11. Usage of Natural Resources

The company discloses the extent to which natural resources are used for the company’s business activities. Possible options here are materials, the input and output of water, soil, waste, energy, land and biodiversity as well as emissions for the life cycles of products and services.

Compared with manufacturing companies, DEKRA’s business activities have a relatively low impact on the environment. Nevertheless, we use natural resources for our office and laboratory activities as well as for our business travel. Our environmental management is focused on the topics of electricity and heating energy consumption, as well as on CO2 emissions. We also keep an eye on paper consumption. Sustainability data recording is currently being set up and developed. The performance indicators available yield the following figures:


Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Arbeit. The energy consumption figures and the associated CO2 emissions (heating, electricity) are based on the results of a detailed energy audit performed in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit. The figures for trips by rail and hired car and flights are based on the analyses of our respective contractual partners (Scope: DEKRA Germany). The figures for paper are based on the annual figures for purchasing paper (Scope: DEKRA Germany).

12. Resource Management

The company discloses what qualitative and quantitative goals it has set itself with regard to its resource efficiency, in particular its use of renewables, the increase in raw material productivity and the reduction in the usage of ecosystem services, which measures and strategies it is pursuing to this end, how these are or will be achieved, and where it sees there to be risks.

DEKRA’s objective is to continuously optimize its energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Environmental management throughout the group works on improving resource efficiency at DEKRA. Energy audits are carried out in order to identify potential savings. The conversion to LED lighting is a salient example. Our most recent building, the new DEKRA headquarters, was built in accordance with the sustainability standards of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and contributes to making resource management even more efficient. We are reducing the CO2 emissions of our vehicle fleet through a fleet policy geared to sustainability and to increased vehicle efficiency. Rail trips by way of Deutsche Bahn are also CO2 neutral. Generally, we are concerned with restricting business travel to an absolute minimum and, if possible, to using video conferences instead. We encourage the use of public transport when employees travel to work and offer employees working at company headquarters in Stuttgart subsidized tickets. In addition, employee awareness of environmental protection topics is sharpened regularly, in addition to regular training. The emphasis here is on the economical use of electricity and water, avoiding waste, as well as efficient heating and ecological mobility issues.           
 

Key Performance Indicators to criteria 11 to 12

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN1
Materials used by weight or volume. Link

This performance indicator is currently immaterial for DEKRA as a services company.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN3
Energy consumption within the organisation. Link

The development of DEKRA’s energy consumption is to be seen in the context of the company’s overall growth. Energy consumption is therefore assessed relative to the headcount. The energy consumption per employee amounts to: 2015: 8,562 kWh, 2014: 8,611 kWh, 2013: 8,689 kWh (the figures for 2016 were not yet available at the time when the Declaration of Conformity was being drawn up as the invoices of the energy supplier and external property manager are only submitted at mid year).



Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Arbeit. The figures are based on the results of a detailed energy audit carried out in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN6
Reduction of energy consumption. Link

The development of DEKRA’s energy consumption is to be seen in the context of the company’s overall growth. Energy consumption is therefore assessed relative to the headcount. From 2013 to 2015, the consumption of energy per employee developed as follows: 2015: 8,562 kWh, 2014: 8,611 kWh, 2013: 8,689 kWh (the figures for 2016 were not yet available at the time when the Declaration of Conformity was being drawn up as the invoices of the energy supplier and external property managers are only submitted at mid-year). This corresponds to a reduction of 0.9 % from 2013 to 2014 and by another 0.6 % from 2014 to 2015.  
 
Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Albeit. The figures are based on the results of a detailed energy audit carried out in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN8
Total water withdrawal by source. Link

This performance indicator is currently not evaluated as it is not assigned top priority for environmental management at DEKRA as a services company.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN23
Total weight of waste by type and disposal method. Link

This performance indicator is currently not evaluated as it is not assigned top priority for environmental management at DEKRA as a services company.

13. Climate-Relevant Emissions

The company discloses the GHG emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol or standards based on it and states the goals it has set itself to reduce emissions, as well as its results thus far.

