Axel Springer SE
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2012-2013, 2016-2017)
Reporting Period: 2012-2013
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 1 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 2 Emissions:Not disclosed
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:118,075 MWh/year
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed
ESG Focus Areas
- Journalistic Independence
- Employee Well-being
- Environmental Sustainability (Paper Production, Energy Efficiency)
- Social Responsibility (Community Investment, Human Rights)
- Governance (Compliance, Diversity)
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced paper throughput in own newspaper printing plants by 13%
- Reduced ink usage in own newspaper printing facilities by 17%
- Reduced company’s energy requirements by 4.2%
- Reduced direct and indirect climate-effecting emissions by 5.6%
- Reduced waste water volumes discharged into the sewerage system by 10.2%
- Reduced mill broke by 16.5%
Social Achievements
- Launched various social initiatives (e.g., Berliner Heroes, Ein Herz für Kinder)
- Implemented health management programs for employees
- Increased focus on diversity and equal opportunities
- Implemented the International Social Policy, a binding guideline for social integrity applying to all company activities worldwide.
Governance Achievements
- Implemented a Group-wide compliance management system
- Developed and implemented guidelines to safeguard journalistic independence
- Published the annual Declaration of Conformity in accordance with § 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Become the world's leading digital publishing house.
Medium-term Goals:
- Improve energy and/or CO2 efficiency in data centers and digital workstations.
- Improve CO2 efficiency in facility management.
Short-term Goals:
- Increase the proportion of women in leadership positions to over 30% by 2018.
- Further optimize sustainability processes and adjust reporting processes to the GRI G4 standard.
Environmental Challenges
- Declining print circulation and revenue
- Digital transformation requiring significant investment and restructuring
- Maintaining journalistic independence in the digital age
- Ensuring compliance with social and environmental standards across international operations and supply chains.
Mitigation Strategies
- Investment in digital business models and paid content
- Restructuring and cost-cutting measures
- Development of guidelines for journalistic independence
- Implementation of International Social Policy and monitoring measures along the value chain
- Collaboration with NGOs and industry partners to improve sustainability practices.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Forestry standards for paper procurement
- Sustainability requirements for advertising media and product supplements.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI G3.1, GRI Media Sector Supplement (MSS)
Certifications: EMAS (Ahrensburg printing facility)
Third-party Assurance: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Second place in Germany for Axel Springer’s Code of Conduct in a European study.
- UNESCO award for Ahrensburg offset printing works’ commitment to school projects.
- Gold at the DEHOGA Environmental Check for PACE Paparazzi Catering & Event GmbH.
Reporting Period: 2016-2017
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:55,353 t CO2 (2017)
Scope 1 Emissions:0 tCO2e (2017)
Scope 2 Emissions:49,620 tCO2e (2017)
Scope 3 Emissions:2,141 tCO2e (2017)
Total Energy Consumption:99,757 MWh (2017)
ESG Focus Areas
- Journalistic Independence
- Product Responsibility and Customer Satisfaction
- Identification with Employees and Attractiveness as Employer
- Compliance with high Standards (Corporate Governance, Compliance with Social and Environmental Standards)
- Profitability (Creativity and Innovative Capability)
Environmental Achievements
- Implemented measures to reduce energy consumption at various printing plants, resulting in significant electricity savings (e.g., 710,000 kWh in Spandau)
- Completed conversion to LED lighting in several facilities (Ahrensburg, Berlin)
- Reduced electricity consumption for cooling in Kettwig printing plant by 11,000 KW per year
- Investigating reduction of short-lived plastics and improved waste recycling
Social Achievements
- Increased the proportion of women in leadership positions from 27.9% (2015) to 32% (2017)
- Launched various initiatives to promote employee health (health days, workshops, cooperation with fitness studios)
- Implemented “move” initiative for employee development and digital transformation
- Supported various social projects through employee volunteering and company donations (e.g., refugee German classes, B.Z. Berlin Heroes, Ein Herz für Kinder)
- Launched the Peter Boenisch Fellowship for young journalists
Governance Achievements
- Established a Compliance Management system including a whistleblower system
- Developed and implemented a Code of Conduct
- Published a non-financial statement for the first time in April 2018
- Strengthened journalistic independence guidelines
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Become the world’s leading digital publishing house
Medium-term Goals:
- Further increase in the proportion of women at all management levels
- Improve energy and CO2 efficiency in data centers
- Improve energy and CO2 efficiency at digital workstations
Short-term Goals:
- Further development of reporting processes according to updated GRI standards
- Methodical further development of data collected on energy use
- Reduce the use of short-lived plastics
Environmental Challenges
- Identifying and quantifying energy consumption and CO2 emissions across the entire company (due to digitization and internationalization)
- Ensuring compliance with social and environmental standards across the global value chain
- Maintaining journalistic independence in challenging political environments
Mitigation Strategies
- Developed new reporting processes in Group Controlling to collect energy data
- Implemented Forestry Standards since 1995 when purchasing printing paper
- Conducted site visits to assess social and environmental standards in various locations
- Engaged in dialogue with NGOs (e.g., Greenpeace) to address concerns and find solutions
- Implemented measures to improve data protection and cybersecurity
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Forestry Standards for paper suppliers since 1995
- Site visits to assess social and environmental standards
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option
Certifications: EMAS (Ahrensburg printing plant), ISO 50001 (Kettwig and Spandau printing plants)
Awards & Recognition
- Numerous awards for social commitment, journalistic excellence, and sustainability initiatives (detailed list in report)