Sustainability Report 2023
© IONOS GROUP SE 2024
CONTENTS
FOREWORD | 3 |
KEY ESG FIGURES | 4 |
IONOS BUSINESS MODEL | 5 |
OUR APPROACH | 6 |
SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK | 6 |
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT | 7 |
OUR TARGETS | 8 |
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT | 11 |
ESG MATERIALITY | 12 |
PLANET | 14 |
OUR APPROACH | 14 |
RENEWABLE ENERGY | 14 |
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN | 15 |
SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS | 16 |
CIRCULAR ECONOMY | 16 |
IONOS 2030 CLIMATE STRATEGY | 16 |
PEOPLE | 17 |
OUR APPROACH | 17 |
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION | 18 |
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT | 19 |
TALENT ATTRACTION & RETENTION | 20 |
HEALTH & SAFETY | 21 |
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP | 22 |
DIGITAL RESPONSIBILITY | 23 |
OUR APPROACH | 23 |
INFORMATION SECURITY | 24 |
DATA PROTECTION | 25 |
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | 26 |
CUSTOMER | 27 |
OUR APPROACH | 27 |
CUSTOMER CARE | 27 |
DIGITAL PARTICIPATION | 28 |
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE | 29 |
OUR APPROACH | 29 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 30 |
HUMAN RIGHTS & SUPPLY CHAIN | 32 |
EU TAXONOMY | 33 |
FACTS & FIGURES | 36 |
ABOUT THIS REPORT | 47 |
2
FOREWORD
As the European market leader in web hosting1 we are well aware of our responsibility as a corporate citizen. Sustainability is a core element of our corporate ethos, guiding our commitment to not only reduce our environmental footprint but also to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and digital responsibility. Our data centers, powered by 100% renewable electrici- ty, have embodied our dedication to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency for many years.
In 2023, we achieved a significant milestone with the launch of our 2030 Climate Strategy. This ambitious strategy underscores our commitment to further decrease carbon emissions, harness renewable energy directly at our data centers through photovoltaic technology and broaden our environmental initiatives to encompass all office locations.
Additionally, this year marked a significant step forward in enhancing our company's inclusivity and diversity. We introduced a comprehensive in-house diversity training program, now mandatory for all leadership, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive workplace that fosters innovation and mirrors the diversity of the communities and customers we serve.
Recognizing that a sustainable and equitable digital landscape requires a broader approach, we are steadfast in our commitment to our five pillars of sustainability: Planet, People, Digital Responsibility, Customer, and Responsible Governance. Our journey towards integrating sustainability into every aspect of our operations is ongoing, and we are committed to investing in initiatives that bring us closer to achieving our comprehensive sustainability ob- jectives.
Sincerely,
Achim Weiß
CEO, IONOS Group SE
1 In terms of the number of hosted domains (approx. 12 million in Europe as at 31.12.2023)
3
KEY ESG FIGURES
2019 | ||
PLANET (DATA CENTERS) | ||
Share of renewable electricity (%) | 100 | |
Share of renewable energy (%) | 98,9 | |
Energy management system ISO 50001 coverage (%) | 100 | |
Power Use Efficiency (PUE) weighted | 1,52 | |
Energy consumption (MWh) | 118157,7 | |
Energy intensity (MWh/€ revenue million) | 132,7 | |
IT equipment refurbished (tons) | 48,8 | |
IT equipment recycled (tons) | 121,6 | |
2022 | ||
PLANET (OFFICES) | ||
Share of renewable electricity (%) | 79,8 | |
Energy consumption (MWh) | 4098,5 | |
PLANET (ALL OWN FACILITIES) | ||
Share of renewable electricity (%) | 99,5 | |
2020
100
98,9
100
1,48
115133,2
121,4
79,8
80,3
2023 |
82,0 |
6569,5 |
99,5 |
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
100 | 100 | 100 |
99,4 | 99,3 | 99,2 |
100 | 100 | 100 |
1,47 | 1,46 | 1,43 |
115087,5 | 120751,6 | 121016,8 |
104,3 | 93,4 | 85,0 |
25,3 | 30,5 | 33,7 |
103,4 | 28,6 | 53,9 |
PEOPLE
Employee headcount
% Women overall
Women in management (%)
Number of nationalities
Adjusted gender pay gap %
Managers trained on diversity (%)
Average tenure by years
DIGITAL RESPONSIBILITY
Information security management system coverage (%)
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE
Employees trained on Code of Conduct (%)
Employees trained on Anti-Bribery & Corruption (%)
4210 | 4364 |
31,0 | 31,0 |
26,0 | 26,0 |
69 | 72 |
n/a | 1,56 |
n/a | 75,8 |
6,0 | 6,5 |
2023 | |
84,0 | |
83,5 | |
83,5 |
Additional Detail on the KPIs can be found in the Facts & Figures section of this report.
