Initiatives & Standards

With a set of internal standards and processes as well as the implementation of respective measures, we work to achieve our sustainability targets. In doing so, we are guided by internationally recognized standards.

DEKRA supports the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC). The UNGC is the world's largest initiative for responsible corporate governance. Based on 10 universal principles, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it pursues the vision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy for the benefit of all people, communities and markets, now and in the future.

Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
the effective abolition of child labour; and
the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

DEKRA UNGC

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 SDGs that are most important for us in the first step are highlighted in the current DEKRA Sustainability Magazine. Therein we present the challenges and opportunities that we have identified in connection with sustainable development in the sense of these SDGs.

UNGC Sustainable Development Goals

DEKRA bases its sustainability reporting on the criteria of The Sustainability Code. The Sustainability Code provides a reporting framework that can be used by organizations and companies of all sizes and legal forms. The Sustainability Code was initiated by the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE), an advisory body of the German federal government. DEKRA is a mentor to The Sustainability Code, supporting other companies in relation to it.

List of Criteria:

Strategic Analysis and Action
Materiality
Objectives
Depth of the Value-added Chain
Responsibility
Rules and Processes
Control
Incentive Schemes
Stakeholder Engagement
Innovation and Product Management
Usage of Natural Resources
Resource Management
Climate-relevant Emissions
Employment Employee Rights
Equal Opportunities
Qualifications
Human Rights
Corporate Citizenship
Political Influence
Conduct that Complies with the Law and Policy

DEKRA DNK

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In order to take the globally organized group structure into account, DEKRA choses to also report along the GRI Standard as the internationally leading sustainability reporting standard. This report is externally validated by GUTcert and based on the already published formal reporting according to The Sustainability Code (“Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitskodex”, DNK). DEKRA is hereby reporting additional information (i.e., management program and GRI content index) to inform all stakeholders on the DEKRA sustainability management, standards, processes, targets, and results in accordance with the GRI Standards.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent international organization – headquartered in Amsterdam with regional offices around the world – that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate their sustainability impacts.

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DEKRA GRI Sustainability Report (PDF, 1012 KB)

EcoVadis Platinum Rating

In the EcoVadis sustainability rating, DEKRA is rated "Platinum", the best possible award. This puts DEKRA among the top 1 percent of companies rated. EcoVadis is the leading international standard for sustainability in global value chains and is one of the most important rating schemes for sustainability, with over 130,000 collaborating companies in more than 180 countries.

In 2024, DEKRA SE increased its score to 86, after having been repeatedly rated with 78 out of 100 points in 2023 and 2022. Compared to the 2020/21 EcoVadis rating result (74/100), DEKRA was able to continuously confirm the improvement in the four assessment areas environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

DEKRA CSR Highlights 2024 (PDF, 169 KB)

In 2021, DEKRA has committed itself to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In line with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, DEKRA is ambitiously setting an emissions reduction target within two years. The SBTi is a joint initiative of the Carbon Disclosure Project, UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute and WWF, and drives ambitious climate action in business by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets. The initiative is the world's largest and fastest growing coalition of companies taking urgent action towards a "1.5°C future".

In April 2024, the SBTi validated DEKRA's science-based emissions reduction target.

DEKRA commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 46.2% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.*

DEKRA also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel- and energy-related activities, business travel and employee commuting 27.5% within the same timeframe.

*The exact wording can be found on the SBTi website: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action#dashboard

Science Based Targets initiative

DEKRA is driving forward its commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing its environmental impact through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global non-profit that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform. With a record 23000+ companies disclosing through CDP in 2023, disclosing data on environmental impact is now a business norm.
DEKRA has been reporting to the CDP since 2022 and received a B-score in the so-called management level for the CDP questionnaire in the CLIMATE CHANGE category in 2023. This improvement on last year's awareness level (score C) demonstrates DEKRA's efforts and progress to actively manage its environmental impact.
An exceptional performance was acknowledged in the area of Climate Governance.
The CDP assessment provides a relevant frame for DEKRA to further progress in its climate ambitions in line with internally recognized standards.

Carbon Disclosure Project

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CDP Climate Change Scorecard (PDF, 592 KB)