Skip to Content
wind turbines on hills with raising sun in the background

Environmental Performance

A company’s environmental impact is more important than ever. Here you will find a summary of the related performance indicators in 2021.

Becoming Carbon Neutral by 2023:
Our Net Carbon Emissions

In light of the worsening climate crisis, decreasing our own environmental impact is at the top of SAP’s sustainability agenda.

Total Net Carbon Emissions

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the introduction of a more flexible working model at SAP, our net carbon emissions dropped to 110 kilotons (kt), representing a year over year decrease of 18.5% (2020: 135 kt).

Total Net Carbon Emissions

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the introduction of a more flexible working model at SAP, our net carbon emissions dropped to 110 kilotons (kt), representing a year over year decrease of 18.5% (2020: 135 kt).

SAP's Science-Based Target

Since 2017, we have complied with the requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are committed to reducing emissions by 85% by 2050 compared to the base-year level 2016, including our entire Scope 3 value chain emissions such as our products-in-use emissions at our customers.

In January 2022, we committed to achieve net zero across our entire value chain by 2030 in alignment with the SBTi Net-Zero Standard - 20 years earlier than originally planned.

Since 2017, we have complied with the requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are committed to reducing emissions by 85% by 2050 compared to the base-year level 2016, including our entire Scope 3 value chain emissions such as our products-in-use emissions at our customers.

In January 2022, we committed to achieve net zero across our entire value chain by 2030 in alignment with the SBTi Net-Zero Standard - 20 years earlier than originally planned.

placeholder

Interactive Chart Generator

Explore more Environmental Performance Data

Explore

Energy

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and SAP’s pledge to flexible, trust-based working styles, electricity consumption in our offices continued to be low as the majority of employees remained in a remote working model.

Facilities management staff design and operate our facilities based on robust environmental standards. In addition, our IT operations personnel is committed to optimizing energy consumption in our data centers.

We have introduced initiatives to drive efficiency and innovation with respect to our buildings, data center operations, and infrastructure. 

Facilities management staff design and operate our facilities based on robust environmental standards. In addition, our IT operations personnel is committed to optimizing energy consumption in our data centers.

We have introduced initiatives to drive efficiency and innovation with respect to our buildings, data center operations, and infrastructure. 

Handling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Managing our Discarded Devices

Our e-waste comes from data center servers and from IT equipment including PCs, peripherals, and mobile devices. In multiple SAP locations, we cooperate with international and local e-waste disposal partners to refurbish and recycle our e-waste. 

Managing our Discarded Devices

Our e-waste comes from data center servers and from IT equipment including PCs, peripherals, and mobile devices. In multiple SAP locations, we cooperate with international and local e-waste disposal partners to refurbish and recycle our e-waste. 

Our Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a globally accepted framework which we use for communicating our purpose to “help the world run better and improve people’s lives.”The following table describes the potential positive and negative direct or indirect impacts of our company and of our products and services related to SDGs that have received a high ranking in our materiality analysis. This includes both social and environmental impacts. 

 
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Provide access to a healthy lifestyle and a safe and healthy working environment for our employees  		 Indirect:
(+) Enhance safe and healthy working conditions, healthcare, and personalized medicine on a global scale
(–) Increase transparency of physical, medical, and health conditions of individuals, which might be abused
Our KPIs and Targets Business Health Culture Index
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
Global Health and Safety Management Policy; Employee Assistance Program; Corporate Oncology Program for Employees; Mental Health Initiative		 Indirect:
SAP solutions for healthcare; SAP Environment, Health, and Safety Management; SAP SuccessFactors Well-Being Management by Virgin Pulse; Corona-Warn-App
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Employees and Social Investments
SAP and SDG 3, Healthcare, SAP Environment, Health, and Safety Management, SAP Mental Health Initiative, SAP’s COVID-19 Response, Corona-Warn-App, SAP Vaccine Collaboration Hub
 
SDG 4 Quality Education
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Train and educate SAP employees  		 Indirect:
(+) Build capability in our ecosystem and among our customers
Our KPIs and Targets Engaging two million children, youth, and young adults in digital skills and coding programs by 2022
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
Cloud-based learning management system for employees  		 Indirect:
openSAP; CSR digital literacy programs; SAP digital learning initiative
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Employees and Social Investments
SAP and SDG 4, SAP Learning for Life, Powering Opportunity Through Digital Inclusion, SAP Digital Learning Initiative
 
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Create decent jobs at SAP through our growth plans, specifically in developing markets  		 Indirect:
(+) Create three million jobs in our ecosystem (based on a 2017 study by SAP and PwC)
(+) Enable an inclusive economy
(+) Respect human rights across value chains
(+) Combat forced and child labor throughout supply chains
(–) Fuel negative effects on employment through digitalization and automation; potentially increase precarious jobs
Our KPIs and Targets Number of employees
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
SAP recruiting programs  		 Indirect:
SAP Rural Sourcing Management; SAP Ariba Supplier Risk; Partnership with Social Enterprise UK
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Employees and Social Investments
SAP and SDG 8, Skilled and Inclusive Workforce, Pledge to Flex, Supporting Social Entrepreneurship, Powering Opportunity Through Digital Inclusion, SAP Solutions for Social Responsibility, SAP Rural Sourcing Management
 
