Responsibility at GRENKE

Sustainability is a decisive lever for our corporate success and is therefore firmly anchored in our strategy. This applies to our company as well as to our trade partners and customers.

Our aim is to be an enabler for sustainable SMEs.

Our sustainability strategy describes the objectives and measures along the three ESG dimensions of climate & environment, social contribution and responsibility & trust.

With our sustainability strategy, we pursue clear goals in the areas climate & environment, social contribution and responsibility & trust.

Our sustainability reporting adheres to various frameworks and regulatory standards. Specifically, we comply with requirements outlined in the German Commercial Code (HGB), the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Additionally, we provide stakeholders with information following the Global Reporting Initiatives Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI SRS). Our reporting also aligns with the guidelines of the German Corporate Governance Code (GCGC), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Furthermore, through our commitment to the Diversity Charter, the GRENKE Group actively promotes diversity within our organizational structure. We engage with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to transparently report our CO2 emissions and assess the potential impacts of climate change on our business model.

As a publicly listed corporation under German law, GRENKE AG operates with several governing bodies. The Board of Directors oversees company management, while the Supervisory Board ensures its proper control. Representing the interests of shareholders, the Annual General Meeting plays a vital role.

Sustainability oversight at GRENKE falls under the purview of CEO Dr. Sebastian Hirsch. Dr. Ljiljana Mitic serves as the Sustainability Officer, representing the Supervisory Board and providing counsel to the Board of Directors on sustainability matters. Furthermore, during the annual strategy meeting, the full Supervisory Board, in conjunction with the Executive Board, thoroughly discusses ESG topics, management strategies, and the implementation of sustainability measures.

The ESG department works closely with the Executive Board and other relevant departments to manage sustainability initiatives. They devise solutions and principles for operational implementation across various departments. Additionally, the Sustainability Committee, led by the CEO and comprising senior managers from departments including ESG, Accounting and Tax, Purchasing and Portfolio Management, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Refinancing, and Risk Management, offers guidance and support to the ESG department.

ESG ratings and benchmarks play a crucial role in granting sustainable companies access to the capital market. They provide investors with the means to assess and compare companies' sustainability performances. Our company undergoes assessments by several prominent ESG rating agencies and actively engages in ESG initiatives like the Carbon Disclosure Project.

We believe in transparency - here we provide our current publications relating to ESG.