A VARD colleague helps a co-worker fasten a safety harness on the shipyard, sunlight catching their helmets and high-visibility gear.
Commitment · VARD

Our Commitment

Built on trust — for people, planet and partners

Photo: VARD
VARD

We strive to foster a sustainable and responsible business that adheres to the highest levels of safety and corporate governance, to protect the welfare of our stakeholders — employees, customers, shareholders, partners, suppliers and the local communities in which we operate globally.

Our Focus Areas

01
Vision Zero
Our company-wide effort to avoid any mishaps, for our people and the environment. Strict KPIs continuously measure safety across all yards and entities. Managing a successful business means never compromising your most valuable resource.
02
A Sea of Opportunity
So much of the sea remains unexplored. The greatest challenge of our time is climate change, and the greatest impact is felt at sea. At VARD we are proud to have a pivotal role in enabling the sustainable development of our planet.
03
The Global Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action. For VARD and our motivated employees, this invitation to tackle a great aggregate of challenges is energizing. We share a common goal of developing solid sustainable solutions.
Panoramic view of VARD vessels at sea alongside offshore wind turbines, with two people looking out from a rocky coast.

Built on Trust

Our commitment to our customer promise “Built on trust” and our key values are the foundation for our strategies and how we drive our business. Procedures and instructions are developed to ensure that our products meet specified requirements and customer expectations.

Salesmanship
Understanding and meeting customer expectations with integrity
Craftsmanship
Delivering quality through skilled, hands-on work
Fellowship
Building trust through collaboration and respect

We promote a systematic approach to ensure efficient and reliable operation, delivery precision and good and safe work conditions for all employees. The company proactively keeps up-to-date with international best practice to ensure the safety of our global workforce.

Sustainable Development

With the United Nations Sustainability Goals and our own values as our navigation marks, VARD is fully committed to taking an active role in preventing climate change. We share a common goal of further developing solid sustainable solutions that bring value to our customers, employees, owners, the environment, and society as a whole.

UN Sustainable Development Goals graphic with the 17 colourful goal icons, including No Poverty, Quality Education, Climate Action and Partnerships.
UN Sustainable Development Goals frame VARD’s long-term direction. Photo: VARD.

Gender diversity: VARD has signed the Wista Norway 40 by 30 pledge to commit to strive towards 40 % women in leading positions by 2030.

91% of waste recycled
across VARD operations

We continue to explore new ways to improve our current practices to minimize the impact of our operations on the environment, particularly with regards to waste management, noise abatement, emissions reduction and the construction of eco-friendly ships.

Transparency & Governance

The Norwegian Transparency Act, based on UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD’s Guidelines for multinational companies, ensures that large Norwegian companies work to promote compliance with fundamental human rights and decent working conditions — in their own operations, supply chains and with business partners.

The Board of Directors in both Vard Group AS and its Norwegian subsidiaries have approved and supports the establishment and implementation of policies and routines which satisfies the requirements of the Act.

Transparency Act Inquiries
Any person has the right to information regarding how VARD addresses actual and potential adverse impacts on fundamental human rights and decent working conditions.

Our corporate governance is based on our corporate values and ethical guidelines. The guidelines are applicable for all employees in VARD. It’s a tool that guides us through the ethical principles we are committed to and is intended to affect behavior and the company culture within the Group.

Whistleblowing
Employees and external parties are encouraged to raise concerns about possible violations of VARD’s Ethical Guidelines, including fraud, corruption, harassment, discrimination, and violations of environmental and human rights laws.
Two VARD employees in red coveralls and safety helmets stand on the quay with a ship and crane behind them, reviewing a checklist.
Safety rules are continuously updated — VARD’s Vision Zero sets the standard.

We shall treat other people with dignity and respect and maintain a good reputation as a trustworthy business partner.

More about VARD
This article is published with permission from VARD. Original content © VARD.