When RTL produces a TV show using “green shooting” standards or Arvato digitizes logistics operations and saves paper, climate action at Bertelsmann comes to life. Climate action is not confined to strategy papers – it is part of the day-to-day work of many teams worldwide. Bertelsmann’s sustainability report for the past year shows that while the company is making progress, the path toward achieving its targets remains challenging.
A shared goal: 50 percent fewer emissions by 2030
Environmental management at Bertelsmann centers on the “Climate Target 2030”: The Group aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 compared to 2018. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) reaffirmed this target in February, and the Bertelsmann Executive Board confirmed it. As part of a joint project with environmental managers across the divisions, Bertelsmann applied methodological changes in greenhouse gas accounting from recent years, along with portfolio adjustments since 2020, retroactively to the 2018 base year.
Visible progress across the Group
In its recently published 2025 climate results, Bertelsmann reports total greenhouse gas emissions of 2.66 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) – a metric that weights different greenhouse gases according to their impact on the climate. This represents a reduction of 929,000 metric tons of CO2e compared to 2018 and an increase of 70,000 metric tons of CO2e compared to the previous year. The largest shares come from Penguin Random House, Bertelsmann Marketing Services, Arvato Group, and RTL Group. The report’s charts illustrate this trend.
Numerous actions to reduce emissions are already showing results, as the following figures show:
- Around 30 percent fewer emissions than in 2018
- 97 percent renewable electricity across the company
- 89 percent of paper sourced from certified forestry or recycled fibers
- Increased electricity generation from the company’s own solar installations, including expansion at Penguin Random House in Crawfordsville, Indiana
- Successful initial certification of energy management systems at Arvato, Arvato Systems, RTL Deutschland, and the Corporate Center
At the same time, energy demand remains high – for example because of logistics sites, printing plants, data centers, and TV studios. This is where many initiatives are concentrated. “Bertelsmann is on a good path – but the next few years are decisive,” said Bertelsmann Chief Human Resources Officer Immanuel Hermreck. “The priority is to scale successful measures, develop new solutions, and further reduce the emissions we can influence along the entire value chain.”
Climate action at Bertelsmann is the result of many solutions developed and implemented by dedicated colleagues across the company, as examples from the divisions show:
- RTL Group: Sustainable film and TV productions are becoming more important. More and more formats meet environmental standards such as “Green Motion” or “Albert.” And the carbon footprint of productions is systematically measured.
- Arvato: Logistics processes are increasingly being digitized – for example by eliminating printed documents. This saves materials, energy, and emissions. Increasing automation raises energy demand, but this is offset by greater in-house electricity generation using photovoltaic systems.
- Penguin Random House: Optimizing paper, printing, and transport plays a key role, as these areas account for a large share of emissions.
Direct and indirect emissions – Scopes 1, 2, and 3
The use of renewable energy and improvements in energy efficiency are the main ways to reduce emissions at company sites and in vehicle fleets. These emissions, reported under Scope 1 and Scope 2 in greenhouse gas accounting standards, can be directly influenced by the companies themselves. The divisions therefore invest specifically in renewable electricity, photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, charging infrastructure, and more efficient technologies.
“The greenhouse gas balance shows that the biggest challenge lies outside our own sites, in indirect emissions known as Scope 3,” explained Mark Fabisch, Head of Environment and Safety at Bertelsmann. Scope 3 emissions arise along the value chain – for example in the production and transport of purchased goods and materials, or through travel related to film productions and business trips. Effective climate action therefore requires close cooperation with partners and suppliers.
Digitalization as both an opportunity and a challenge
Another key driver is digitalization. IT- and AI-supported optimization of production and transport, as well as expanded digital offerings, can reduce emissions. At the same time, energy demand is increasing due to large data volumes for artificial intelligence and streaming. The challenge is to bring both together: expanding digital business models and using artificial intelligence on the one hand, while advancing climate action through the systematic use of renewable energy and resource-efficient, circular processes on the other.
