Ströer publishes 2021 sustainability report

Ströer’s 2021 sustainability report, published today, is the company’s third annual sustainability report – after 2019 and 2020. This latest report was produced in accordance with the criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), 2016 edition. These include carrying out a materiality analysis to identify sustainability issues relevant to the reporting. Once again, the report extends the range of topics covered and draws on data in greater depth compared to previous years. The report has its foundation in Ströer’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy, which represents a comprehensive roadmap for the coming years. As part of this sustainability strategy, Ströer defined its three central themes of efficiency, innovation, and responsibility. In line with these guiding principles, the company has integrated its business strategy with objectives and measures from its four strategic pillars of environment, employees, business partners & society, as well as corporate governance.

Ströer’s 2021 sustainability report gives the first comprehensive and detailed account of the company’s corporate carbon footprint for 2019, 2020, and 2021. Last year, the Group was able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 33%, most notably through an extensive switch to green electricity in various areas of business. There has been a special focus on making the out-of-home advertising portfolio more environmentally friendly by digitalizing the advertising media. Consumption of materials (paper and adhesive) has been continuously and significantly reduced compared with traditional advertising, as has the travel involved in maintenance and in changing the posters, and disposal of the waste. The energy required by approximately 6,100 digital screens is provided entirely in the form of emission-free green electricity. Where advertising campaigns run by Ströer produce unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions, they are offset through certified climate change mitigation projects. This means customers can rest assured that their campaigns will be carbon-neutral.

“A sustainability-oriented mindset can only be embedded within a company in a meaningful way if it becomes a long-term pillar of corporate strategy and is directly relatable to the company’s core business. We are working very hard to achieve an increasingly efficient and economical use of resources. In the period from 2019 to 2021, we have already been able to reduce our corporate carbon footprint by around 50%. We intend to achieve our self-imposed target of complete carbon neutrality by 2025,” says Henning Gieseke, CFO of Ströer SE & Co. KGaA.

This report is the first to feature detailed information about the areas of sustainable products and product stewardship, and to show how the product portfolio continues to evolve towards sustainability.

The importance Ströer places on sustainability is reflected in the fact that corporate governance is an integral part of the company’s ESG strategy. For example, the Board of Management’s remuneration system is being updated with specific ESG-related elements, and a Remuneration Committee has been set up. In June 2022, Ströer also placed its first ever note loan with an ESG component, creating a connection between profitable growth under its OOH+ strategy and sustainable and responsible business practices.

All ESG matters were brought together within the Board of Management’s Finance function under CFO Henning Gieseke. To make processes even more efficient, the Governance, Risk & Compliance Management unit introduced even more far-reaching and detailed oversight structures in 2021.

A further important element was the Supervisory Board’s increased focus on sustainability topics in 2021. During that year, the Supervisory Board of Ströer SE & Co. KGaA added ESG to the competencies of its Audit Committee and appointed an ESG officer of the Supervisory Board of Ströer SE & Co. KGaA to the Audit Committee.

You can find the latest sustainability report as well as further information on the subject at https://www.stroeer.de/en/sustainability/

Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" regarding Ströer SE & Co. KGaA ("Ströer") or the Ströer Group, including assessments, estimates and forecasts regarding the financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management and the future business activities of Ströer or the Ströer Group. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the results of operations, profitability, performance or achievements of Ströer or the Ströer Group to be materially different from any future results of operations, profitability, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are based on numerous assumptions that may also prove to be incorrect. Ströer makes no representation and assumes no liability with respect to the fair presentation, completeness, correctness, adequacy or accuracy of the information and assessments contained herein. The information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice. It may be incomplete or abbreviated and may not contain all material information relating to Ströer or the Ströer Group. Ströer does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, neither as a result of new information, future events nor otherwise.