Climate Change Data

Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2017)

Reporting Period: 2017

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:500,000 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:261,900 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:238,100 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:1,420,600 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:1,665,500 MWh/year
Water Consumption:4.69 million m3/year
Waste Generated:314,600 tons/year
Carbon Intensity:29.1 metric tons of CO²e per €1 million in consolidated sales

ESG Focus Areas

  • Integrity & Compliance
  • Antitrust Compliance
  • Data Protection & Privacy
  • Diversity
  • Fair Working Conditions
  • Creative/Journalistic Independence
  • Paper
  • Intellectual Property & Copyright
  • Learning
  • Content Responsibility
  • Employee Participation
  • Health
  • Anti-Corruption & Bribery

Environmental Achievements

  • 8% reduction in CO²e emissions since 2016
  • 34,600 MWh increase in the use of renewable energies with guarantees of origin since 2016
  • 91% of paper from recycled or from certified sources

Social Achievements

  • Increased employee participation through various dialogues and surveys
  • Launched various health initiatives resulting in improvements in job satisfaction and health
  • Implemented diversity initiatives, including increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions

Governance Achievements

  • Established a compliance organization with a Corporate Compliance Committee and Integrity & Compliance program
  • Implemented a risk management system
  • Adherence to the German Corporate Governance Code recommendations

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce portfolio-adjusted greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2025 compared with 2014
  • Achieve a share of more than 90 percent recycled paper and paper from certified sustainable forestry for paper it procures by 2020
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2020

Environmental Challenges

  • Increasing business customer requirements on non-financial topics
  • Increasing statutory regulations on CR issues
  • Resource scarcity potentially disrupting business processes
  • Inadequate working conditions leading to decreased employee motivation and productivity
  • Developments in media and social policy posing potential risks
Mitigation Strategies
  • Transparency on environmental impact along the value chain
  • Effective energy and environmental management
  • Group-wide framework conditions for fair working conditions
  • Early consultation and support for employees during structural changes
  • Dialogue with employees and their representatives

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • Bertelsmann Supplier Code of Conduct

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Resource scarcity
  • Extreme weather events
Transition Risks
  • Increasing statutory regulations on CR issues
  • Developments in media and social policy
Opportunities
  • Cost savings through energy efficiency
  • Reduced ecological footprint

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards (2016; “Core” option), UN Global Compact

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Climate-neutral books

Awards & Recognition

  • Silver rating from ecovadis
  • Prime status in oekom’s Corporate Rating