Paper, still the most important resource for the traditional print media business, continues to be a particular priority at Bertelsmann. Even in an increasingly digitized media landscape, printed books, magazines, brochures, and flyers will continue to have their place. Therefore, resource conservation, climate protection and waste avoidance play a major role for Bertelsmann across the entire paper value chain. Bertelsmann is committed to responsible paper sourcing, to protect forests which are valuable for climate and biodiversity. In their function as print service providers and buyers, the companies in Bertelsmann’s service divisions offer their customers a comprehensive range of sustainably certified and climate-neutral print products.

To complement its environmental policy, Bertelsmann has issued a Paper Policy. For 2020, Bertelsmann set the objective to raise the proportion of recycled paper and paper from certified, sustainable forestry in the paper it purchases itself to over 90 percent. This objective was achieved again in 2019. Recycled paper as well as papers of certified origin that meet FSC®, PEFC™, SFI® requirements or comparable standards are regarded as sustainably sourced paper. In this way, the company advocates for responsible forestry. For example, no wood from primary or protected forests may be used in producing the paper. In addition, Bertelsmann ensures that, in addition to certified wood fiber, the paper used has as high a proportion of recycled material as possible. Above and beyond the Group-wide objective, Penguin Random House aims to switch its paper sourcing to 100 percent sustainable paper by 2025.

For information on the general management approach for environment matters: see GRI 300  .

Paper consumption

in tons

Paper consumption by corporate division

in tons

In the 2019 financial year, the amount of paper purchased by Bertelsmann decreased by 8 percent to 1.68 million tons (previous year: 1.83 million tons).

The Bertelsmann Printing Group purchased by far the largest amount of paper, 1.48 million tons in 2019. In addition, Penguin Random House (0.23 million tons) and Gruner + Jahr (0.09 million tons) require large quantities of printing paper. All three divisions recorded a decline in paper volumes compared with the previous year. At Gruner + Jahr, the volume of paper purchased declined by 20 percent due to the sale of Motor Presse Stuttgart and the ongoing realignment of the business. The quantities procured by the Bertelsmann Printing Group for internal and external productions fell by 0.12 million tons (-8 percent), primarily due to declining business in the gravure printing sector in Germany. In contrast, the 11 percent decline at Penguin Random House can be traced back to the exceptional year 2018, when a particularly large amount of paper was needed due to the market success of Michelle Obama's book “Becoming”. As opposed to printing papers, Arvato's logistics business recorded a significant increase in packaging papers, so that the total volume of paper rose by 10 percent to 19 thousand tons of paper (previous year: 17 thousand tons).

Energy and Emissions (see also GRI 305) as an environmental factor is a focus of cross-divisional cooperation on environmental and climate protection. Although increasing digitalization is making Bertelsmann less dependent on finite natural resources, it is also increasing energy consumption caused by data use. The collaboration within the Bertelsmann “be green” network covers topics such as increasing the use of renewables and improving energy efficiency. The increasing transparency of energy consumption thanks to the “green.screen” IT platform supports exchange between sites while also enabling site-by-site energy data management, which in turn facilitates energy and cost savings.

The Bertelsmann Energy and Climate Policy describes the framework for energy-efficient and climate-friendly business practices. By purchasing renewable energies, Bertelsmann wants to directly influence the demand for climate-friendly options and thus contribute to the sustainable transformation of the energy markets. The electricity purchased by Bertelsmann companies should always have lower greenhouse gas emissions than the respective national electricity mix and, if economically feasible, should come entirely from renewable sources. In addition, a local on-site generation of our own electricity and heat using renewable energies and, on a transitional basis, highly efficient natural gas-powered cogeneration plants, will help to transform the local energy markets. Bertelsmann does not use lignite or anthracite in producing its own energy, and expects its energy suppliers to gradually phase out fossil fuels.

Information on general management approach to the environment: see GRI 300  .

Energy consumption

in GWh

Compared with the previous year, total energy consumption fell by 4 percent from 1,632 gigawatt hours to 1,573 gigawatt hours. Electricity consumption fell by 5 percent to 779 gigawatt hours (previous year: 819 gigawatt hours). In 2019, heat consumption fell by 3 percent to 719 gigawatt hours (previous year: 739 gigawatt hours). In the same period, energy consumption from fuels rose slightly by 1 percent to 75 gigawatt hours (previous year: 74 gigawatt hours).

Energy consumption by corporate division

in GWh

Bertelsmann's divisions differed significantly in their energy consumption. The Bertelsmann Printing Group accounts for the largest share of total consumption at just under 60 percent, followed by Arvato with around 20 percent and RTL Group with just under 10 percent. In contrast, Penguin Random House (5 percent), Gruner + Jahr (3 percent) and other divisions (2 percent) had comparatively low energy consumption.

Across all divisions, energy consumption at Bertelsmann fell compared with the previous year.

The Bertelsmann Printing Group reduced energy consumption in 2019 by 2 percent compared with 2018. The decline in electricity and heat consumption is largely attributable to production declines in Prinovis Germany’s and Mohn Media’s printing business. Energy consumption at the US printing plants and Sonopress also fell.

