In fiscal year 2023, Group-wide target approaches for the material sustainability topics were developed and discussed together with the segments’ sustainability management functions and the departments concerned. Based on these target approaches, the HR and Diversity departments developed policies at Group level in fiscal year 2024 to serve as guidelines for the strategies in the segments; the same also applies to key areas such as Governance (such as the Use of AI Policy). In addition, the whistleblower system was extended to offer separate reporting channels for misconduct both in the Company’s own operations and for misconduct in relation to the value chain. A Group-wide e-learning anti-corruption course was also launched in fiscal year 2024. These policies are described in more detail in the topical chapters. Given the Group’s decentralized organizational structure, the guidelines developed by the holding company (Corporate) serve as guidance for the segments. The segments are called on to include the central guidelines in their targets and to exceed their level of ambition.
Several segments built on the target approaches and guidelines mentioned to develop independent sustainability strategies in fiscal year 2024, including specific targets for their individual business models and the related products and services. These strategies comprise actions to promote environmental and social sustainability in the core products and services, in interaction with customers and stakeholders, and in the value chain. In fiscal year 2025, United Internet is aiming to consolidate the individual strategies so as to establish a uniform, Group-wide sustainability strategy that addresses, harmonizes, and further expands these issues.
Additional details on the Consumer Access and Business Applications segments’ sustainability strategies and targets can be found in the independent reports by the segments that are published at the same time as this Group Management Report. The sustainability strategy, targets, and actions for the Consumer Applications Segment are not currently published in a separate sustainability report. The targets and actions focus on the areas of climate and the environment, information security, digital responsibility, access to digitalization via the provision of e-mail and cloud services, and equal opportunities.
The Business Access Segment did not yet have a sustainability strategy or sustainability targets in the fiscal year. However, a large number of energy efficiency measures were implemented. In particular, the integrated environmental and energy management system that is being implemented lays the foundations for continuous improvements in the coming years. Going forward, this management system will be used to set sustainability targets, plan the associated actions and monitor their success.
Assessing the actual and potential impacts of United Internet’s business activities and relationship on sustainability matters during the double materiality assessment is part of United Internet’s ongoing strategy development. The Company endeavors to use this strategy process to identify material challenges, to put them in the context of their financial materiality, and to develop strategic focus areas and achieve sustainability targets on this basis.
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