SAP highest ranked software company in sustainability indexes

SAP NEWSBYTE - September 09, 2010 - For the fourth consecutive year SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) has been named as the leader of the software sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), comprising the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World and Dow Jones STOXX Sustainability Index.

The DJSI follow a best-in-class approach and include sustainability leaders from each industry on a global and regional level respectively. The annual review of the DJSI family is based on a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labor practices.

For the software sector, DJSI reviewed a total of 30 companies. SAP had sector-leading scores in 11 of the 20 key dimensions, including customer relationship management, risk and crisis management, innovation management, human capital development, corporate citizenship and labor practice indicators. SAP obtained sector-leading scores for its environmental and social reporting through its interactive sustainability report. Moreover, the company achieved the best score for the software sector in the social dimension.

In recent years, SAP has been recognized consistently for its sustainable business practices by the leading global sustainability rankings, including the Global 100 list of the most sustainable corporations in the world, the FTSE4Good index and the Global Challenges Index. In addition, SAP China was recently named as one of the “Top 50 Green Companies in China” by Business Watch magazine. In Germany, the company is nominated for the 2010 German Sustainability Award in the category “most sustainable strategy.”

In the past year, SAP has continued the execution of its sustainability strategy, which includes both managing its internal operations in a sustainable way and delivering solutions that support its customers’ sustainable business practices. The company introduced a SAP Supplier Code of Conduct to directly address sustainability issues within its own global network of suppliers. SAP also engaged with the Sustainability Consortium as the organization’s first global technology steering committee member.

In addition to issuing an annual sustainability report, in early 2010 SAP started providing quarterly sustainability updates. These quarterly reports offer updates on SAP’s performance and track the company’s progress toward meeting its aggressive carbon footprint reduction goals. In 2009 SAP announced its commitment to reduce the company’s total carbon emissions to the year-2000 emissions level of approximately 275 kilotonnes by the year 2020. This represents an overall reduction of about half compared to SAP’s year-2007 peak levels of 540 kilotonnes.

Source: SAP AG

SAP gains recognition for Proactive Sustainability Efforts

Executing on its commitment to sustainability SAP today announced that the expansion of its North American headquarters on the Newtown Square campus in Pennsylvania has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest rating given by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Designed by FXFOWLE Architects and opened in May 2009, the 200,000-square-foot building is currently the largest LEED Platinum-certified facility in the State of Pennsylvania.

The building received the max number of LEED points in the water efficiency, innovative and design process categories. The state of the art design water management system they are using is set to save over one million gallons of water every year.

Energy efficient buildings support SAP’s goal of reducing carbon emissions to year 2000 levels by 2020. SAP estimates that the new building is one-third more energy-efficient compared to conventional buildings by using intelligent design features.
The building's sensor system is integrated with exterior shading devices that automatically adjust the lighting and help control the temperature level in the facility. A hybrid air conditioning system produces ice to cool the building during the overnight hours when energy demands and electric rates are the lowest. Floor-to-ceiling glass exteriors and a green roof, planted with native and regional vegetation, integrate the office with its surrounding natural environment and create an exceptional work environment.

In addition, SAP committed to an annual purchase of 19 million kilowatt-hours of wind-generated Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The wind-energy purchase offsets more than 80 percent of the electricity needs of the SAP Newtown Square campus and reduces the company's carbon footprint by over 10 tonnes.

Source: SAP News – Press Release 17/08/2010

SAP continue to lower their carbon footprint

Companies are increasingly making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, some more proactively than others in order to reduce their contribution to global climate change.

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

SAP has reduced its worldwide CO2 emissions from 120 kilotons to 115 kilotons since Q
2.This is quite an achievement considering the surge in the business travel in light of the economic recovery. It comes down to their efforts to reduce their energy consumption supported by increased levels of renewable electricity being purchased by them. Renewable electricity now accounts for 50% of their global electricity usage.

The objective for 2010 is to stay below 460 kilotons and achieve this they will need to continue to compensate for travel needs.

Last year SAP announced their aggressive commitment to reduce its total carbon emissions to the year 200 emissions level of approximately 274 kilotons by the year 2020. This represents an overall reduction of about half compared to the company’s year-2007 peak levels of 540 kilotons.

To help reach this goal, SAP is using the SAP® Carbon Impact OnDemand solution to access and analyze emissions data across its entire operations and evaluate its carbon footprint reduction efforts. SAP identified several key areas for implementing carbon-efficient operations, including travel, data centers, buildings and commitment to renewable energy.

Detailed emissions data are available to the public in the SAP sustainability report and are updated quarterly.