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.

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. The 10 principles are that businesses should:

1.support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights;
2. make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses;
3.uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
4.eliminate all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
5.effective abolish child labour;
6.eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
7.support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
8. undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility;
9. encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies;
10. work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

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.

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:

1. strategic Analysis and Action
2. materiality
3. objectives
4. depth of the Value-added Chain
5. responsibility
6. rules and Processes
7. control
8. incentive Schemes
9. stakeholder Engagement
10. innovation and Product Management
11. usage of Natural Resources
12. resource Management
13. climate-relevant Emissions
14. employment Employee Rights
15. equal Opportunities
16. qualifications
17. human Rights
18. corporate Citizenship
19. political Influence
20. conduct that Complies with the Law and Policy

In the EcoVadis sustainability rating, DEKRA is rated "Platinum", the best possible award. This puts DEKRA among the top 1 percent of companies rated in its category. 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 100,000 collaborating companies in more than 175 countries.

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

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. It 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".