What we do in the company
We are committed to responsible corporate governance. We have therefore developed a cross-location climate strategy to reduce our ecological footprint in the long term. Our goal is clear: we want to have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2045 compared to 2018. To achieve this, we are following the approach: avoid, reduce, offset.
Since the strategy was introduced, we have been able to implement the following measures:
Climate protection & energy consumption
As a non-manufacturing company, our greatest leverage for environmental and climate protection lies in our own energy consumption. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we purchase 100% green electricity wherever contractually possible. In Germany and Austria, 73% of all locations are already covered. In December 2020, we also moved our company headquarters to a smart and sustainable office building in Berlin, which has been certified to the platinum standard of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). It features sustainable construction methods as well as high energy efficiency and user orientation.
Employee mobility
All our employees are encouraged to avoid business trips wherever possible. Instead, we are increasingly relying on video and web conferencing. We have equipped all of our locations with video conference rooms and provide our employees with the appropriate technical equipment. If business travel cannot be avoided, we are increasingly relying on rail travel instead of air travel. Our travel policy from 2021 stipulates that business trips within Germany, where the destination can be reached within a maximum 4.5-hour train journey, must also be completed by this means of transport. Our own vehicle fleet already consists of 94% electric cars.
Resource consumption
Even as a non-manufacturing company, our goal is to conserve resources - if possible. Our resource consumption mainly relates to the use of paper and IT equipment, and everything associated with them. We already use products based on recycled materials to a large extent - such as sustainably produced or recycled paper. To keep paper consumption as low as possible, we have configured to stall personalized print queries and configure black-and-white prints as a default on our printers. When it comes to our IT equipment, we make sure that we use energy-efficient devices and dispose of them properly.
Waste & Recycling
We avoid waste as far as possible and ensure that waste is separated and disposed of in accordance with the law. In addition, we work with our partner AfB Social and Green IT, for example, which professionally recycles and, where possible, refurbishes discarded IT equipment at its Berlin and Munich sites. We offer some of the refurbished devices to our Scout24 employees for private resale. Extending the useful life of the devices not only saves resources, but also reduces CO₂ emissions.