CR Strategy

Sustainability and social responsibility have been part of our business activities for almost three decades. We have anchored our self-image as a responsible company in our Group strategy and in our Corporate Responsibility (CR) strategy. In this way, we are committed to acting sustainably along our value chain throughout the Group – and to contributing to solving ecological, economic and social challenges. We record our ambitions and progress in the area of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) in our sustainability reporting. In doing so, we want to meet the regulatory requirements and, beyond that, provide updates on our ambitions to meet the expectations of stakeholders such as B2B customers and the capital market. That is why we are publishing this CR report in addition to our sustainability statement in our annual report – for a holistic and more understandable overview of our ESG activities. For more information on the background to this CR report, see About this report.

Our Group and CR strategy

Our Group strategy is based on continuous improvement and value creation, as shown in the flywheel model shown (see graphic). The model starts with responsible investments in infrastructure and technology to best meet the needs of our customers. Efficiency improvements reduce our costs and increase the quality of our services. This leads to a solid financial basis that enables renewed investment and growth. At the heart of the model is data and artificial intelligence (AI), which serve as drivers of innovation and efficiency. Through our global growth, we are exploiting synergies and strengthening our competitiveness on an international level.

Our strategy: Momentum for the future (graphic)

Continuous improvement and sustainability provide important momentum for the success of our Group-wide strategy. Our values, ambitions and corporate responsibility are derived from it, as we have laid them down in our CR strategy. This is based on the three pillars of environment, social and governance (ESG) and bundles the key topics in which we want to provide significant impetus.

In the environmental and social pillars, we focus on the following topics:

Climate:

Our strict commitment to climate-neutral business: We want to play a pioneering role on the path to a climate-neutral future and empower our customers and society to join us on this path by 2040. To this end, we want to save at least 90 % of emissions; a maximum of 10 % may be offset.

Circular economy

Our commitment to the recyclability of our products and services: By 2030, we want to make the entire value chain of our technologies and devices almost completely recyclable.

Best team

Our promotion of corporate culture and inclusion, as well as our investments in the upskilling of our employees: We want to ensure a safe and supportive environment in which we promote equal opportunities for all people – in every dimension of diversity.

Digital society

Our commitment to help shape a digital society based on basic democratic values and in which all people can participate safely, competently and confidently: We want to make the digital world a tolerant and safe space for all and enable society to overcome the digital divide.

With the aim of good corporate governance, we work on a number of very different but equally important topics:

Data protection, cybersecurity and information security
Convincing corporate compliance as well as risk and opportunity management system
Implementing the basic principles of digital responsibility
Respect for human rights and design of sustainable supply chains
Investments according to ESG criteria
Transparent communication about our activities in the field of environmental and social sustainability

We are constantly driving these topics forward and want to secure the company’s long-term value creation and competitiveness on its way to becoming the world’s leading sustainable telecommunications company.

Since the beginning of Deutsche Telekom AG 30 years ago, we have been committed to operating sustainably – out of conviction, because it also makes economic sense.
Our mission is to run Deutsche Telekom as a successful, sustainable company. Always in the interplay of economy, ecology and society.

Tim Höttges CEO Deutsche Telekom AG

Measuring and managing sustainability: our CR controlling

We measure and manage our performance in the areas of our CR strategy using non-financial performance indicators, our ESG KPIs (key performance indicators). The basis for their calculation is formed by ESG data and key figures, which are recorded and reported transparently and in a timely manner throughout the Group. We use key non-financial performance indicators such as “energy consumption” and “CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 and 2)” to measure Executive Board compensation. The ESG KPIs “Energy intensity”, “Scope 3 emissions” and “Take-Back of Fixed and Mobile Devices” are part of the Group-wide controlling process. In addition to ESG KPIs, we report other key figures and data to meet internal and external transparency requirements.

In 2021, we integrated our ESG data process into the Internal Control System (ICS) to ensure high data quality, adherence to deadlines and transparency. As part of the ICS, the process must meet specific principles and undergo even more sophisticated controls (“transaction level controls”) for the KPIs that are most important from a management perspective. The transaction level controls are audited internally and in some cases externally. You can find more information about our ICS in our Sustainability Statement.

We are continuously developing our metric system to review progress and better manage and communicate our ESG performance. The ESG KPIs are broken down in the KPI tool according to the segments “Germany”, “USA”, “Europe”, “Systems Business”, “Group Headquarters & Group Services”, “Group Development” and “Technology and Innovation”.

How we determine our ESG KPIs

ESG KPIs are highly relevant for us. Depending on the main topic, we publish them in the Sustainability Statement of our Annual Report or here in the CR report.

Our segments represent 99 % of Group sales. Accordingly, they play an important role in the collection of group-wide ESG KPIs by collecting ESG data themselves.

In terms of integrated financial and sustainability reporting, ESG KPIs represent all six types of capital (see chart).

