Sustainability with a System
How We Take Responsibility: Discover the goals and areas of focus of our sustainability strategy.
About Our Strategy
More Momentum for Greater Sustainability: Making Sustainable Development Measurable
Climate change is already posing significant risks to health, business operations, infrastructure, and financial stability in many areas of life. Sustainable action at all levels must therefore remain a top priority. Companies such as DEKRA play an important role in this transformation by providing expertise in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC). At the same time, DEKRA continues to embed sustainability within its own organization through strategic targets, concrete measures, and long-term programs.
Board Preface: Sustainability as Part of DEKRA’s DNA
In a world that is changing ever more rapidly, sustainability may not always be at the top of the political agenda. Yet the underlying transformation continues: global temperatures are rising, while investment in the green economy, renewable energy and electric mobility continue to advance. The question is therefore no longer whether sustainability will shape markets and societies, but how consistently and credibly we act in this evolving environment. For DEKRA, sustainability is not an “add-on” to our business. It is an integral part of who we are as the world’s largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the TIC industry.
With its IMPACT 2030+ strategic framework, DEKRA is sharpening its course to maximize its positive contribution to a sustainable world while ensuring our company remains fit for the future and well positioned for the changes of the years ahead.
In this context, DEKRA’s three strategic business drivers are closely interconnected:
- Sustainability
- Future Mobility
- Digital Trust
The mobility of the future requires climate credibility. Digital solutions require trust, safety, and responsible innovation. Sustainability, understood in its broad ESG dimension, provides the overarching framework across environmental, social, and governance topics.
Climate Action Requires Clarity
Clarity is particularly important when it comes to climate action. Through the DEKRA Climate Impact Program, we therefore focus on measurable impact rather than offset-based carbon neutrality claims. We continue to reduce our own emissions while progressively transitioning our energy supply and vehicle fleet to renewable sources. An internal carbon price creates additional accountability and helps direct investments to where they can achieve the greatest impact.
By our centennial year in 2025, all sustainability targets set for that milestone had been achieved. At the same time, DEKRA further strengthened its role as a multiplier for sustainable development. Through more than 500 services, we support our customers in advancing the energy transition, improving their ESG performance, and accelerating the transformation toward future-ready mobility.
Taking Responsibility, Enabling Change
For DEKRA, sustainability represents a dual commitment: taking responsibility and enabling change. Our Strategy IMPACT 2030+ targets for Sustainability define the next stage of this journey. Our ambition is clear: by 2030 and beyond, we aim to create a positive impact as an independent and trusted partner for a world in transition.
In line with our claim: Securing the future.
Stan Zurkiewicz (CEO), Petra Finke (CDO), Peter Laursen (COO), and Wolfgang Linsenmaier (CFO)
Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Why Greater Momentum Is Needed
Heat waves, ocean warming, droughts, extreme rainfall, wildfires, and melting ice: Looking back at the past two years, a growing number of concerning developments have become increasingly visible. What stands out is not a single record-breaking event, but rather the simultaneous occurrence and interconnection of multiple trends that tend to reinforce one another. As a result, climate change is increasingly becoming a broader sustainable development challenge, affecting ecosystems, human health, food security, water availability, economic performance, and social cohesion.
Sustainability therefore means addressing not only environmental boundaries, but also social equity, long-term economic viability, and the resilience of our societies. This holistic perspective is reflected in the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a globally recognized framework for governments, businesses, and civil society. They also serve as an important reference point for many of DEKRA's sustainability initiatives.
Sustainable Development Goals: Where the 2030 Agenda Stands Today
The challenge remains substantial. According to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, presented in New York in July 2026:
- Only 36% of the 139 measurable SDG targets are on track or showing moderate progress.
- 32% are advancing only marginally.
- 17% have stagnated.
- 15% have regressed compared to 2015 levels.
The United Nations therefore describes the period leading up to 2030 as a decisive final phase. The goals remain achievable, but only through significant progress in financing, international cooperation, climate action, technology, social protection, and peacebuilding.
- 44 percent reduction in the carbon footprint since 2019 (Scope 1, 2 & 3.6)
- 100 percent renewable electricity at all locations worldwide
- Emission reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative
- 22.2 percent women in leadership positions, workplace accident rate down by 39 percent
- Approximately €300 million in revenue from more than 500 sustainability services
Sustainability at DEKRA: Strategy, Programs, and Practice
DEKRA is committed to advancing sustainability both within its own operations and through its services. This commitment is built on the Group-wide sustainability strategy, clear objectives, and targeted programs and initiatives across various areas of action, which are presented in greater detail throughout the following articles. In addition, the magazine features selected examples from across the global DEKRA organization, highlighting how employees, teams, and business units contribute to a more sustainable future through their day-to-day activities and innovative projects.
Sustainability in Practice Around the World
What does sustainable business look like at DEKRA around the world? Take a look at our global projects and learn more about our initiatives.
About Our Projects
Future Needs Resilience
We are reducing our carbon footprint through targeted measures. Learn how our Climate Impact Program is driving real climate action.
About Our Climate Impact Program
Everyone Must Deliver: Sustainability Goals Across Business and Society
Today, sustainability is a requirement across virtually every sector: mobility, energy, manufacturing, supply chains, and real estate, as well as employee development, equal opportunity, and responsible consumption. All stakeholders are therefore called upon to intensify their efforts toward a more sustainable future.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide the overarching framework, complemented by political initiatives and regulatory requirements. In Europe, the European Green Deal establishes the pathway toward climate neutrality by 2050. At the same time, regulatory developments increasingly require organizations to systematically integrate sustainability into their business processes and report transparently on their progress.
Yet regulation alone will not create a sustainable economy. Reducing emissions and conserving resources requires investment in new technologies, more efficient processes, and future-ready infrastructure. Equally important is the ability to measure and verify sustainability performance. The greater the number of commitments being made, the more important independent verification becomes.
The Third-Party Principle Supports Implementation
This is where the TIC industry plays a critical role. Independent organizations such as DEKRA help businesses implement technical and organizational requirements and assess compliance in accordance with the third-party principle.
Testing, certification, and auditing services based on recognized standards create transparency and provide credible evidence of where products, processes, and systems already perform well and where further improvements are needed.
Sustainability Services Are Becoming the New Benchmark: DEKRA’s Sustainability Portfolio
What once started primarily as voluntary corporate engagement has become a core element of modern business practice. Sustainable thinking and responsible action increasingly influence investment decisions, products, supply chains, and business models. At the same time, expectations are rising. Organizations must not only define sustainability goals, but also demonstrate and continuously improve their impact. DEKRA supports businesses on this journey through a comprehensive portfolio of sustainability services.
Business Success Through Sustainable Energy, Environmental, and Economic Processes
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