The whistleblowing scheme serves to identify potential risks or breaches at an early stage and to respond appropriately. The whistleblowing scheme can be used to report information concerning acts or omissions in the course of professional, business or official activities which reveal corrupt, fraudulent, dangerous or illegal activities and constitute a breach of legal provisions or contractual agreements. This also includes actions which are not directly unlawful but which misuse the spirit and purpose of a legal provision. Reports may relate in particular to:

• Breaches of due diligence obligations and human rights along the supply chain (e.g. exploitation, child labour, slavery, etc.)
• Breaches of public health or safety regulations (including data protection)
• Fraud, embezzlement, theft and similar offences
• Bribery and any form of corruption
• Tax evasion
• Money laundering
• Financing of terrorist organisations
• Environmental damage
• Breaches of product safety regulations

All reports received will be treated confidentially and investigated thoroughly.

Reports may be submitted by the following individuals or groups:

• Suppliers and their employees
• Business partners
• Other third parties who become aware of potential breaches in connection with our business activities

We provide our employees with their own internal reporting system.

Reports can be submitted to our Compliance Department via the following channels:

Email: compliance@herthundbuss.com
Telephone: +49 (0) 6104 608 217

Reports may also be submitted anonymously, where legally permissible.

All reports are treated confidentially. Individuals who report matters in good faith need not fear any adverse consequences. The identity of whistleblowers is protected in accordance with legal requirements.

Incoming reports are reviewed by the relevant compliance office and processed in accordance with a structured procedure. All relevant information is taken into account and, where necessary, appropriate measures are taken.

Further information on our principles and expectations of our business partners can be found in our Code of Conduct for Suppliers.

Batteries fall within the scope of the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 and the German Battery-Law-Implementation Act (BattDG).

Our appliances may contain appliance batteries. These are usually permanently installed in the appliances for technical reasons and cannot be removed by the user. The collection of data by independent experts is ensured in accordance with Notice C/2025/214.

Some of our appliances also contain removable batteries. You are legally obliged to return old batteries and can hand them in free of charge at municipal collection points and at retail stores for standard household quantities. Otherwise, contact our return service at Entsorgung@herthundbuss.com.

The symbol with the crossed-out waste bin on the appliance battery means that you are not allowed to dispose of batteries in unsorted waste. Batteries are also marked with the chemical symbol for the respective pollutant they contain. Batteries containing more than 0.0005 percent by mass of mercury, more than 0.002 percent by mass of cadmium or more than 0.004 percent by mass of lead, are marked with the chemical symbol of the metals (Cd for cadmium, pb for lead, heg for mercury).

Used batteries can contain pollutants that could damage the environment or health if they are not properly stored and disposed of. Batteries also contain important raw materials that can be recycled. The separate collection and recycling of used batteries for the environment is therefore of particular importance.

We take part in the return and collection systems for batteries in Europe.​

Our packaging falls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR).

Depending on the supply chain and distribution model, Herth+Buss assumes the role of producer (Articles 3(1) and 13 of the PPWR) and/or importer (Articles 3(1) and 17 of the PPWR). We fulfil the obligations arising from these roles in accordance with the requirements of the PPWR.  These include, in particular, compliance with the legal requirements regarding packaging design, material requirements, labelling in accordance with Article 12 of the PPWR, conformity assessment and documentation in accordance with Article 15 and Annexes VII and VIII of the PPWR.

As an importer, we ensure that the packaging and packaged products we import meet the legal requirements and that the necessary evidence and conformity documentation are available.

Insofar as we are considered a manufacturer within the meaning of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in accordance with Article 3(1)(15) of the PPWR, we fulfil the relevant registration, reporting and participation obligations in the countries in which we place packaging on the market for the first time.

The manufacturer or the distributor in the relevant country is generally responsible for the return and disposal of packaging. We ensure disposal through a contractual arrangement with an international recycling network operated by PARTSLIFE GmbH, which has organised such a solution specifically for our industry. If you wish to return any packaging, please contact us at Entsorgung@herthundbuss.com. We will arrange for the packaging to be collected and appropriately recycled.

We are constantly working to design packaging in a way that conserves resources, is suitable for recycling and is in line with the objectives of the circular economy.

If you have any questions regarding our packaging responsibilities or the PPWR compliance of our products, please contact us at:

Qualitymanagement@herthundbuss.com

06104 608 111

Our registration numbers with the relevant national registers in Germany are as follows:

Herth+Buss Mobility Solutions GmbH & Co. KG

WEEE reg. no. with stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (ear): DE65183759

Batteries reg. no. with stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (ear): DE 97331702

Packaging reg. no. with Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR): DE3026602390347

The EU directives mentioned above also apply to our foreign subsidiaries in the EU, where they have been transposed into national laws. Comparable laws also apply in the UK.

As national laws are implemented differently in the various countries, not all subsidiaries fall within the direct scope of application.

As distributing companies, the general obligation to take back electrical appliances, batteries and packaging placed on the market applies to all our subsidiaries within the national borders. If you would like to return an appliance, battery or packaging, please contact us at Entsorgung@herthundbuss.com.

Our registration numbers with the relevant national organisations and agencies are as follows:

Herth+Buss BELGIUM S.R.L

WEEE reg. no. with Recupel: 944851

Batteries reg. no. with Bebat: 637956

Packaging reg. no. with Val-i-Pac: 1101179766

Herth+Buss FRANCE S.A.S

WEEE reg. no. with Ademe: FR029310_05ZPQ4

Batteries reg. no. with Ademe: FR029310_0668KL

Herth+Buss UK LTD.

WEEE reg. no. with the Environment Agency: WEE/MM6628AA

Batteries reg. no. with the Environment Agency: BPRN09039