Climate & Environment

Committed
to the environment

In view of the increasing scarcity of resources and climate change, DEKRA has enhanced its commitment to protecting the climate and environment. That commitment applies to internal processes and procedures, as well as to our expert services and measures, so as to promote climate-positive outcomes outside of our company – such as reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

 

Drought, devastating floods, and human impact on the ecosystem – including deforestation of the rainforests: these are just a few examples of how climate change and its impact on people and the environment is advancing apace and is evident all over the world. Remedial action can no longer be delayed. Proactive measures are needed in order to work in the most resource-efficient way possible – as DEKRA does. It is often by taking small steps in one's own life and work that big things can be achieved together. That is true with regard to the materials we need for our office and laboratory work, the input and output of water, soil, waste, energy, land, or biodiversity, as well as the climate-impacting greenhouse gas emissions linked to our buildings and business travel.

Moreover, our environmental protection services also influence our customers' resource consumption in a way that should not be underestimated. They include services relating to air pollution control, soil and groundwater protection, pollutants, waste management, energy efficiency, and environmental management system certification. And in Global Procurement, our Sustainable Procurement Policy likewise stipulates the responsible use of resources in our supply chain. Sustainable alternatives are preferred to conventional products wherever possible.

Our Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) organization plays a key role in DEKRA's commitment to ecological sustainability. The environmental management officers working in the global EHS network are responsible for enhancing DEKRA's environmental protection and resource efficiency, and to this end, they collect the data needed to realize optimization opportunities. This can be seen, for example, in energy efficiency programs undertaken in cooperation with other internal departments focused on buildings, the expansion of electricity supplies from renewable energy sources, improved sustainability of business travel, and the fostering of digital communication and paperless processes. Our employees also undergo regular training and awareness coaching on environmental protection issues. The focus of this is on the economical use of electricity, water and waste, efficient heating, and ecological mobility.

 

Worldwide sustainable environmental projects at DEKRA

  • With their in-house software WIP, DEKRA employees in Sweden can email vehicle inspection reports to customers as PDF files rather than printing and posting them as before.
  • Over 1,000 "Green DEKRA Bottles" made of glass have replaced the usual plastic bottles for water or juice at many DEKRA locations in Spain. This is saving several metric tons of plastic waste (2,590 bottles per week).
  • In the Czech Republic, efficient multifunction printers introduced in 2017 have replaced individual desktop printers. The printer paper bears the EU Ecolabel, and is FSC-certified.
  • In Brazil, a shuttle bus for 20 employees was organized for the 70 kilometer route between São Paulo and the DEKRA site in Atibaia. This saves on 714,000 kilometers of driving, which means DEKRA is cutting its CO2 emissions by 126.45 metric tons per year.
  • New branches of VTNZ, the DEKRA vehicle inspection subsidiary in New Zealand, will be fitted with solar panels to generate their own "green" electricity for running electrical appliances and producing hot water. This will save each facility 12.7 metric tons of CO2 per year, while generating some 11,583 kWh of electricity per year.
  • The DEKRA laboratory in Virginia, USA, is recognized as an official test laboratory for the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) for manufacturer-independent communication between charging stations and electric cars. Employees can charge their electric vehicles at charging points at a number of DEKRA locations during working hours.
  • DEKRA's switch to energy-efficient, 20-watt LED lamps in China is saving more than 60 percent per tube – at the same usage – compared to a conventional 58-watt tube, which consumes approximately 118 kWh of energy eight hours a day for 255 days a year.

Susanne Tufvesson

Regional Environment,
Health & Safety  Manager Sweden,
Region North West Europe

Susanne Tufvesson is responsible for environmental, health and safety management in the DEKRA Region North West Europe.