Be climate positive in 2025 or 2030? Drees & Sommer finds it far too late. With extensive measures, the planning and consulting company, which specializes in construction and real estate, has reduced and offset its CO2 emissions to such an extent that it can already report a climate-positive balance. Although climate protection certificates are currently still making a significant contribution to this, the partner-managed company will gradually reduce the compensation in accordance with a clearly defined plan. At the same time, from 2020, it will encourage the planting of 75,000 trees every year, regardless of the climate balance.

“We, our customers, and our entire industry contribute around 20 percent of total gross value added in Germany and the building sector alone is responsible for more than a third of CO2 emissions and 50 percent of resource consumption. We have a social responsibility to provide affordable housing, livable cities, and a functioning infrastructure. We are currently in a temporary crisis. That is why it is important right now to remain calm and continue to think long-term. Real sustainability paired with digitization that enables important innovations — that was the right thing yesterday, today and tomorrow,” says Steffen Szeidl, CEO of Drees & Sommer SE.

Sustainable energy supply and mobility as important levers

Against this background, Drees & Sommer, as part of its sustainability strategy, has been accounting for the CO2 emissions generated by the energy supply of its sites and the volume of operational traffic since 2019. The company's annual CO2 emissions are the equivalent of around 3.75 tons per employee. At over 80 percent, the largest share of emissions is attributable to business trips and the company's vehicle fleet. The remaining emissions are due to the energy-efficient operation of the office buildings.

Drees & Sommer is now further expanding numerous measures to avoid and reduce fossil emissions in all areas and processes of the company. For example, electricity at all German office locations and at the company's own charging stations has been completely covered by renewable energy sources since 2012. For climate-friendly business trips, the company also introduced a sustainable travel policy last year, which, among other things, makes it mandatory for employees to use rail journeys instead of short-haul flights. In addition, the vehicle fleet is gradually being converted to alternative drives and environmentally friendly vehicles are being promoted with a CO2 bonus. Drees & Sommer also promotes climate-friendly mobility through public transport subsidies as well as bus shuttle, job bike and car sharing offers.

Drees & Sommer also only uses organic and environmentally friendly products in the areas of events, canteen and catering, cleaning, print media and advertising materials. Drees & Sommer uses recyclable building materials, furniture and interior design for renovations or new buildings as well as at trade fairs. The company recently demonstrated the feasibility of these concepts at the Expo Real real estate trade fair with a waste-free exhibition stand based on the Cradle to Cradle® principle.

Active role for the environment and society

With all these measures, Drees & Sommer continues to reduce its CO2 footprint and strengthen its contribution to global climate protection. To achieve a positive climate balance, the company also finances the planting of 75,000 trees annually as part of the Plant-for-the-Planet children and youth initiative, which binds an additional 15,000 tons of CO2 per year. In addition, Drees & Sommer thus enables children and young people to be trained and cared for as ambassadors for climate justice.

Objective: Beneficial Company

“In addition to climate protection, we are also further strengthening our social commitment. On the occasion of our 50th anniversary, for example, we are supporting 50 social and sustainable projects this year. Our long-term goal is to become a Beneficial Company. We understand this to mean a company that, in addition to its entrepreneurial success, also provides the greatest possible benefit for the environment and society. By driving forward pioneering and innovative concepts such as Cradle to Cradle and Blue City and living them ourselves, we are continuing our vision of a positive and sustainable future in our projects, but also as a company,” says Dr. Peter Mösle, partner at Drees & Sommer SE and managing director of the environmental consulting institute EPEA GmbH.

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