“Act responsibly” is enshrined within Deutsche Telekom’s Group strategy, and it gets expressed every day through our actions.
“Act responsibly” is enshrined within Deutsche Telekom’s Group strategy, and it gets expressed every day through our actions. We use our #GreenMagenta and #GoodMagenta labels to highlight our initiatives that either a) help protect the climate and save resources or b) help tackle social challenges in the digital world.
We accomplished a great deal in 2021. First of all, we achieved our climate target of sourcing 100 percent of the electricity we use, throughout the Group, from renewable energies. Also, Group-wide we invested 18 billion euros in our network expansion, with the aim of promoting digital inclusion. And campaigns such as our “No hate speech” promoted – and helped to define – digital responsibility. Our aim with such efforts is clear: We want to be the leading European telecommunications provider in terms of sustainability, in the best sense of the word.
We make sure our progress is measurable. Since 2021, the Board of Management’s remuneration has also been dependent on our meeting our climate targets. CEO Timotheus Höttges
In our new 2021 Corporate Responsibility Report, we describe the many things we achieved in 2021, and we outline the goals we have set ourselves for the future. In our “#TAKEPART sustainably” (“Nachhaltig #DABEI”) section, readers will find current, lively presentations of our most important sustainability focuses. In a piece entitled “Green money”, for example, we look at the issue of sustainably-oriented business operations – at how socially responsible investments can help make our world more sustainable.
Honors: 9 Awards for our CR-reporting
Our CR-reporting concept has been well-received. All in all, Deutsche Telekom received a total of nine awards for the 2021 reporting, including first places in NetFederation’s CSR-Benchmark rankings and in the PR Report Awards (in the “Sustainability and CSR” category).
We support the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and many of our products, solutions, and measures are helping to achieve these goals. Some examples from 2021:
Our network is green
SDG 13: Climate action
The Deutsche Telekom network that our customers, throughout the Group, surf in is a green network! Also in 2021, we again tightened our climate targets. Now, we are aiming to be climate neutral in our direct operations by 2025 and climate neutral throughout our entire value chain by 2040. Read more
Reducing electricity consumption
SDG 13: Climate action
We are improving the energy efficiency of our networks. In 2021, we enacted lasting measures that lowered Telekom Deutschland’s energy consumption by 274 GWh per year. That figure is equivalent to the annual consumption of about 68 000 four-person households. Read more
Sustainable, fair, durable: green smartphones
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
In cooperation with four European mobile-network operators, we have launched an “Eco Rating” scheme that helps consumers identify and compare sustainable smartphone models. Read more
Sustainable packaging
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
We are optimizing our packaging, including our shipping packaging. In the process, we are concentrating especially on reducing our use of plastic, and we saved more than 60 000 square meters of plastic foil in Germany alone in 2021. Also, by using precisely fitting packaging, we have reduced our paper consumption by about 80 percent. Read more
#TAKEPART
SDG 4: Quality education
With our #TAKEPART stories, and our “Teachtoday” initiative, we are working to promote media literacy and democratic competence and to combat marginalization and online hate speech. Our “#TAKEPART – No hate speech”campaign received several awards in 2021. Read more
Fast network expansion, for an even faster network
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
In 2021, we invested a full 18 billion euros in our networks. As of the end of 2021, our 5G network was available to more than 90 percent of all German households. And in the United States, we continue to lead in 5G-network expansion. Read more
A strong signal
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
Our 2021 employee survey found that the great majority of our employees agree that Deutsche Telekom lives up to its responsibility for society and the environment. And a full 84 percent identify with our commitment. Read more
People are our top priority
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
We are promoting digitalization that is oriented to people and values. As it undergoes its digital transformation, society should be moving in a clear direction: toward a digital future with a binding, human-centered framework. Read more
Gender equality is not a game
SDG 5: Gender equality
With our #equalesports initiative, we are working to promote gender equality in gaming. Also, in the framework of our “#TAKEPART – No hate speech” campaign, in an effort entitled “Gaming – where the fun stops,” we are working to combat toxic behavior in online gaming. Read more
Success in sustainability ratings
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
Rating agencies have been giving us high marks for our social and environmental commitment. In 2021, T-Shares were again listed on leading financial-market sustainability indices, including the renowned DJSI World and DJSI Europe indices, which are based on S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). Read more
