So sustainably in Germany are Tech companies

Critical raw materials, as the largest challenge So sustainably in Germany are Tech companies

86 percent of German technology companies consider sustainability as an important part of your business. According to the market researchers from Deloitte to set but much less of your claim.

The technology sector is a key sector. Here is a firm decision about the future of Germany as a business location. And who is talking about the future, we must also talk about sustainability. “Sustainability is not a Trend, but a necessity. Successful companies understand the interactions between value chains, to manage society and the environment effectively,“ explains Wolfgang Falter, Partner and head of Sustainability Services at Deloitte. Many of the German Tech companies have recognized the importance of the topic for a long time, “in the implementation, there is a need, however, for optimization.”

Approach points for sustainability provides many of the industry, starting with the energy demand of Cloud services over the long supply chains around the globe to the use of critical raw materials in the Chip production. The sustainability debate in the Tech industry to a specific data base, Deloitte has surveyed in January 2021 for the Technology Sustainability Survey 173 experts from the German Tech company, how you hold it with sustainability.

The importance of sustainable business practices is almost all aware of

The results show that the topic has arrived in the sector, with 86 percent of the executives surveyed see sustainability as an integral part of their business activities. For 88 percent of the issue has increased in recent years.

In addition, the importance of sustainability increases with the size of the company. Almost all the respondents from companies with more than 1,000 employees see sustainability as an important Element of your business activities. Almost a third of companies with fewer employees, this is not yet the case. The background is that in smaller companies, more resources and expertise to advance sustainability topics.

Lower operating costs as a driver for sustainability

Incentives for more sustainable, there are enough and they are in the German Tech industry, especially of an economic nature. 57 percent of the respondents cited the reduction of operating costs as a key driver of their sustainability initiatives.

47 percent expect the conquest of new markets, and 42 per cent are reacting to the Demands of their customers. 32 percent want to motivate the employees. The Reduce climate-related risks (21 percent) and intrinsic commitment (6 per cent) are at the rear on the list of motivations.

In practice, there is a gap between aspiration and reality shows

Technology companies operate in a sustainable, however, especially if you expect an economic Benefit. In fact, from sustainability initiatives:

84% of executives already true today of the positive effects of their activities. Above-average effective initiatives in the area of Software & Services. Here is the strong support for the effectiveness of the sustainability activities is 60% higher than in the Hardware area.

However, sustainability is implemented in the company, often louder postulated as. More than two-thirds of the executives surveyed indicated that there is a discrepancy between featured and actual commitment to exercise. In large companies with over 10,000 employees, the implementation problem is perceived by 82 percent of the respondents and, therefore, is particularly strong.

These organizations have objectives, in General, are also particularly ambitious sustainability. In smaller companies, often with more modest ambitions, the gap is less stark. The implementation problem is in the theme of sustainability runs through the entire industry. Experience has shown that the adjustment of entrenched systems, routines, and standards in business is often a long and complex process.

Critical raw materials, as the biggest sustainability challenge

In fact, sustainability is not a self-runner for technology companies, The industry is dominated by raw materials and processes that are not particularly sustainable, but in many cases to replace difficult, and often leads to a high consumption of resources.

Around a third of the respondents here are the biggest challenges for sustainability in the technology sector. The good news is, however, that the Commitment of the employees and the Top management is in the industry. Only 10 percent reported that support from staff and Management is a Problem.

Comprehensive strategies are required

An important step towards more sustainability to Implement holistic strategies. But the issue is understood by many Tech companies, as in other sectors, currently mainly ecological. Accordingly, the concrete sustainability initiatives are aligned with 32 per cent, largely ecological.

Behind social (20 percent), and mainly economic (15 percent) strategies mainly. Currently, only 8 percent of the surveyed companies take a holistic approach to Sustainability in the environmental, social and economic aspects are equally involved.

“Of course, the Tech industry is the issue of sustainability is facing major challenges, but the potential that lies dormant even bigger,” summarizes Milan Sallaba, Partner and head of Technology sector at Deloitte. The results of the survey would show that it is useful to make small, continuous steps to a more sustainable, in order to let the gap between claim and reality is not unnecessarily large.

Cause for optimism but not least, the fact that the dynamism and Innovation an integral part of the DNA of tech company. “Every organization has the appropriate lever to move sustainability forward – you need to press only.”

This post first appeared on our partner portal Electronics practice.

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