The collection of key data at DEKRA in the area of emissions is currently being set up and developed. In 2015, DEKRA’s CO2 emissions stood at 523 kg per employee through electricity and at 1,778 kg per employee through heating (the figures for 2016 are not yet available). In Germany, 39.6% of electricity consumption is covered by renewable energies. DEKRA’s vehicle fleet in Germany caused CO2 emissions of 319 kg per employee in 2016. The average CO2 emissions in g/km of the vehicle fleet in Germany amounted to 126 g in 2016. We have begun to compensate for the CO2 emissions of our vehicle fleet. In 2017, two of our business units offset more than 370 tons of CO2 through CO2 allowances for efficient wood stoves in Ruanda (CDM Gold Standard). In 2016, business travel by German DEKRA employees (flight, rail, rented car) caused CO2 emissions of 189 kg per employee. Almost 2.5 million km in long distance travel by Deutsche Bahn was fully covered (100%) by green electricity in 2016. DEKRA endeavors to optimize its CO2 emissions in an ongoing manner.

Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Arbeit. The energy consumption figures and the associated CO2 emissions (heating, electricity) are based on the results of a detailed energy audit performed in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit. The figures for trips by rail and hired car and flights are based on the analyses of our respective contractual partners (Scope: DEKRA Germany).
 

Key Performance Indicators to criteria 13

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN15
Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1). Link

As a services company, DEKRA does not maintain production sites. The following data have been recorded so far: The CO2 emissions for heating amount to the following figures per employee: 2015: 1,778 kg CO2, 2014: 1,790 kg CO2, 2013: 1,809 kg CO2 (the figures for 2016 were not yet available at the time when the Declaration of Conformity was being drawn up as the invoices of the energy supplier and external property manager are only submitted at mid-year). The CO2 emissions caused by DEKRA’s vehicle fleet amounted to the following in kg CO2 per employee in 2016: 319, 2015 342.

Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Arbeit. The energy consumption figures and the associated CO2 emissions are based on the results of a detailed energy audit performed in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit. A reliable analysis of vehicle fleet data has only been available since 2015.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN16
Indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 2). Link

The following CO2 emissions were caused through DEKRA’s use of electricity per employee in 2015: 523 kg CO2, 2014: 525 kg CO2, 2013: 527 kg CO2 (the figures for 2016 were not yet available at the time when the Declaration of Conformity was being drawn up as the invoices of the energy supplier and external property manager are only submitted at mid-year).

 

Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Arbeit. The energy consumption figures and the associated emissions are based on the results of a detailed energy audit performed in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN17
Other indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 3). Link

The German DEKRA companies caused the following CO2 emissions per employee through travel by air, rail, hired car: 2016: 189 kg CO2, 2015: 183 kg CO2.

Scope: DEKRA Germany. The figures for trips by rail and hired car and flights are based on the analyses of our respective contractual partners. A reliable analysis has only been available since 2015.

Key Performance Indicator G4-EN19
Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Link

The CO2 emissions per employee have developed as follows: Scope 1 (heating): 2015: 1,778 kg CO2, 2014: 1,790 kg CO2, 2013: 1,809 kg CO2. Scope 2 (vehicle fleet): 2016: 319 kg CO2, 2015: 342 kg CO2. Scope 2 (electricity): 2015: 523 kg CO2, 2014: 525 kg CO2, 2013: 527 kg CO2. Scope 3 (business travel of German companies by air, rail, hired car): 2016: 189 kg CO2, 2015: 183 kg CO2.

Scope: DEKRA Germany excluding DEKRA Arbeit. The energy consumption figures and the associated CO2 emissions (heating, electricity) are based on the results of a detailed energy audit performed in 2015 and correspond to extrapolations derived from this audit. A reliable analysis of vehicle fleet data has only been available since 2015. The figures for trips by rail and hired car and flights are based on the analyses of our respective contractual partners (Scope: DEKA Germany).