“Act with respect and integrity” is part of our guidelines and thus a requirement for all Deutsche Telekom employees. We are committed to respecting human rights where we operate – including along our supply chains and with our business partners. We want to continuously develop our commitment. To this end, we have implemented a human rights and environmental due diligence process.
You can find more detailed information on human rights under “Own workforce” and “Workers in the value chain” in our audited Sustainability statement 2025, and on our website.
Milestones achieved, ongoing projects and goals
The protection of human rights and environmental concerns is an integral part of our business activities and corporate governance. What initially began on a voluntary basis is now also subject to legal requirements, especially with regard to the supply chain. As part of our due diligence process, we regularly analyze the risks and impacts of our business activities with regard to human rights and environmental concerns. We use the knowledge gained to systematically address risks.
Scroll to learn more
Where we come from
-
We became a founding member of the UN Global Compact and were one of the first ICT companies to commit ourselves to complying with social and environmental standards and to disclosing them.
-
We committed ourselves to acting responsibly in our “Social Charter”.
-
We put our Supplier Code of Conduct into effect.
-
Together with two other European telecommunications companies, we founded the international industry initiative “Joint Audit Cooperation” (JAC) (since 2023: Joint Alliance for CSR) for the sustainable development of suppliers in the ICT industry.
-
For the first time, we introduced a comprehensive human rights and environmental due diligence program.
-
We further developed the “Social Charter” into the Declaration of Principles “Code of Human Rights and Social Principles”. With the update, we reaffirmed our commitment to the goals of the German Federal Government’s “National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights”.
-
For the first time, we carried out a risk analysis for 248 Group companies and around 20,000 direct suppliers in accordance with the requirements of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG). The results were published for the first time in our “Annual report LkSG”, which has been published annually since then. Together with the Human Rights Code, which has been further developed, the “Annual report LkSG” and the Human Rights Code form our basic declaration of human rights.
-
We updated our existing human rights training and made it available in 12 languages on Deutsche Telekom’s online training platform (excluding T‑Mobile US).
-
134 Group companies implemented the “Human Rights Code” and thus updated their human rights policy statement. In addition, we have published a legal report on the implementation of due diligence obligations in accordance with the LkSG (BAFA report).
Where we stand in the reporting year
-
Since the introduction of the updated human rights training, we have recorded a total of around 30,000 training completions. In response to positive feedback from the participants, we are making the training available in two more languages, bringing the total to 14 languages.
-
At the end of 2025, 141 Group companies had implemented the updated Human Rights Code – that is 97 % of all Group companies over which Deutsche Telekom AG exercises decisive influence within the meaning of the LkSG. For more information, please see “Own workforce” in our audited Sustainability statement.
-
We want to further develop how we deal with human rights risks in grid expansion in Germany and to this end, we are participating in the Energy Industry Dialogue of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with guest status.
Where we want to go
-
We will prepare for the further development of human rights due diligence processes in line with the European Supply Chain Act (CSDDD) and explore participation in other industry initiatives to jointly address identified human rights risks.
Creating awareness: training for employees and suppliers
You can find out more about our human rights training in our audited
Sustainability statement in the Annual Report 2025In order to sensitize all Deutsche Telekom employees (excluding T‑Mobile US) to human rights and to enable them to actively protect others and themselves in their own working environment, we offer human rights training on our online training platform. The training also includes information on complaint and redress procedures for discrimination and harassment.
Selected suppliers receive training on our human rights and environmental requirements. In addition, procurement employees are trained on risks in the procurement process.
Audits: results in 2025
Through our auditing programs, we regularly review the working conditions at our suppliers’ production sites. The audits are carried out, among other things, as part of the Joint Alliance for CSR (JAC) industry initiative, which enables broad coverage of relevant suppliers. The figures for 2025 at a glance:
166 Audits
127 on-site social audits as part of JAC
24 audits as part of the Validated Assessment Program (VAP) of the Responsible Business Alliance
15 surveys
Supplier levels of the JAC and VAP audits
59 direct (Tier 1) suppliers
92 indirect suppliers (75 Tier 2, 16 Tier 3 and one Tier 4 supplier)
Suppliers in 31 countries
(Focus: Asia)
794 Anomalies
in terms of supplier requirements (2024: 661)
The audits found anomalies in the following areas: 392 anomalies in the area of occupational health and safety, 117 in the area of working hours, 92 in the area of environmental protection, 80 in the area of business ethics, 56 in the area of wages and performance-related pay, 47 in the area of working conditions, six in relation to freedom of association, three in the area of discrimination and one anomaly in the area of disciplinary measures.
As part of the industry-wide collaboration, all identified anomalies are recorded in a corrective and preventive action plan and their timely implementation is tracked.
