Zero emissions. Zero waste. Zero inequality.
It's our responsibility to lead by example
SAP aspires to a world with zero emissions, zero waste, and zero inequality. Our corporate sustainability approach is to create positive economic, social, and environmental impact within planetary boundaries – with a special focus on holistic steering and ESG reporting, climate action, circular economy, and social responsibility. Hear from Daniel Schmid, our Chief Sustainability Officer, how sustainability drives innovation at SAP.
Awards and Recognition
SAP is a globally recognised leader in the area of sustainability.
SAP named software industry leader for sustainability – 15 years in a row
SAP was named the software industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the 15th consecutive year.
SAP recognised as 2021 CDP Supplier Engagement Leader
SAP received a spot on the prestigious CDP A list, which announces the top companies leading the way to a more sustainable future.
SAP receives gold medal and top 2% designation
SAP was once again awarded a gold medal and upheld its position in the top 2% in Ecovadis' 2021 sustainability assessment.
Holistic Steering and ESG Reporting
Explore how we embed economic, social, and environmental impacts into our business decisions and practices.
How will SAP achieve our ambitious sustainability goals?
We strive to embed impact measurement into our business decision-making and target-setting across our entire value chain, using capabilities and insights provided through our software solutions.
Energy and environmental management
Discover our environmental and energy management approach with ISO 14001 and 50001 certifications.
Social responsibility
Learn about our extended sustainability initiatives, including how we drive socially responsible value chains, promote respect for human rights, and create positive societal impacts.
Ethics and compliance
Find out how we strive to undertake business with integrity by doing the right thing and following both the spirit and the letter of the law in all markets where we operate.
Policies, codes, and commitments
Explore our policies and commitments to employing and safeguarding responsible business practices, based on respecting the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.
Zero emissions
SAP is committed to helping to reduce the world's carbon footprint.
Net zero
by 2030
SAP is committed to achieving net zero along our value chain in line with a 1.5°C future in 2030, 20 years earlier than originally targeted. Building on its carbon reduction journey since 2009, SAP became a member of the Science-Based Targets initiative in 2017 and adopted a 1.5° C science-based emissions reduction target in 2019. On our pathway toward net zero, the next intermediate milestone is 2023, when SAP aims to be carbon neutral in its own operations – two years earlier than originally targeted.
-19%
reduced carbon emissions
In 2020, SAP overachieved by 43% on our target for net carbon emissions, generating 135 kilotons instead of the anticipated 238 kilotons. This trend continued in 2021, during which SAP’s carbon emissions totaled 110 kilotons, representing a year-over-year decrease of 18.5%. A portfolio of measures is put into place to continuously avoid, reduce, and compensate for SAP’s emissions: from target setting and executive board compensation to running our data centres and own buildings with 100% renewable energy.
Zero waste
Rethinking business processes across the entire supply and value chain will protect our planet, its species, and our collective prosperity.
-46% tons
reduced e-waste
SAP cooperates with international and local e-waste disposal partners to refurbish and recycle our electrical and electronic waste, which includes data centre servers, PCs, peripherals, and mobile devices. Through this collaboration, we monitor and report the end-of-life treatment applied to our disposed IT assets and devices.
80%
reduced paper usage
SAP has reduced our paper usage by 88% (over 73 million pages) since 2009, despite a 125.7% increase in employee headcount over the same period. By using SAP Signature Management by DocuSign, which enables electronic signatures, we reduced the printing of paper-based contracts by over 224,000 pages in 2020 and about 185,600 pages in 2021.
23%
reduced water usage
SAP continues to use water as efficiently as possible in our data centres and offices, even though our operations are not water-intensive. For example, in the data centres of our headquarters, we use adiabatic cooling (evaporative cooling) as well as a closed water circuit to minimise water consumption for cooling our server racks.
Explore more resources
Integrating climate action end to end
SAP is tackling climate action by embedding sustainability into our portfolio and across our purpose, strategy, and operations.
Accelerating the move to an emission-free car fleet
SAP is accelerating its move to an emission-free car fleet in 2025, doubling down on its sustainability efforts.
Enhancing sustainability with people and technology
As part of its commitment to climate protection, SAP has added the goal of planting 21 million trees by the end of 2025.
How SAP is helping reduce plastics in the ocean
Hear Emily Penn, ocean advocate and co-founder of eXXpedition, share with SAP CEO Christian Klein why plastics are accumulating in our oceans and how SAP technology helps pinpoint their origin, educate the public, and find solutions that drive lasting and sustainable change.
SAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation announce partnership to deliver regenerative business
Read how the partnership formalises the organisations’ joint commitment to accelerating the transition to a circular economy based on three key principles: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature through innovative business models and systems-level change.
Going beyond the beyond single-use plastics project
Learn how in July 2019, SAP launched the “Beyond Single-Use Plastics” project with the goal of completely eliminating single-use plastics from SAP-run spaces, events, and customer- and employee-facing items.
SAP and University of the People: Educate the leaders of tomorrow
Getting human rights right in business
For Human Rights Day, learn how SAP plays its part to promote human rights across operations, the supply chain, and product lifecycles.
How to better manage disruption with responsible value chains
Greater visibility and intelligence across the enterprise allows for more informed and sustainable business decisions, from ethical and diverse sourcing, labour and human rights, and skills enhancement to carbon emissions management and materials management.
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Sustainable Development Goals
SAP is committed to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Find out which goals we focus on and how we're making an impact.
Sustainability news
Get the latest SAP news and information related to sustainability, including in-depth articles on business and technology trends and blogs from SAP experts, thought leaders, and more.
Get answers to your questions
Visit our frequently asked questions (FAQ) area to learn about SAP's strategic approach to sustainability and more.
Zero inequality
As humans responsible for social progress, we must not only embrace – but also connect and intersect – our diverse experiences to build an inclusive society where everyone thrives.
Human rights
SAP is committed to respecting and promoting human rights across our operations, extended supply chain, and product lifecycle.
Health and well-being
At SAP, we know that best-run businesses start with healthy people who are supported by a caring and balanced culture.
Diversity and inclusion
Creating a diverse and inclusive culture makes us a better company, fueling our innovation, enhancing our work experience, and enabling our success.
Corporate social responsibility
SAP is powering opportunity for all people through digital inclusion with the help of our talent, technology, and strategic partnerships.