Deutsche Post DHL released its Corporate Responsibility Report 2012 today. The report covers the Group's core "Living Responsibility" programs - GoGreen, GoHelp, and GoTeach - as well as issues and topics relating to Human Resources and health within the Group. In 2012 the Group improved its carbon efficiency by an additional two index points. In total, the Group has now achieved a 16 percent improvement in its carbon efficiency since the launch of the GoGreen program in 2008. This represents over half of the overall target: a 30 percent CO₂-efficiency improvement by 2020 for the Group's own operations and those of its transportation subcontractors, compared to 2007.

Challenges of demographic change

The Corporate Responsibility Report 2012 documents how Deutsche Post DHL is responding to the challenges of demographic change, including its innovative Generations Pact, which allows its growing number of older employees to successfully participate in professional life until they enter retirement. The company also reports on the latest developments in its core CR programs GoGreen, GoHelp and GoTeach. In 2012, for instance, the Group worked together with its partners Teach For All and SOS Children's Villages in a total of 13 countries. Three new partnerships were launched last year with SOS Children's Villages in Mexico, Ghana and Kenya.

Prevention was the focus of the Group's disaster management activities in 2012. Deutsche Post DHL air-logistics experts, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), conducted so-called "Get Airports Ready for Disaster" (GARD) workshops in Lebanon, Indonesia and Turkey. The Group's Disaster Response Teams (DRT), which provide logistics support at airports after a natural disaster, also deployed twice in 2012 - in Guatemala and the Philippines.

"Responsibility is a part of everyday business at Deutsche Post DHL," says Christof Ehrhart, Director of Corporate Communications and Responsibility. "We get involved in the communities in which we operate, and to do this, we rely on the know-how and commitment of our employees. Ultimately, the only way to ensure business success over the long term is to assume our place as a responsible company within the community."

Environmental protection

With the introduction of its GoGreen program in 2008, Deutsche Post DHL became the first global logistics provider to establish a quantifiable climate protection target. This year marks the fifth anniversary of this program, which focuses on optimizing fleets and networks, improving the energy efficiency of buildings and facilities, using innovative technologies, and getting subcontractors and customers involved in the Group's environmental activities. Part of this effort is the Group's range of GOGREEN products and services: Carbon Reports, Green Optimization, and Carbon Neutral shipping services.

In 2012 alone, 2.41 billion items were shipped with the carbon-neutral delivery service GOGREEN - more than ever before. This made it possible for the Group to offset 180,000 tonnes of CO₂. One of the ways this service offsets emissions is through carbon credits from external climate protection projects. Additionally, the Group has also established its very own climate protection project in the African nation of Lesotho. The project, which has just gained the United Nations' Gold Standard seal of approval, will begin generating the first carbon emission reduction certificates for the GOGREEN Carbon Neutral shipping service within the year.

To realize its own CO₂ efficiency target, Deutsche Post DHL relies on a variety of measures designed to reduce CO₂ emissions at the point of generation, in particular in transport and warehousing. As part of ongoing efforts to upgrade its transportation fleet, the Group's fleet of approximately 80,000 road vehicles already includes 8,500 vehicles with innovative technologies and drive systems. Last year, the Group presented the first-ever electric delivery vehicle developed specifically to meet Group needs - the "Streetscooter" - which will be piloted this year.

Employees

Employees are essential contributors to the success of Deutsche Post DHL. With around 475,000 employees in over 220 countries and territories around the globe, the Group is one of the world's largest employers. Special measures are taken to promote workforce diversity and to respond to the diverse needs of employees, including workplace design, flexible working-time models and other ways to help employees balance career and family. The Group has responded to the challenge of demographic change with its strategic talent management and in particular with the Generations Pact, which enables the growing number of older employees to continue working under conditions that are specifically tailored to their needs. Deutsche Post DHL also supports the volunteering efforts of its employees through the Living Responsibility Fund and its worldwide Global Volunteer Day. During last year's event, more than 62,000 employees engaged in over 1,000 volunteer projects.

Education

The international partnerships with Teach For All and SOS Children's Villages are additional examples of employee involvement. As part of these programs, around 2,000 employees got involved in 2012, for example by helping to arrange work placements, by running IT courses, by serving as mentors or by organizing spare-time activities. With the financial support of Deutsche Post DHL, the Teach For All network now consists out of 26 independent national partner organizations, which work locally to improve educational opportunity and employability. Last year, the Group also established three new partnerships with SOS Children's Villages in Mexico, Ghana and Kenya. DHL employees work together with these organizations to improve educational opportunity for children and young people - regardless of their social background - and help prepare them for the working world.

Disaster management

As part of its GoHelp program, Deutsche Post DHL conducted three "Get Airports Ready for Disaster" (GARD) workshops at various airports in 2012. The GARD program involves Deutsche Post DHL air-logistics experts working closely with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to prepare airport officials and government disaster management authorities for the logistical challenges of a disaster response operation. GARD also includes the thorough risk assessments of airports in disaster prone regions. In 2012, DHL experts were active in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia. As part of the Group's Disaster Response Teams (DRTs), which provide logistics support at disaster-site airports, 60 employee volunteers were deployed to Guatemala and the Philippines, where they handled some 70 tonnes of relief supplies.