You can find out more about the audits under the JAC initiative in our audited
Sustainability statement in the Annual Report 2025The results of the audits are incorporated into our annual risk analysis in accordance with the LkSG. Anomalies in Deutsche Telekom’s area of responsibility are recorded, prioritized and followed up on the basis of binding action plans in audit management: At the end of 2025, 95 % of our suppliers’ corrective measures had been fully implemented, while 5 % were still being implemented.
In addition, in the year under review, we also carried out independent audits of identified risk areas within the meaning of the LkSG, such as grid expansion in Germany.
Key figures: Human rights and environmental protection in procurement
For more information on our approach along the supply chain, please see our audited
Sustainability statement in the Annual Report 2025We use various measures and processes to address human rights and environmental risks along the supply chain. We use various key figures to monitor and control progress.
Key figures for purchasing volume
We use the KPI “Purchasing Volume Verified as Non-Critical” to measure the proportion of our purchasing volume from suppliers that have been audited for social and environmental criteria – for example, in the course of standardized sustainability assessments such as EcoVadis, CDP, social audits or other supplier visits. The target of 60 % by the end of 2025 was exceeded again in the year under review with a share of 69.9 %.
We calculate this KPI using data from the uniform purchasing reporting system for the audited Group-wide purchasing volume (excluding T‑Mobile US and excluding the “Network Capacity” category).
KPI “Procurement Volume Verified as Non-Critical”
in %
Other key figures we collect include the number of audits, the proportion of the procurement volume audited in the course of audits and the proportion of the procurement volume covered by EcoVadis. The number of audits in the year under review was 166 (2024: 150). Audits include both internal and external reviews, including surveys, on-site social audits and follow-up‑audits.
The share of the procurement volume audited rose from 21.1 % in the previous year to 22.3 % in 2025. The share of procurement volume covered by EcoVadis increased to 52.3 % in the reporting year (2024: 45 %).
Audited purchasing volume and number of audits
in % and number
KPI on risks related to direct suppliers
To implement the legal requirements of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), we introduced the “LkSG Supplier Risk Score” KPI in 2024. The KPI is used to identify potential human rights and environmental risks at Deutsche Telekom’s suppliers (excluding T‑Mobile US). The basis for this is the risk assessment of an external data provider.
In the year under review, 76 % (2024: 75 %) of our direct suppliers were classified as low-risk. The share of direct suppliers with increased risk was 24 % (2024: 25 %).
KPI “LkSG Supplier Risk Score”
in %
Against the backdrop of regulatory developments on corporate due diligence, we want to further develop the underlying KPI system for the risk-based assessment of suppliers. At the same time, we are examining how the existing KPIs can be further developed in order to map social and environmental audits in the supply chain in an even more differentiated way in the future.
In addition to these issues, climate protection is also a central field of action in our supply chain. In this context, we determine the KPI “CDP Supply Chain Program”, which we report here in the CR report under Climate protection.
Looking ahead
Prevention is becoming increasingly important in our human rights due diligence processes. In doing so, we are focusing in particular on supplier industries with a higher risk profile. Through exchange with stakeholders, participation in industry initiatives and other joint activities, we are further developing our prevention approaches.
Deep Dive for Experts
Management & Frameworks
Our Human Rights Policy Statement consists of two parts: our Human Rights Code and the Annual report LkSG. The principles and expectations described in the Code of Human Rights are aimed at employees, suppliers and business partners. In the Annual report LkSG, we publish prioritized human rights and environmental risks and the measures and expectations derived from them every year.
In addition to human rights standards, the Supplier Code of Conduct also regulates environmental requirements for suppliers: This includes, among other things, the more economical use of resources, the reduction of emissions, the safe handling of chemicals and waste, and compliance with relevant environmental laws and standards. In addition, we expect suppliers to continuously minimize their environmental impact and provide transparent data on their greenhouse gas emissions.
Both the Human Rights Code and the Code of Conduct for Suppliers are based on the requirements of the German LkSG.
T‑Mobile US does not fall within the scope of the LkSG and has its own Human Rights Statement and Supplier Code of Conduct. In addition, the T‑Mobile US Responsible Sourcing Policy covers the procurement of goods that use raw materials that are potentially mined in conflict-affected or high-risk regions. As a U.S. listed company, T‑Mobile US also conducts a company-specific enterprise risk assessment using its own methodology.
Via the whistleblower portal “TellMe” and the T‑Mobile US “Integrity Line”, all employees and outsiders can report violations of legal provisions and internal company regulations – anonymously if desired. This also includes references to human rights or environmental risks and violations.
Relevant Standards
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
GRI 406 3-3 (Non-discrimination)
GRI 407-1 (Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining)
GSM Association (GSMA) Indicators for Telecom Providers
GSMA-SUP-02 (Supplier assessment)