With a 15 percent reduction, Penguin Random House recorded significantly lower consumption. This was mainly due to the closure of a warehouse in the UK and an office location in New York.

Consumption at Gruner + Jahr also dropped significantly (-23 percent), especially due to the sale of Motorpresse Stuttgart and lower power consumption at the main site in Hamburg.

The services division Arvato also recorded a 2 percent drop in energy consumption. Despite the expansion of logistics activities in Poland, energy consumption at Arvato Supply Chain Solutions fell significantly due to the closure of a site in France and successful efficiency measures at German sites. The inclusion of the new Saham sites (see GRI 102-10) has significantly increased Majorel’s electricity consumption. By contrast, heat consumption at Majorel fell due to the closure of smaller sites in Europe. Arvato Systems and Arvato Financial Solutions also both reported a decline in energy consumption due to site-related energy-saving measures.

Despite increased energy consumption at RTL City in Luxembourg, RTL Group was able to reduce consumption by 3 percent year-on-year thanks to energy savings at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland in Cologne and RTL Nederland. Energy consumption in the other divisions also fell compared with 2018.

Fossil fuels and propellants used

in GWh

In the 2019 reporting year, a total of 1,117 gigawatt hours of natural gas were used for the company's own power generation. This represents a year-on-year reduction of 32 gigawatt hours (3 percent). Natural gas is used in highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) plants for the production of electricity and heat, as well as in heating systems for the company’s own heat generation. Only a small part of the heat generation is carried out with heating oil. The quantity of heating oil decreased by almost 30 percent compared with the previous year, from 15 gigawatt hours in 2018 to 11 gigawatt hours in 2019. Also, many sites are equipped with diesel-powered emergency power generators, which consumed 1.3 gigawatt hours of diesel during regular test runs. In accordance with the Bertelsmann Energy and Climate Policy, no coal is used for generating energy within the Group. The remaining energy from fossil fuels is used for company vehicles, pool vehicles and forklift trucks.

Renewable energy

in GWh

Business travel

in millions of km

In the reporting year, the distances covered for business travel across the Group declined significantly by 5 percent from 296 million to 280 million kilometers. At 81 percent and 226 million kilometers, air travel accounted for most of the distance traveled. Compared with the previous year (239 million kilometers), it declined by 5 percent. While rental car mileage also fell by 25 percent, environmentally friendly rail journeys increased from 37 million to 39 million kilometers, representing a 5-percent increase for the second consecutive year. The need to change travel habits is explicitly being communicated to employees at many Bertelsmann companies.

Business travel by corporate division

in millions of kilometers

In fiscal year 2019, only Arvato's business travel increased significantly by 13 percent to a total of 97 million kilometers (previous year: 86 million kilometers). Arvato’s business trips thus account for the largest share of Group-wide business travel: 35 percent. The increase in air travel at Majorel due to new international locations more than offset the reduced travel activities at Arvato Supply Chain Solutions.

RTL Group recorded a 2-percent decline in travel, to 87 million kilometers (previous year: 89 million kilometers). This corresponds to 31 percent of total kilometers travelled across the Group. The number of kilometers travelled decreased, especially at RTL Hungary, due to significantly less air travel.

Penguin Random House and Gruner + Jahr also significantly reduced the distances traveled. At Penguin Random House, business travel fell by 11 percent, mainly due to the increasing use of video conferencing.

The 44-percent decline at Gruner + Jahr is due to cost-cutting measures and the sale of Motorpresse Stuttgart.

The Bertelsmann Printing Group has a relatively small share of 2 percent of the total number of kilometers traveled. The division recorded a 14-percent reduction from 7 million to 6 million kilometers, mainly due to lower sales activity and increased use of online meetings at Mohn Media and Sonopress.

The energy intensity, the ratio of the sum of the reported energy-consumption values in megawatt-hours to the total revenues reported in the consolidated financial statements (in millions of euros), remained 5 percent below the previous year’s figure at 87.2 (previous year: 92.3).

Information on the general management approach for environmental matters: see GRI 300  .

Information on the management approach for water: see GRI 306  .

Bertelsmann supports the international community’s goal of limiting global warming to below two degrees Celsius. By 2025, the Group aims to reduce its portfolio-adjusted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent compared with the base year 2014. This objective relates to emissions from the consumption of fuels for our own electricity and heat production (Scope 1) as well as to the consumption of purchased electricity and heat (Scope 2).

The Group-wide objective was achieved ahead of schedule in the 2019 financial year with a reduction of 24 percent compared with the base year 2014. At the end of December 2019, the Bertelsmann Executive Board therefore decided that the company should become carbon-neutral by 2030. The company aims to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions generated by its sites, by the mobility and equipment of its employees and by the manufacture of its own products by 50 percent compared with 2018. Further information on the new climate protection target and the defined fields of action are documented on the company website  .

