June 24, 2025 GlobalFoundries (GF) has a long history of corporate responsibility and operational excellence. These high standards help us stay true to our company values and deliver for our customers. Our commitment is exemplified through GF’s membership in the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and our participation in the RBA’s Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits. These comprehensive audits are critical for demonstrating that GF adheres to the highest standards of social, environmental and ethical practices. Every corner of the company RBA VAP audits look at nearly 100 unique requirements, from safety and human resource policies to governance and sustainability. To remain conformant, companies must undergo an audit every two to three years. The RBA began in 2004 as the “Electronics Industry Code of Conduct,” a collaborative effort among leading electronic companies to promote social, environmental and ethical responsibility. Today, it has evolved into the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to responsible business practices across the globe. “The idea is to have a single standard that everyone can operate to, which simplifies compliance and ensures consistency across the industry,” said Brian Raley, Director of corporate sustainability at GF. “There’s a lot of value in having a standardized set of code requirements that everybody can agree to and align to. There’s power in this standardization, both to require it in your supply chain, and to be a strong partner to your customers and be able to say, ‘yes, we are aligned to the standardized code.’” Participating in the standardized RBA VAP audits streamlines our compliance efforts, enabling GF to meet the highest standards efficiently and consistently. It minimizes the need for overlapping audits from various agencies and customers, saving valuable time and resources while reinforcing our commitment to excellence, Raley said. The RBA VAP audits are conducted by independent, third-party firms approved by the RBA. These audits involve a thorough review of documents, interviews with management and employees, and a visual site survey. The goal is not just to identify issues but to correct them, ensuring continuous improvement and adherence to the RBA standards A day in the life of an RBA VAP audit While RBA standards conforming business practices are ongoing, preparation for an on-site audit begins months in advance and requires input and information across a wide matrix of teams and roles. The days of the audit are long and intensive. “Human resources, ethics and compliance, and Environment, health and safety are key stakeholders in the audit process,” said Ruma Kohli, principal member of technical staff on GF’s sustainability team. “We start preparing months in advance, holding weekly meetings to strategize and identify any gaps. It’s a lot of work, but collaboration and communication are key to our success.” Silke Hermanns, principal member of technical staff on GF’s sustainability team based in Germany, said GF’s supply chain is a major component of the RBA VAP audits. “We check suppliers that contribute around 80% of our primary commodity supplier spend for RBA code conformity. This involves a detailed review of their practices and ensuring they align with our standards,” she said. “The auditing of smaller on-site service providers, which can be more challenging due to their size and the nature of their work, is another important aspect,” Hermanns said. Global footprint Performing well in RBA audits is no small feat, particularly for a company like GF with a global footprint and manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Germany and Singapore. Each location presents unique audit complexities, which factor in everything from language translation to varying local regulations. Despite these challenges, GF continues to deliver world-class results. In three out of four of our most recent RBA Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits, GF achieved Platinum level perfect scores—200 out of 200. Over the last three years, we exceeded our goal to achieve a combined annual score average of at least 180/200. Across all four most recent RBA VAP audits, we achieved full conformance across the sections: Health and Safety, and Environment, Ethics, and Supply Chain Management, and just one excursion for Labor, that is currently being remediated. These scores reflect our unwavering dedication to operating responsibly, ethically and sustainably at every site across the globe. Team effort and preparation “RBA VAP audits are a full team effort,” said Sam Sherman, Director of EHS for GF in Singapore. The GF team prepares internal audits, he said, in preparation for external third-party audits. “We have an audit-ready culture,” Sherman said. “We organize all the necessary documents and evidence related to the code, making it easy for auditors to review. It’s a collective effort across a huge number of various departments.” Another benefit from both internal and external audits are the opportunities for continuous improvement, as feedback from auditors helps GF enhance its practices and programs. “Passing the RBA audit with no findings validates our systems and ensures we are implementing programs correctly. It’s not just a box-checking exercise; these audits provide meaningful KPIs that we strive to meet,” Sherman said. Celebrating success At GF, RBA VAP audits are more than just a compliance requirement, they are a testament to our commitment to corporate responsibility, Raley said. “By adhering to the RBA standards, we ensure that our practices are ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible,” he said. “The RBA audits help us maintain high standards and provide third-party validation of our systems. It’s a crucial part of our commitment to excellence.” Read more about corporate responsibility at GF at: https://gf.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/
