Environmental
Performance
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
SAP stepping up to fight climate change
For over a decade now, climate action has been at the top of SAP’s corporate sustainability agenda. We aim to take climate action through our dual approach as enabler and exemplar to help pave the way toward a low-carbon future for our customers, partners, and SAP, and create impact within planetary boundaries.
Achieving carbon neutrality in our own operations
With our net carbon emissions dropping to 0 kilotons (kt) in 2023, we have achieved our carbon neutrality commitment within the targeted timeframe. To achieve our target, we continued and expanded existing initiatives and programs to drive efficiency and innovation, following our strategic approach to first avoid, secondly reduce, and thirdly – if no other option is feasible – compensate for residual emissions by investing in high-quality offset projects certified by international standards.
SAP's Gross Emissions Along the Value Chain
Moving beyond our own operations: Net Zero by 2030
Our goal:
Reaching net zero across our value chain in line with a 1.5°C future by 2030 – 20 years earlier than originally planned.
To monitor and steer our accelerated science-based target, we measure the gross emissions along our value chain. 2023 marks the baseline for reducing our emissions by 90% by 2030 in line with the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard.
Ambition for women in management and gender parity is on track
As at December 31, 2022, we employed 111,961 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees worldwide. This represents an increase in the workforce of 4,546 FTEs (410 thereof from acquisitions) in comparison to 2021.
The rate of Women in Management increased to 29.4% compared to 28.3% in 2021. For 2023, we will keep our ambition to increase the rate of women in management to 30%. Our aspiration is to reach gender parity in our workforce at all levels and to retain women leaders.
Energy Consumption
Decreasing our environmental impact by reducing energy consumption
After post-COVID-19 catch-up effects and a corresponding increase in 2022, total energy consumption in our own operations decreased slightly in 2023. This year, we continued to reduce all electricity-related emission categories with electricity from renewable energy sources.
Waste & Water Management
93% of discarded equipment reused or recycled
In our Global Environmental Policy, we made the commitment to strive towards zero e-waste in our own operations by diverting close to 100% from incineration, landfill, and nature by 2030. By the end of 2023, 93% of our total discarded equipment was reused or recycled.
Responsible handling of water resources
We continue to aim to use water as efficiently as possible in our data centers and offices even though our operations are not water-intensive.
In 2023, the water usage decreased compared to 2022 and remains at a lower level compared to the pre-pandemic situation due to the introduced flexible working mode and our implemented water-reduction measures.