4
IONOS BUSINESS MODEL
IONOS Group SE is an international digitalization partner and reliable cloud enabler for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but also for individual users (e.g., freelancers) and larger corporate customers. It offers a comprehensive product portfolio in Web Presence & Productivity as well as Cloud Solutions. This portfolio is supported by first-class customer care and infrastructure. Thus, the group is primarily active in the market for web hosting and cloud applications.
In the area of Web Presence & Productivity, IONOS Group SE offers professional design solutions for internet presences, such as domain registration, web hosting, website builders with artificial intelligence, and dedicated servers. This is supported by additional productivity products (e.g., e-commerce applications, email and marketing applications) and additional services such as search engine optimization, business applications, or storage and backup solutions.
The Cloud Solutions offering includes both public and private cloud solutions with a wide range of services in the areas of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The Cloud Solutions product range from IONOS also includes a "Compute Engine" solution (a flexible IaaS solution for cloud computing applications), storage and backup, network services, managed services, and database solu- tions.
The products and solutions are developed in the company's own development centers or in cooperation with partner companies and operated on over 100,000 servers in 32 data cen- ters, including 11 owned data centers.
The target group-specific marketing of the product portfolio is carried out not only through the international main brand IONOS but also through differently positioned brands such as STRATO, arsys, fasthosts, home.pl, and World4You. In addition, there are several brands with extensive domain expertise like United Domains, InterNetX, and sedo, which offer professional services around active domain management. The brand we22 specializes in website builders as well as the construction of websites for private and small business customers.
5
OUR APPROACH
SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK
IONOS is committed to embedding sustainability into our business practices because we view this as a long-term creator of value and as a win-win, not only for our business but also for the environment, our employees, our customers, and the communities where we oper- ate.
Our sustainability approach is aligned within five distinct pillars:
-
Planet:
We embed environmental sustainability across our operations to continuously reduce our environmental impact. - People:
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture, where employees are valued, can grow professionally whilst striving to create a great place to work. - Digital Responsibility:
We are committed to ensuring the highest standards for data privacy and information secu- rity, whilst contributing to a safer and more accessible web. - Customer:
We empower and enable small businesses and entrepreneurs to be successful online, help- ing them to grow whilst providing the best customer and sustainable services possible. - Responsible Governance:
We enforce stringent governance standards to ensure responsible business practices, align- ing with our sustainability commitments.
The United Nation´s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a commitment to deliver on global goals for people and the planet by 2030. To support the advancement of sustainable development, IONOS has identified and prioritized four SDGs which align with our business model, sustainability management and where we can have the greatest impact .
- Climate Action SDG 13:
We take urgent action to combat climate change through reducing our carbon emis-
sions and environmental impact from our data center operations.
-
Gender Equality SDG 5:
We commit to achieving gender equality and empowering women through a culture of inclusion, increasing women in leadership as well as technical roles.
◼ Decent Work & Economic Growth SDG 8:
Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth by empowering individuals, en- trepreneurs, and SMB´s and helping them to succeed online.
-
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure SDG 9:
Building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation through our data center infrastruc- ture as facilitators for economic growth and connectivity.
Memberships, Partnerships & External Sustainability Commitments
- WMWare Zero Carbon Committed Partner
- Carbon Disclosure Project
- Charter of Diversity
- Gaia-XTechnical Committee
6
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
IONOS has integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management into its business operations and strategic planning. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of IONOS Holding SE holds primary responsibility for ESG matters within the organization. The Management Board of IONOS Holding and IONOS Group SE convenes quarterly to discuss ESG, covering various areas such as strategy formulation and target setting,
To ensure effective implementation and oversight of sustainability initiatives, IONOS has established a dedicated ESG Team, which reports directly to the COO. This team plays a key role in advising and supporting various departments across the organization in aligning their activities with ESG objectives.
Furthermore, the execution and realization of ESG objectives are facilitated by the ESG Committee, composed of representatives responsible for core ESG pillars: Planet, People, Digital Responsibility, Responsible Governance, and Customer. The ESG Committee collaborates with additional departments such as Marketing and Investor Relations, leveraging their expertise to enhance the company's overall ESG strategy.
