Sustainability: How We Are Becoming a Beneficial Company

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.

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

Steffen Szeidl CEO, Drees & Sommer

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. 