Sustainability Approach and Management

Sustainability as the Core of Our Corporate Responsibility

We aim to achieve our business success on a sustainable foundation. For us, this means consistently following our understanding of sustainability and embedding it organizationally within the Group and at the executive board level.

A growing plant, symbol for sustainable development

Our Understanding of Sustainability

To us, sustainability means thinking in decades when it comes to key issues—and acting in the interest of future generations. Our business decisions are guided by the aim to create real value for people, protect the planet and its resources, and generate societal benefit for all our stakeholders.

We are convinced that sustainable success can only be achieved if we contribute positively from an economic, environmental, and social standpoint (Environmental, Social, Governance – ESG). We consider it self-evident to take on this responsibility. For us, sustainability is not a mere obligation - it is an integral part of our strategic direction, both internally and externally, and deeply rooted in our corporate culture. We aim to set strong examples and enhance sustainability awareness not only within EWE but also across the energy sector and society at large.

Our sustainable orientation is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, we are committed to the principles of the UN Global Compact and align ourselves with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the German National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, and the core labor standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO). We also support the Paris Climate Agreement, and our CO₂ reduction targets have been validated by the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Our Sustainability Organization

Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) holds overall responsibility for sustainability. Key decisions are discussed and approved by the full Executive Board as needed. The interface between the CEO and the Group is the Sustainability Management team, which is part of the central "Group Development" function. This team is responsible for the sustainability strategy and the advancement of sustainability topics. A key tool in identifying strategically relevant sustainability topics is the double materiality analysis. Within the identified topics—spanning the dimensions of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)—the Group Development department serves as an initiator, organizing, leading, and supporting internal projects and initiatives.

Sustainability Management also works continuously with other central Group functions—such as external reporting, risk management, controlling, and stakeholder management—to address their activities from a sustainability perspective.

Responsibility for the specific action areas—climate and environmental protection, fair working conditions, supply chain responsibility, security of supply, and responsible corporate governance—lies with dedicated expert teams. These teams conduct topic-specific meetings, coordinated by the Sustainability Management team, to ensure that strategies, goals, and measures are developed jointly with subject-matter experts, allowing EWE to meet its sustainability responsibilities.

Our Sustainability Strategy

The sustainability team regularly identifies the most relevant non-financial topics for EWE and its stakeholders and derives corresponding actions. EWE is currently active in the following areas:

Sustainability Strategy 2030 (PDF 2,7 MB)

Climate and environmental protection are equally important for both society and the economy. As an energy service provider, EWE bears special responsibility and, together with other utilities, faces the major challenge of enabling the energy transition with a reliable energy supply system—while fulfilling its service mandate. That’s why we set ambitious climate targets back in 2020, aiming for 2035. Climate and environmental protection and responsible resource use are already part of our everyday operations.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy are the key to achieving climate neutrality. To effectively support the energy transition and reduce the energy sector’s carbon footprint, we are consistently expanding the share of our electricity generation from renewable sources. EWE also seeks to continuously reduce internal energy consumption, prevent environmental pollution, and promote biodiversity. This way, EWE combines economic success with environmental and climate responsibility.

We have bundled our renewable energy activities in Alterric GmbH, a joint venture between EWE and the Aloys Wobben Foundation. Alterric is driving the expansion of climate-friendly energy generation.

The sustainable success of EWE is built on the expertise, commitment, and wellbeing of our employees. We therefore place great importance on safe and fair employment conditions, a constructive social dialogue, and active employee participation. Supporting a healthy work–life balance is equally important to us, which we promote through flexible working models and modern workplace structures.

Occupational health and safety as well as comprehensive health management are key priorities at EWE. We actively promote preventive measures, create health-conscious working conditions, and continuously raise awareness of safety in everyday work.

We see diversity as a strength. Different perspectives and experiences enrich our company and drive innovation. That is why we are committed to a discrimination-free working environment and equal opportunities for development. Targeted training and continuous professional development for our employees are central elements of our HR strategy.

