , these activities do not align with the specific definitions of the KPIs for a financial services context.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

The Group Accident Frequency Rate was less than 0.1.

For GKN Aerospace Services Limited UK, the median hourly pay gap as of April 5, 2024, was 5.6% in favor of men, meaning women earned 94.4% of men's median pay. Voluntary management turnover was 6.5% in 2017. GKN Aerospace has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and promotes an inclusive workplace free from discrimination, bullying, or harassment. The company aims for 20% of its leadership team to be women and 20% from under-represented ethnic groups, and has implemented an 'Inspired Women's Leadership Development Programme'. A global maternity leave policy was introduced, offering a minimum of eight weeks leave at 100% pay and flexible working arrangements. The Group approved its first employee code of conduct in 2023 and published its first Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

GKN plc's Supplier Code of Conduct applies globally to all suppliers, mandating compliance with high ethical standards, including explicit prohibitions against child, forced, bonded, or involuntary labor, and requiring adherence to labor laws and internationally accepted workers' rights

. GKN Automotive adopted a new Human Rights and Anti-Slavery Policy in 2021 and introduced a new supplier assessment tool in 2023 to enhance supply chain transparency . GKN Aerospace maintains a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, implementing systems and controls to prevent it , and conducts risk assessments of new suppliers . GKN Powder Metallurgy has a Modern Slavery Statement , and GKN Aerospace operates a confidential whistleblowing hotline . GKN Automotive achieved an EcoVadis Gold rating for sustainability, placing it in the top 5% of companies assessed for sustainable procurement and ethical practices .

Honest & Fair Business

GKN plc operates a Group-wide, multi-lingual, 24/7, confidential, and anonymous whistleblowing platform, hosted by an external, independent company.

In 2023, 87 whistleblowing cases were reported across the Group and thoroughly investigated. , with 62 cases in 2021 for GKN Aerospace leading to corrective actions such as retraining and dismissals. The company maintains a zero-tolerance Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy, which is implemented Group-wide, includes regular risk assessments, annual training for all employees, and conducts due diligence when selecting sales agents and consultants.

Kind to Animals

No specific, measurable evidence was found in the provided articles to assess GKN plc against the 'Kind to Animals' ethical value. The articles focus on waste management plans

, CO2 emission reductions , , and energy efficiency improvements , which are environmental initiatives but do not provide data points relevant to animal testing, humane certifications, ethical sourcing of animal-derived ingredients, or measurable wildlife conservation impacts as defined by the rubric's KPIs.

No War, No Weapons

GKN plc derives 18.56% of its total revenue from defense contracts

, with its Structures division supplying major structural components for military aircraft such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle, and C-17 Globemaster III . The company is actively engaged in R&D for dual-use technologies, including advanced airframes for future military platforms and uncrewed aircraft . GKN states alignment with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Global Compact, and the ILO Declaration , has a Human Rights Policy , conducts ethical conduct training every two years , and reported zero identified human rights violations in 2024 . The company commits to and reported zero substances classified as conflict minerals knowingly sourced , though 95% of raw material suppliers were asked to complete conflict minerals templates in 2024 . GKN maintains a Code of Ethics with zero tolerance for material deviations and reported zero material compliance or ethics violations in 2024 .

Planet-Friendly Business

The company's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions were 15.376 million tCO2e in 2024.

Water withdrawal was 331,496 m3 per $1 million revenue. The Group's transition plan explicitly states it does not include the use of carbon offsets. In 2024, 21% of the Group's energy consumption was from renewable sources. 54% of the Group's input materials are from recycled or re-manufactured content. The Group recycled 81% of its waste in 2024. No material environmental fines or penalties were issued against any of the businesses in 2024 or the previous five years. All three divisions (GKN Automotive, GKN Powder Metallurgy, GKN Aerospace) have SBTi-validated GHG reduction targets for 2030 and net-zero targets for 2045 or 2050, with defined interim milestones. The company publishes updated TCFD statements and GKN Aerospace considers its disclosure consistent with all TCFD recommendations. Climate scenario analysis is conducted to assess the resilience of the Group’s business model and strategy.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

No specific, quantifiable evidence was found in the provided articles regarding GKN plc's actions related to indigenous rights, cultural heritage, or local community traditions. The articles discuss GKN Automotive's Human Rights and Anti-Slavery Policy for its supply chain

, general sustainability targets , and future pledges for charity partnerships by 2025 , but these do not provide the concrete data points required by the rubric's KPIs for 'Respect for Cultures & Communities'.

Safe & Smart Tech

GKN Automotive has achieved TISAX accreditation for 14 of its sites in 2024

, with 13 sites audited against the standard in the same year . Given GKN plc has at least 79 manufacturing facilities across its Automotive and Powder Metallurgy divisions , this represents an insufficient scope of certified systems. For security testing, 13 of GKN Automotive's facilities were audited against TISAX standards in 2024 , which is approximately 16.4% of the company's total manufacturing facilities. GKN Automotive requires all employees to complete annual security awareness training , and global phishing simulations in 2022 showed a 5% reduction in clicks on phishing links , with further simulations in India demonstrating decreased click rates and increased reporting rates . GKN Aerospace also provides employee training . GKN complies with data protection laws in the countries where it operates and has implemented a data protection governance framework across its European Economic Area companies to comply with GDPR requirements . While "security by design" is mentioned as an integral part of GKN Automotive’s operational resilience , there is no quantifiable evidence of privacy principles integrated throughout the product development lifecycle across a significant percentage of products.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

GKN demonstrates strong material efficiency, with technologies ensuring 80% material utilization in production processes, which is 75% better than the industry norm.

The company achieved an 86.22% solid waste diversion rate from landfill in 2024, encompassing both hazardous and non-hazardous waste, with GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy achieving 97.3% and 97% respectively. GKN Automotive reported that 94% of its products sold in 2024 are recyclable. The company has a group-level target to divert 100% of solid, non-hazardous waste from landfill by 2030. GKN has implemented numerous waste reduction initiatives, including remanufacturing programs, equipment modifications for waste diversion, waste audits, and training, with GKN Automotive receiving a Circular Economy Business accolade in 2024. Hazardous waste management shows improvement, with a reduction from 3,693 tonnes in 2023 to 1,838 tonnes in 2024, and no material environmental fines or penalties reported in 2024 or the preceding five years. Circular design principles are embedded in GKN Powder Metallurgy's product offering and prioritized by GKN Automotive, with remanufacturing considered in the initial design phase for sideshafts. The supplier code of conduct includes basic requirements for environmental law compliance and proper hazardous substance disposal.