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Increase inclusive and sustainable industrialization through SAP’s investments in research and development (including in developing countries)  		 Indirect:
(+) Support providers of infrastructure, financial services and clean technologies
(+) Provide “Best Practice” business processes through standard software solutions
(+) Integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into global value chains and markets
Our KPIs and Targets NA
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
SAP Labs Network; One Billion Lives initiative fostering purpose-driven innovation  		 Indirect:
SAP support for startups through various programs
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Products, Research & Development, and Services, Employees and Social Investments, SAP and SDG 9, SAP Innovation, One Billion Lives Initiative, SAP.io
 
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct
(+) Ensure equal opportunity and inclusion of all employees, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status  		 Indirect
(+) Enable an inclusive economy by providing tools and systems to foster inclusion of all in workforce and supply chains
(–) Decouple societal groups from entire areas of employment through an accelerated digital divide and lack of digital skills
Our KPIs and Targets
– 30% women in management by year end 2022
– Double the representation of African-American talent in the U.S. over the next three years
– Reach 5% of annual addressable procurement spend with social enterprises and with diverse businesses by 2025
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
Human Rights Commitment Statement; Diversity & Inclusion programs including EDGE certification; SAP Global Anti-Discrimination Policy; 5 & 5 by ’25 initiative  		 Indirect:
SAP solutions for social responsibility; SAP Ariba Supplier Risk Management
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources SAP and SDG 10, Human Rights Commitment Statement, Equality for All, Diversity and Inclusion, Social Justice, Spotlight Black Businesses, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Fostering Corporate Spend with Diverse Suppliers, Powering Opportunity Through Digital Inclusion, SAP Product Accessibility, SAP Solutions for Social Responsibility, SAP Rural Sourcing Management
 
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Drive sustainable business practices and integrated reporting
(–) Use energy, water, and resources; produce waste  		 Indirect:
(+) Decouple economic prosperity from resource consumption by enabling transparency and optimizing resource productivity in linear or circular economies
(–) Increase absolute resource and energy consumption because efficiency gains through automation may be counteracted (rebound effect)
Our KPIs and Targets We drive resource productivity with an aspiration to a world with zero waste.
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
Beyond Single-Use Plastics initiative; Supplier Code of Conduct; Sustainable Procurement; e-waste recycling  		 Indirect:
SAP Responsible Design and Production; 5 & 5 by ’25 initiative; SAP Ariba Supplier Risk Management; SAP Digital Supply Chain; SAP Rural Sourcing Management; SAP Logistics Business Network and Material Traceability
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Energy and Emissions, Waste and Water, Sustainable Procurement
Environmental Policy, SAP and SDG 12, Circular Economy, SAP Solutions for Circular Economy, Circular Design Project, SAP and Topolytics Launch COP26 Waste Insights Project, Phase out single-use plastics, Buy social: 5 & 5 by ’25, SHIFT: Digital tools to fight ocean plastics, Material traceability, GreenToken by SAP
 
SDG 13 Climate Action
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Assume responsibility for products in use-related emissions by running customer applications in the SAP green cloud
(–) Emit greenhouse gases  		 Indirect:
(+) Contribute to climate change mitigation and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters of our customers
(+) Enable holistic operational steering by integrating climate-change relevant parameters and help understand and minimize the climate footprint of a company’s products, operations, and services
(–) Increase customers’ energy consumption through use of software
Our KPIs and Targets Become carbon neutral by 2023
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts Direct:
Global Environmental Policy; Report and reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption; Procure 100% renewable electricity; Carbon impact relevance for Executive Board compensation		 Indirect:
Green Cloud; Business ambition for 1.5°C; Climate 21 program; SAP Product Carbon Footprint Management; SAP Landscape Management Cloud; SAP Transportation Management; Concur Travel, and TripIT
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Energy and Emissions, Compensation Report, Environmental Policy, SAP and SDG 13, Climate Action, Climate Change: What SAP Is Doing, SAP sets 1.5°C science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with a net-zero future, SAP’s investment in Livelihoods Carbon Funds, SAP joins 1t.org with a pledge to plant 21 million trees, Climate 21, SAP Product Carbon Footprint Management, SAP Concur Sustainable Travel
 
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Our Potential Direct and Indirect Impact Direct:
(+) Build capacity throughout our broader ecosystem		  
Our KPIs and Targets NA
Our Policies and Selected Activities and Programs to Enhance Positive Impacts and Mitigate Negative Impacts For more information, see the section Memberships, Partnerships, and Commitments    
Where You Can Find More Information in the SAP Integrated Report and Other Sources Employees and Social Investment, Memberships, Partnerships, and Commitments, SAP and SDG 17, SAP and UNICEF, SAP Founding Member of Value Balancing Alliance, SDG Ambition, SAP joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WEF Global Plastic Action Partnership, SAP Is Innovation Partner in WBSCD’s Value Chain Carbon Transparency Pathfinder, SAP joins the Global Alliance for YOUth

 


Enlarge
View table

Downloads

Back to top