Types of capital (graphic) — ^a (PUE) Power Usage Effectivness

In addition to our ESG KPI system, we have developed an impact measurement methodology to assess the environmental and social effectiveness of our products and measures along the value chain. It also supports us in managing our sustainability activities and communicating transparently.

Corporate Digital Responsibility as a Business Principle

Current challenges such as climate change, social inequality and rapid technological progress drive our actions and commitments. The rapid spread of digital solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI) is reinforcing a development that we cannot stop – and do not want to. Nevertheless, we should set a clear direction and binding framework conditions. We therefore focus on Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) and are committed to people- and value-oriented digitalization. We rely on a responsible approach to the opportunities and risks of digital transformation, want to avert negative effects and shape digitization positively. In the spirit of “human-centered technology”, it is important to always put people at the center of the design and use of technology. We are convinced that with this basic attitude, we are fulfilling an important prerequisite for our future business success.

You can find out more about CDR on our website.

Corporate Digital Responsibility | Deutsche Telekom

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Where we come from

1995

Deutsche Telekom AG is founded.
1996

Deutsche Telekom reports on its sustainability activities for the first time.
2000

Deutsche Telekom is a founding member of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact.
2008

For the first time, we publish a CR report and adopt a CR strategy and a CR program.

Deutsche Telekom is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World for the first time.
2011

Full implementation of the first CR governance structure.
2012

The collection of ESG KPIs becomes mandatory for all national companies.
2014

We adopt our first Group-wide CR (Group Policy Corporate Responsibility) policy.
2017

We support the UN Sustainable Development Goals for the first time.
2018

First publication of the non-financial statement in accordance with the CSR Directive Implementation Act for the 2017 financial year.
2019

We anchor “living responsibly” in our corporate strategy.
2021

We integrate our climate targets into Executive Board compensation and source 100 % of our electricity from renewable energies.

We are the top-ranked European ICT company in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the first time.
2022

The Group's Corporate Responsibility Strategy is being updated. The entire Board of Management present it at the sustainability day “We Walk the Talk”.

Where we stand in the reporting year

2024

We prepare our first sustainability statement in full application of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for the 2024 financial year.

Where we want to go

2025

We are climate-neutral in terms of our own emissions (Scopes 1 and 2). To this end, we are reducing emissions from our own operations by up to 95 % worldwide (compared to 2017). We offset our remaining emissions through high-quality neutralization measures.
2027

More than 80 million people will benefit cumulatively from our commitment to digital participation in the period from 2024 to 2027.
2030

By the end of the decade, we will reduce CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) emissions across Scopes 1–3 by 55 % compared to 2020.

The entire IT/network technology used by Deutsche Telekom and a large proportion of the end devices put into circulation are recyclable.
2040

In 15 years, we will achieve net-zero emissions along the entire value chain – across all three scopes. To this end, we want to save at least 90 % of emissions; only up to 10 % may be offset by high-quality CO₂ sequestration projects.

Indexes

Further reports and publications

Deep Dive for experts

Management & Frameworks

Responsibility for CR lies with the entire Executive Board: it discusses and decides on the key strategic guidelines and goals. The Supervisory Board advises and supervises him in this task. The Group Corporate Responsibility (GCR) division develops Group-wide guidelines and guidelines with the aim of continuously developing the corporate culture with regard to sustainable innovation, ecological management and social responsibility. Since 2022, responsibility for GCR has been in the area of the CEO. With this and the inclusion of ESG targets in Executive Board compensation in 2021, the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board once again underlined the high relevance of CR for our Group for successful sustainable business. The CR Controlling team and Deutsche Telekom Services Europe (DTSE) provide support in consolidating ESG data and key figures across the board and integrating them centrally into the financial and management systems. The Group Performance Report informs the Management Board on a quarterly basis about the status of the most important sustainability indicators. GCR also provides the Supervisory Board with regular information on the sustainability strategy and the progress of its implementation. The Group’s business units and segments are responsible for implementing the CR strategy. They design the key levers and measures in accordance with segment-specific requirements, products and services. The internal governance on sustainability issues described above is governed by the Group Corporate Responsibility Policy (CR Policy).
Technological development must be based on values. We see it as our responsibility to implement ethics in technologies and make them available to everyone. In 2022, we published our framework “Corporate Digital Responsibility@Deutsche Telekom”. In it, we have summarized what we mean by digital responsibility. At the core of the framework is our “House of Digital Responsibility”, which is all about human-centered technology.

