Sustainability: How We Are Becoming a Beneficial Company

“We need to move away from discussions, justifications, and explanations, and take action! And deliver what the world really needs: genuine sustainability." 

Steffen Szeidl, Partner and Member of the Executive Board

Our Vision: A Beneficial Company

We are on a clear path: becoming a Beneficial Company. We aim to give more to the environment and society than we take. This goal requires new thinking – from the company as a whole and from every individual. We reshape our growth model and work toward a true circular economy.

How can we maximize our positive impact long term? “the blue way.” As a company driving real estate innovation, we want to be part of the solution. Our interdisciplinary experts develop practical solutions together with clients who want to create a positive environmental impact. What about you?

Discover more in our Sustainability Mission Statement.

BENEFICIAL COMPANY: OUR OBJECTIVES

We set clear climate targets based on three pillars: environment, society, and governance (ESG).

These pillars guide Drees & Sommer and its stakeholders through challenging times – successful and resilient. 

Our annual Sustainability Report visualizes our progress and highlights the milestones ahead. It shows our results and addresses the challenges we are working to solve.

Our strategy is built on a materiality assessment. It identifies nine key activities that must be implemented strategically. In 2024, a new materiality assessment will follow in line with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). It evaluates our impact on the environment, society, and governance – and analyzes external factors that influence our operations. These insights shape our future strategies and help us steer Drees & Sommer toward becoming a Beneficial Company.

Our Carbon Footprint

Every year, we measure all greenhouse gas emissions under our operational control based on scopes 1, 2, and 3. This scale follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the global standard for emissions accounting.

In 2023, the Drees & Sommer group emitted 31,397 tons of CO₂e, with 60 %, our emissions coming from transport, including employee commute, business travel, and our vehicle fleet. This percentage includes business trips, our vehicle fleet, and employee commute. Purchased goods and services account for another big part of our footprint, at just under 35 %.

Based on our greenhouse gas emissions, we are focusing on preventing and reducing our footprint across all departments. Offsetting may serve as a temporary tool, but our main focus is preventing and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. One current measure includes incentives for low-emission travel. Learn about current and future measures in our annual Sustainability Report.

SUPPORTING GLOBAL INITIATIVES

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Our commitment aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through consulting projects, we transform real estate and infrastructure. Many of our services contribute to several of the 17 SDGs. Our consulting services contribute to achieving the SDGs shown below. Discover our key reference projects in our annual reports.

UN GLOBAL COMPACT

We are committed to driving sustainable transformation of the economy. Given the complexity of global economic systems, we must comply with ethical business practices and use resources responsibly. As a member of the United Nations Global Compact, we follow ethical business practices and promote responsible use. All members commit to aligning their activities and strategic planning with ten principles covering human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption. We publish our progress each year in our Communication on Progress report. 

ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG CLIMATE ALLIANCE 

We are part of the Baden-Württemberg Climate Alliance. Companies based in Baden-Württemberg have joined this regional initiative, committed to measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage. Members sign a climate protection agreement that defines specific measures to achieve climate targets. The alliance also gives members an opportunity to network regionally and collaborate on shared climate protection projects.

ECONSENSE – SUSTAINABILITY COMPETENCE PROGRAM

We participate in the econsense Skills Development Program, a sustainability forum for German businesses. It’s a registered sustainable development forum for German businesses. The program enables cross-sector exchange and addresses practical challenges, especially for medium-sized companies. Experts help develop the skills needed to implement change.

DIVERSITY CHARTER

As an employer, we promote a work culture based on mutual respect and equal opportunity. Every individual should have the same opportunities to grow, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, nationality, race, or religion. To facilitate these values, we have joined the Diversity Charter. It’s the most renowned initiative in Germany to ensure diversity at work. With over 5,000 participating organizations, we are committed to recognizing, respecting, and facilitating diversity.

In 2023 Drees & Sommer has received the ESG Transformation Award for sustainable transformation of the organization.
In 2023 Drees & Sommer was ranked as the top real-estate employer, in the German real-estate industry publication, Immobilien Zeitung.

Our sustainability ratings

EcoVadis

EcoVadis is one of the world's leading sustainability rating platforms. For the annual audit, they use 21 sustainability criteria, including environmental factors, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. In April 2023, we received a silver medal for our effective sustainability management.

IntegrityNext

On the IntegrityNext Platform, clients can view our sustainability profile. It includes our measures to prevent corruption, ensure responsible supply chains, protect the environment, improve health and safety, and safeguard data. View our rating here: Drees & Sommer Profile.