News | Gütersloh, 10/24/2017

CR Report 2016: Spotlight on Corporate Responsibility

How is digitalization changing staff training and development? How important is the protection of customer data at Bertelsmann? Is Bertelsmann committed to freedom of the press? And does the company invest in renewable energies? Bertelsmann is increasingly asked these and many other questions by employees, business partners and customers. The new Corporate Responsibility Report 2016, an online publication, elaborates on how Bertelsmann lives up to its corporate responsibility in its value creation and provides insights into a wide range of social and ecological measures that are implemented by many employees at all levels of the Group.

The reporting focuses on topics in the areas of employees, media, services and education, the environment and society. These topics include freedom of the press, diversity, eco-efficiency, health, fair working conditions and the protection of media users and customers.

‘Fundamentals of Bertelsmann’s corporate culture’

In its corporate responsibility reporting, Bertelsmann has since 2011 followed the international guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which are regarded worldwide as the leading framework for sustainability reporting by businesses and organizations. The new report was drawn up in line with the latest GRI Standards and simultaneously serves as a Communication on Progress for the United Nations Global Compact, in which Bertelsmann has been a participant since 2008.

“Entrepreneurship and responsibility are fundamentals of Bertelsmann's corporate culture,” says Chief Human Resources Officer Immanuel Hermreck. “As a company, we want to make a contribution to society. The best way to do this is to reconcile our economic objectives with social and environmental interests. The new CR report is very clear on how we proceed and what we have already achieved.”

The Bertelsmann Corporate Responsibility Report 2016 is available in German and English. Like the supplementary Bertelsmann Carbon Footprint 2016, it is available for download online at www.bertelsmann.com/responsibility  .