Greenhouse gas emissions reported under the previous emission objective are accounted for in accordance with the “Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard” and “Scope 2 Guidance,” and following the “Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard” of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). Greenhouse gas emissions are reported in accordance with the GHG Protocol and in CO2 equivalents (CO2e). According to the GHG Protocol, emissions are reported in three different scopes. Scope 1 refers to Bertelsmann’s direct emissions, which for instance result from its own (on-site) power generation and the operation of printing machines. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity and district heating, or heat provided by landlords. In accordance with the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, Bertelsmann reports both market-based and location-based emissions in the overview of key indicators.

As part of measuring the achievement of the objective, an adjustment is made to take account of portfolio changes. Effects from the sale and acquisition of Group companies are retroactively neutralized each year, and the basic data adjusted accordingly. The environmental indicators also include other indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 3) that are not part of the objective.

Information on "Climate Neutral by 2030" 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

in tons of CO₂e

1) Scope 2 emissions were calculated using the market-based method as indicated in the Scope 2 Guidance of the GHG Protocol. According to the site-based method, Scope 2 emissions amounted to 239,800 metric tons of CO₂e (previous year: 252,000 metric tons).

The sum of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions accounted for in 2019 was 1.73 million tons of CO₂ equivalents. This represents a decline of 9 percent compared with the previous year (1.89 million tons). About three-quarters of these emissions were attributable to indirect emissions along the value chain (Scope 3). These emissions fell by 9 percent year-on-year in 2019. The remaining 25 percent of total emissions were attributable to Scope 1 and Scope 2, which show a year-on-year decline of 4 percent and 12 percent respectively.

Scope 1 and 2 Emissions

in tons of CO₂e

The Bertelsmann Printing Group (267,600 tons CO₂e) and Arvato (97,500 tons CO₂e) accounted for the largest share of Bertelsmann's Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. In particular, the consumption of electricity, natural gas and heat by printing presses as well as other production facilities and the operation of materials handling equipment at the logistics sites are reflected in the carbon footprint of these services divisions.

The reduction in emissions was due in particular to a decline in production at the printing plants. In addition, the volume of renewable electricity with certificate of origin increased by more than 20,000 megawatt hours compared with the previous year, and now accounts for 12 percent of total electricity consumption (previous year: 8 percent).

At Arvato, emissions rose slightly by 1 percent compared with the previous year. While the logistics division was able to reduce emissions by, among other things, using its own photovoltaic power at sites in the Netherlands for the first time, emissions rose overall at Arvato due to the addition of new Saham Group locations at Majorel (see GRI 102-10).

Penguin Random House recorded the largest reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in absolute terms, with a saving of 14,200 tons of CO₂e (49 percent). This is due in particular to the extensive switch to green electricity procurement at the energy-intensive locations in North America, the UK and Spain. In fiscal year 2019, more than 80 percent of the electricity purchased by this division was already sourced from green electricity.

The Bertelsmann Printing Group also recorded a significant absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with 10,900 tons of CO₂e. This is a decrease of 4 percent. The production declines and process optimizations at Prinovis Germany are the main reasons for this.

RTL Group achieved an 8-percent reduction of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions (2,700 tons CO₂e). This was achieved in part by switching to green electricity with certificate of origin at Fremantle in the United Kingdom and Canada. At Gruner + Jahr, the switch to green electricity led to a reduction in emissions at numerous smaller locations as well.

Scope 3 emissions

in tons of CO₂e

Bertelsmann significantly reduced its recorded Scope 3 emissions by 9 percent, from 1.43 million tons of CO₂e in the previous year to 1.30 million tons of CO₂e in fiscal year 2019. Other indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the production of paper that Bertelsmann buys itself, upstream emissions from energy production (outside of Scope 1 and 2), emissions from business travel, and emissions from employee commuting are reported as part of Scope 3 emissions. At more than 60 percent, the Bertelsmann Printing Group was responsible for the largest share of Scope 3 emissions, followed by Penguin Random House (20 percent). Gruner + Jahr and Arvato also generated high shares, at 8 percent each. The volumes of paper used in the print and publishing businesses and, at Arvato, the emissions attributable to employee commutes, had a particular impact. Scope 3 emissions reported by RTL Group and all other divisions accounted for 3 percent and 1 percent of total scope 3 emissions, respectively.

Specific greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) fell from 26.4 metric tons of CO₂e per 1 million euros of Group revenue in 2018 to 24.0 metric tons of CO₂e per 1 million euros of Group revenue in 2019.

Data on water consumption, wastewater and waste generation is also recorded across the Group in the annual environmental data collection using the “green.screen” IT platform. Based on this data, trends can be discerned and potential for improvement identified. Due to the varying local relevance and regulation of water and waste management, these topics are predominantly handled by the local businesses.

Wastewater discharge

in millions of m³

Total wastewater discharge decreased by 4 percent in 2018. 61 percent of the wastewater was discharged into surface water, receiving water, or Bertelsmann’s own wastewater treatment plants. This was 4 percent higher than in the previous year. The remaining 39 percent of the wastewater was discharged into the public sewer system or to third parties.