UN Global Compact &
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)

 

We are a signatory to the internationally recognized United Nations Global Compact. The UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate governance initiative, by which companies commit to following and promoting fundamental principles on human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption measures.

Based on our commitment to sustainability, and our support for the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact, we are striving to help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our business operations have negative and positive impact in terms of sustainable development. We are working towards reducing negative impact whilst strengthening positive impact in adherence to the 17 SDGs.

     

  

The most important SDGs for us, as a first step, are highlighted below, along with the challenges and opportunities that we have identified in connection with sustainable development in the context of the SDGs.
 
GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES
Our work as an independent expert organization carries weight. The results of our tests, inspections and certification procedures are robust within the scope of the testing performed, as is regularly attested by external accreditation bodies. To ensure that our partners can rely on the highest levels of safety, we strive to continuously improve the quality of our testing based on extensive quality assurance procedures. To give an example: our periodic general inspections verify the technical safety of vehicles, thus helping to enhance overall road safety.

Safety is at the heart of our corporate vision: We will be the global partner for a safe world. Through our safety services, we promote health and safety for people, the environment, and technology. The services we provide embody our commitment in the fields of occupational safety, road safety, and pollution control.

Good health and well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES
As an education and training provider, we are constantly working on the challenge of promoting the most inclusive and equitable access possible to education. Examples of this include state-subsidized courses in the field of labor market integration, or through innovative virtual offerings that promote lifelong learning. Our Training Service Division offers high-quality education and training and promotes access to education. Examples of this include integration and language courses provided by the DEKRA Academy. Internally, we promote lifelong learning with an innovative global learning management system, as well as through the DEKRA DIGITAL Academy for example.

Quality education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES
As a company with a traditional focus on technology, the majority of our management and staff are male. Because diverse perspectives are important to us, we are working to promote female careers, and have set ourselves concrete targets until 2025 with a view to increasing the number of women in our management team.

Beyond the general value of diversity and equality, the issue is also important to us with respect to our business strategy. In the dynamic global market in which we operate, and in the face of megatrends such as digitalization and sustainability, for which we aim to continue contributing innovative solutions, having the widest possible diversity of perspectives and backgrounds among our employees will provide us with a competitive edge. That is one reason why we are working to continually enhance diversity among our management team and employees – for example in terms of gender and international spread. As a major employer, we have the potential to help make diversity and equality integral aspects of our society.gesellschaftlichen Werten werden. 

Gender equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

As a service company, we also use water. Through our environmental management system, we are working to ensure that water is used as efficiently as possible.

Our expertise and services in relation to drinking water and groundwater protection help to make water supplies safe.

Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

We will source 100 percent of our electricity through renewables by 2025, and we are working on developing our own production of renewable energy.

As well as switching our electricity supply to renewable sources, which we have already implemented in Germany, we are contributing to sustainable energy supply through our expert services – for example in the fields of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency.

Affordable and clean energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

Adhering to high standards of quality, safety and sustainability is especially challenging in times of dynamic economic change. By promoting such standards, and through our auditing of occupational safety, quality and environmental management systems, we are responding to the challenge of contributing to the most sustainable possible economic growth.

As a large-scale, attractive employer, and as a closely interconnected global business that promotes quality, safety and sustainability standards worldwide, we contribute to sustainable economic growth through our workforce.

Decent work and economic growth: Promote durable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

The digitalization, automation and interconnection of processes poses challenges from a safety consideration. We aim to contribute solutions through our work in this field. We also have a responsibility for ensuring the highest possible safety standards, for example based on innovative occupational safety concepts in this era of Industry 4.0.

We are continually advancing our expertise in these areas. Examples include our expertise in testing automated and connected vehicle technologies at our test centers, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of electronic safety components in our laboratories, as well as the work of DEKRA Digital GmbH, which is driving our digital transformation and innovation.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

As a company that operates across several sites and thus takes up a lot of land, including within urban areas, we are striving to make our sites as sustainable as possible.

We contribute to the creation of sustainable cities by offering expert services in sustainable building, safety, and energy efficiency. One of the ways in which we do this is through our partnership with the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). We also design our own buildings to be as sustainable as possible. An example is our latest new build at our Stuttgart headquarters, which has been awarded the DGNB's Gold Standard.

Sustainable cities and communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

We are working on promoting sustainable consumption by applying our expertise in safety and sustainability through product testing and certification. In doing so, we have a responsibility to ensure robust and comparable standards.

We enhance transparency and safety for consumers, such as by conducting product testing in relation to safety and environmental compatibility. In the field of green electronics, for example, we evaluate electronic products according to the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) standard.

Responsible consumption and production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

As a service provider, in the course of our business activities we also consume resources (such as energy for our offices, laboratories and test facilities) and produce emissions (such as greenhouse gas emissions when traveling) which impact on climate change. We are working on the continual reduction of our carbon footprint.

We have set ourselves the goal of significantly reducing our CO2 emissions (by 50 percent relative to 2018 levels through to 2025). This also creates opportunities to introduce more efficient and agile processes. We are working on making business travel (when essential) as environmentally friendly as possible, and when avoidable, replacing it with virtual meetings. We are also working on enhancing digital collaboration and optimizing our vehicle fleet to reduce climate-damaging emissions. We are switching our electricity supply to renewable sources, and developing programs to improve energy efficiency and to produce our own renewable energy. We also support our customers through our services in areas such as climate protection. Examples include our consulting services on climate management and carbon accounting.

Dienstleistungen etwa in Sachen Klimaschutz. Beispielsweise durch Beratung im Bereich Klimamanagement und Klimabilanzierung.

Climate action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

GOALS CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES

In an increasingly globalized world, yet in which there is a growing trend towards protectionism and nationalism, trustful global partnerships and practiced multilateralism are becoming more and more important. We are committed to worldwide cooperation, and want to be a global partner for a safe world.


We engage in international and global partnerships and initiatives wherever possible. For example, we support the UN Global Compact, the Vision Zero occupational safety initiative, the European Road Safety Charter, and the international association TIC Council, which represents the testing, inspection and certification industry. In all these undertakings, we actively promote the highest possible safety standards, trustful cooperation, and sustainability.

Partnerships for the goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.