Relevant standards

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

GRI 2-17 (Governance)
GRI 2-22 (Strategy, policies and practices)

Awards

Awards from 2024 for our sustainability management and reporting

Building Public Trust Award: Deutsche Telekom has received the “Building Public Trust Award” for excellent and consistent sustainability reporting for the fourth time, this time for the best CSRD reporting on “Company Workforce” in the DAX 40.
Awarded as a “Circular Transformer”: Indeed Innovation, a consulting firm specializing in the circular economy, has named Deutsche Telekom a “Circular Transformer” among DAX 40 companies – among other things for its ambitious goal in the circular economy and transparent reporting.
Global Transition Award: Handelsblatt honored Deutsche Telekom with the Global Transition Award in the reporting year. This is awarded to companies that contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and thus set a good example in the German economy.
Human rights training honored: The human rights training for Deutsche Telekom employees received the GreenUp Award, which honors outstanding adult education media with a focus on sustainability.
Golden Planet Award: Deutsche Telekom was honored with the Golden Planet Award for the diverse implementation of the topic of sustainability in practice and commitment to climate protection, as well as campaigns such as “Against hate speech” or “ShareWithCare”.
Corporate citizenship honored: As part of a study, the consulting firm Wider Sense has awarded Deutsche Telekom the top award for integrated approaches for the first time as part of a study – for the successful integration of corporate citizenship into its core business.
JUST Companies Rankings: Due to its continued progress and commitment to promoting responsible business practices and its positive impact on the environment and society, JUST Capital ranked T‑Mobile US 48th in the 2025 America’s Most JUST Companies ranking.
America’s Climate Leaders 2024: Among the 700 companies on USA Today’s ranking of leading American companies in climate action, T‑Mobile US ranked second in recognition of its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

Awards from 2024 for sustainable products and services

German Award for Sustainability Projects: T‑Systems was honored with the German Award for Sustainability Projects in the category “Service – Funding/Networking” for the innovation program for sustainable solutions “X-Creation: Sustainability meets Digitalization”.

Awards from 2024 for sustainable finance

CDP award: The non-governmental organization CDP regularly evaluates the climate protection activities of listed companies worldwide on behalf of investors and forms an index of the leading companies, the Climate “A-List”. Deutsche Telekom was included in this list for the eighth time in a row for 2024 and was also once again recognized as a Supplier Engagement Leader.
Outstanding ESG performance: Deutsche Telekom was the only company in the DAX 40 to receive the top rating of “very good” from the Scope Group for its sustainability performance. We achieved 81 out of 100 possible points in the overall ranking. Deutsche Telekom also achieved excellent results in the management of risk factors, securing first place here as well with 80 out of 100 points.

Awards for our commitment to digital inclusion and digital values

Recognition for campaigns and commitment: The campaigns “Against hate speech” and “ShareWithCare” have once again received several awards for their creativity and success in the field of social commitment.
For the second time, the initiative “Against hate speech” received the German Media Award in the category “Best Media Strategy of the Year” in the category “National”; “ShareWithCare” received the award in the category “Best Media Idea of the Year” in the category “Digital & Social Media”.
In addition, both campaigns were awarded by the Spotlight Festival in the “Social Impact” category.
The Festival of Media awarded the Bravery Award to the video “The power of a comment” from our campaign “Against hate speech” and the video “Licht an!” from the campaign with the award “Best Campaign for an Awareness or Observance Day, Week or Month”.
The MMA Smarties Germany DACH Awards honored the “ShareWithCare” and “Against hate speech” campaigns in the categories “Purpose Driven Marketing – Brand Purpose/Activism” and “Purpose Driven Marketing – Social Impact Marketing” respectively.
The Effie Award went to our “ShareWithCare” campaign in the “Doing Good” category.
Comenius EduMedia Award: The media literacy initiatives “Teachtoday” and “SCROLLER” have been awarded the Comenius EduMedia Award for their didactic and media quality in the category “Didactic designed Digital Media” and “Digital Media with Educational Potential” for the third time.

Awards from 2024 for our networks

“connect” fixed-network test: Deutsche Telekom once again won the fixed-network test conducted by the trade magazine “connect”: With a total of 920 out of 1,000 possible points, we again reached the top and once again performed significantly better than in the previous year. This is the ninth time that Deutsche Telekom has won the gold medal in the annual nationwide comparison and achieved the overall grade of “very good”.
“connect” mobile network test: We emerged as the overall winner from the “Mobile Network Test 2024” of the magazine “connect” with the rating “outstanding”. This is the 14th time in a row that Deutsche Telekom has won the connect test.
“CHIP” mobile network test: For the 15th time in a row, we won the “Mobile Network Test” of the trade magazine “CHIP” and were awarded the grade 1.2. The 5G network received a grade of 1.1.

You can find more awards in our annual report.

Refers to the mobile communications standard launched in 2020, which offers data rates in the gigabit range, mainly over the 3.6 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands, converges fixed-network and mobile communications, and supports the Internet of Things.

Glossary

CDP

An initiative by institutional investors that aims to promote dialog between investors and companies on climate change issues. The project counts the world’s largest companies among its members. The companies disclose data on their greenhouse gas emissions and climate protection strategies. The CDP collects and publishes the data on an annual basis.