MBM® Guiding Principles

8 Principles ∞ Potential

These principles define who we are as an organization. We all have a responsibility to live by them daily. They are essential to the creation of virtuous cycles of mutual benefit.

1. Integrity 

Have the courage to always act with integrity.

2. Stewardship & Compliance 

Act with proper regard for the rights of others. Put safety first. Drive environmental excellence and comply with all laws and regulations. Stop, think and ask.

3. Principled Entrepreneurship™

Practice a philosophy of mutual benefit. Create superior value for the company by doing so for our customers and society. Help make Koch the preferred partner of customers, employees, suppliers, communities and other important constituencies.

4. Transformation

Transform yourself and the company. Seek, develop and utilize the visions, strategies, methods and products that will enable us to create the greatest value.

5. Knowledge

Acquire the best knowledge from any and all sources that will enable you to improve your performance. Share your knowledge proactively. Provide and solicit challenge consistently and respectfully.

6. Humility

Be humble, intellectually honest and deal with reality constructively. Develop an accurate sense of self-worth based on your strengths, limitations and contributions. Hold yourself and others accountable to these standards.

7. Respect

Treat everyone with honesty, dignity, respect and sensitivity. Embrace different perspectives, experiences, aptitudes, knowledge and skills in order to leverage the power of diversity.

8. Self-Actualization

Be a lifelong learner and realize your potential, which is essential for fulfillment. As you become increasingly self-actualized you will better deal with reality, face the unknown, creatively solve problems and help others succeed.

Dear fellow employee,

While our long-term success depends on many factors, nothing is more important than a commitment to our core values as represented in the MBM® Guiding Principles.  It is our responsibility to know and live by these Principles. 

We expect you to always act with absolute integrity and proper regard for the rights of others.  Put safety first and drive environmental excellence, while complying with all laws and regulations.  Stop, think and ask when you feel like something might not align with our Principles, or any law or regulation.

This starts with living by our Integrity and Stewardship & Compliance Principles, in harmony with the other Guiding Principles.  Doing so is essential to our creating virtuous cycles of mutual benefit that enable us to succeed by creating value for others. 

Our Code of Conduct is intended to help you make compliant and ethical decisions.  It answers many commonly asked questions, placing the emphasis on avoiding risks that could cause the most serious harm to people, the environment or the business.  

We want every employee, regardless of role or experience, to live by our Guiding Principles and apply MBM® to get results.  Whether you have been with Koch for days or decades, maintaining and improving our MBM® culture is your responsibility.  It’s what we expect of everyone at Koch and what you should expect of your leaders.

Doing so requires a commitment to two-way challenge.  You must ask questions and/or raise concerns about any behavior that might violate our Principles, whether it involves a peer or your supervisor.  This requires courage.  Without it we cannot act with integrity.  You must also go beyond being open to challenges and solicit them. 

As this Code of Conduct makes clear, living by the Guiding Principles is critical to our success.  We owe it to our families, our coworkers, our businesses, our customers, our communities and ourselves.  All our futures depend on it.

Charles Koch | Chairman and CEO
Koch Industries, Inc.