DEKRA
materiality
analysis
Regular communication with our stakeholders is a key element in the ongoing development of sustainability management at DEKRA. To this end, the expert organization performed a materiality analysis in 2022, based on the one conducted in 2020 but with slight modifications. All of the relevant stakeholders were again invited to participate in the survey, asking them for their assessments. They included:
- Employees
- Suppliers
- Customers
- Associations
- Competitors
- Politicians and authorities
- Accreditation bodies
- Members of the science and research community
- Civil society and NGOs
The survey asked the stakeholders to evaluate the relevance of various sustainability topics and how much influence they believe DEKRA has on these topics. The assessment scale ranged from one to six, with one representing low relevance or influence, and six denoting high relevance or influence.
The number of participants was almost double that of the previous survey, and, because the survey was provided in German, English, and French, represented a more diverse range of views. The results obtained help us to define further priorities. The materiality of the various areas was reaffirmed once again. Our stakeholders determine health and safety, energy efficiency and sustainable buildings, ethical corporate governance, and sustainable services as substantially important. However, the results show that DEKRA has an influence on all sustainability aspects and that all areas are relevant. Compared to 2020, both the relevance and impact of health and safety were rated higher, whilst the importance in respect to energy efficiency and sustainable buildings also increased, not least due to the current energy crisis we are facing.
All of these findings are extremely valuable because, for us, materiality means two things. First, it enables us to focus on areas where we can make the greatest impact on sustainable development in the economy, environment, and society. And second, it allows us to focus on related trends that have the strongest influence on our own business operations in terms of opportunities and risks, and are highly relevant to stakeholders and their decision-making. The findings have confirmed our approach, which gives us the opportunity to greatly enhance DEKRA’s credibility and the trust placed in us as a company and brand, and to contribute to optimizing internal processes and the use of resources. As a result, DEKRA’s sustainability strategy remains a competitive advantage and an integral part of our successful business model.
