“Sustainable development is a dynamic process which enables all people to realise their potential, and to improve their quality of life, in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth’s life support systems.”
Forum for the Future Annual Report 2000
According to Peter Graf, chief sustainability officer at SAP, sustainability is a trend that is “really powered by IT”, especially as SAP provides software that supports all different enterprise areas, from supply chains and logistics to distribution and HR.
“Software is key because software can measure, optimise and improve how business is run."
“IT creates transparency. With software, you can find the areas where you can have the biggest impact [on the carbon footprint.”
SAP reduced its global carbon footprint by 15 percent last year, saving the company around €90 million. This comes as the company announced a 12 percent increase in revenues.
The reduction, from 501 kilotons of carbon in 2008 to 425 kilotons in 2009, was well ahead of the company’s annual goal of five percent less than the previous year’s emissions. SAP attributed the achievement to internal measures such as reducing the number of business flights, and the impact of the economic crisis on the business.
SAP’s long-term goal is to reduce its total carbon emissions to the level of 2000 by the year 2020.
This is no easy task, as Dr Peter Graf, chief sustainability officer at SAP, explained: “Our carbon footprint is mainly driven by the number of people in the company. In 2000, we had 24,000 employees. In 2007, we had 50,000 employees. Now, we are at about 48,000."
“We need to reduce the carbon footprint for each employee by more than 60 percent.”
Original Source: Businesszone.co.uk
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