7
OUR TARGETS
In alignment with our sustainability framework, we have defined targets linked to our Envi- ronmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars, material topics, and strategic objectives. These serve as the foundation for driving our sustainability initiatives, featuring a mix of short to medium-term actions and targets. Our approach ensures a comprehensive strategy, with activities monitored annually and a review of targets and actions for appropriateness and alignment with evolving sustainability criteria. Progress is measured through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), enabling us to maintain a clear focus on achieving our sustainability objectives.
Planet targets
DATA CENTERS
OFFICES
VALUE CHAIN
KEY TARGETS
100% renewable electricity use long-term (2030)
>50% data centers using solar energy on-site (2030)
-
55% reduction in diesel lifecycle emissions (tons) (2030)
1.41 PUE weighted average (2024)
Establish environmental metrics and management systems (2024)
100% renewable electricity use (2030)
100% electric vehicles in carpool (2030)
100% renewable electricity use in colocations (2030)
90% data center suppliers by spend committed to climate targets (2030)
BASELINE
100% (2019)
0% (2019)
324,7 (2019)
1,52 (2019)
n/a
79,8 (2022)
0,7% (2022)
81,1% (2022)
n/a
2023
100%
27%
224,1
1,43
Initiated
82%
8,6%
91,3%
Initiated
8
Planet Actions
KEY TARGETS
100% renewable electricity use
50% data centers using solar energy on-site
55% reduction in diesel lifecycle emissions
1.41 PUE weighted average
Establish environmental metrics beyond energy and carbon for data centers
100% renewable electricity use
100% electric vehicles in carpool
100% renewable electricity use in colocation data centers
90% data center suppliers by spend committed to climate targets
Measure and mitigate Scope 3 carbon in areas of significant data center impact
KEY LEVERS
Renewable energy sourcing
Onsite photovolatics
Renewable fuel switching
Energy efficiency measures
Environmental management system roll-out
Renewable energy sourcing
Switching to electric vehicles
Renewable energy sourcing
Suppliers committing to climate targets
Establish Scope 3 baselines
2022 & 2023 KEY ACTIONS
100% renewable electricity use
UK data center (2022)
USA data center (2023)
French data center (2023)
UK data center (2022)
New energy efficient UK data center (2022)
Modernizations of cooling systems at multiple data centers (2023)
ISO 14001 Spanish Data Center (2023)
USA office (2022)
n/a
Colocations evaluated for current and future renewable electricity use (2023)
Renewable energy certificates purchased for two colocations (2023)
Collection of supplier data in sustainability supplier platform (2023)
Lifecycle inventory database purchased as initial step (2023)
PLANNED ACTIONS
Long-term commitment to maintain target
Continued evaluation of photovoltaics installation at existing and new data centers
Continued evaluation of biofuels use at existing and new sites
Continued operation of energy management system with related targets and measures
All own data centers certified to ISO14001
Water Use Efficiency (WUE) established
Feasibility evaluation of locations to switch to renewable electricity where and when possible
Establishment of new sustainable company car policy
Long-term switch to colocation suppliers only using 100% renewable electricity
Short-term favoring colocations with renewable electricity or related targets
Utilise supplier sustainability software to assess suppliers for climate relevant information
Continue to build upon and improve scope and quality of Scope 3 data
9
ESG Targets & Actions
TOPIC
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
TALENT ATTRACTION & RETENTION
INFORMATION SECURITY
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
TARGET
Leadership trained on diversity & inclusion
Women in management
Reducing employee turnover
Increasing employee engagement
Information Security Management System (ISMS) coverage
Employees trained on artificial intelligence
Employees trained on code of conduct
Employees trained on anti- bribery & corruption
KEY ACTIONS CURRENT & PLANNED
Development and roll-out of first module (2023)
Development and roll-out of second module (2024)
Unconscious bias trainings for HR (2023)
Women Explore program (2023)
Continue employee engagement surveys and translate results into measures
Maintain ISMS coverage through regular audits and continuous improvement
Development and roll-out of AI training (2024)
Training roll-out
Training roll-out
TARGET
80%
28%
Continual
improvement
80%
25%
80%
80%
TARGET YEAR
Annual
2030
Annual
Annual
2024
Annual
Annual
2023
75,8%
26%
12,6%
84%
n/a
83,6%
83,6%
10
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Disclaimer
Ionos Group SE published this content on 03 May 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 03 May 2024 09:44:06 UTC.