A respectful and fair working culture forms the foundation of our collaboration. This commitment is firmly embedded in EWE’s Code of Conduct and is binding for all employees as well as for our affiliated companies.

More about EWE as an employer

As an energy company, EWE takes responsibility not only for its own operations but also for the entire upstream supply chain. Responsible supply chain management is therefore essential for us to protect human rights and ensure safe working conditions at every stage of the value chain. In doing so, we follow internationally recognized standards and comply with legal requirements such as the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

Respect for fundamental human rights is at the core of our approach. We expect our suppliers to prohibit forced and child labor, prevent discrimination, and provide fair and safe working conditions. Through regular risk analyses, compliance checks, and clear codes of conduct, we support the consistent implementation of these standards. At the same time, we rely on transparency and cooperative partnerships to identify risks early and work together on continuous improvement.

Occupational safety also plays a key role within our supply chain. We promote high safety standards among our partners and ensure that workers are protected in all safety-relevant areas. This includes training and preventive measures as well as the systematic evaluation of safety-critical processes.

Through these measures, EWE combines economic performance with social responsibility. We ensure that our supply chain is not only efficient and resilient, but also aligned with human rights principles.

For EWE, a stable, secure, and high-performance infrastructure forms the backbone of its future business. This includes both the reliable supply of electricity and gas to customers as well as the expansion of high-speed broadband networks that enable digital participation across the region.

The energy transition and the expansion of renewable energy are placing increasing demands on network infrastructure. Decentralized and weather-dependent generation must be integrated safely into the grid, while sector coupling and growing data demand are adding further complexity. As a result, the need for grid stability, intelligent system management, and resilient digital infrastructure continues to grow.

To address these challenges, EWE continuously modernizes its systems and invests in powerful, climate-friendly, and efficient technologies. A key focus is cyber security: through comprehensive security measures, continuous monitoring, and the protection of critical systems, EWE ensures that energy and data networks remain reliable and resilient.

At the same time, EWE supports its customers with innovative products and services that enable the efficient use and generation of renewable energy. In this way, a future-ready, intelligent energy system is created - one that combines security of supply, climate protection, and digital connectivity.

For us, corporate action is synonymous with integrity and lawful, honest business practices. We recognize that integrity is essential to our business success and helps prevent legal and economic risks. Compliance is therefore a fundamental principle throughout the EWE Group—it underpins the trust and satisfaction of our customers and partners.

In light of increasing digitalization, data protection, information security, and cybersecurity are becoming more important. EWE places great emphasis on handling personal data responsibly, protecting it from misuse, and securing company data against unauthorized access. This is essential for developing data-driven business models and operating a secure, high-performing energy system.

Another important aspect of our corporate responsibility is the protection of human rights. We comply with applicable laws and respect internationally recognized human rights standards. In our business activities, we strive to prevent potential human rights violations.

EWE also takes on regional responsibility in many ways - through the EWE Foundation, our sponsorships, and the EWE school mobile.

Puzzle pieces with symbols of sustainability

Our ESG Risk Management

We define sustainability or ESG risks as risks in the areas of environment, social, and governance. We consider not only the negative impacts of external ESG factors on our business activities (outside-in), but also the potential negative impacts of our business activities on ESG areas (inside-out). The identification, assessment, and management of ESG risks have been integrated into our regular risk management process. A systematic comparison with the results of the materiality analysis ensures completeness. Material ESG risks are reported to the Executive Board and Supervisory Board as part of our risk reporting.

The environmental area includes risks associated with climate change. We are aware that climatic influences will change and extreme weather events will become more frequent. Physical climate risks—such as flooding, water scarcity, or rising sea levels—are thus becoming increasingly relevant. The same applies to transitional climate risks, arising from evolving political, legal, technological, and market conditions as society transitions to a low-carbon future. Physical climate risks are regularly identified and assessed through climate risk analysis. This scenario analysis is based on scientifically recognized RCP climate scenarios. The social area includes risks related to our employees, customers, and supply chain. Relevant topics here include occupational safety, data protection, security of supply, and the protection of human rights. The governance area includes compliance-related risks, such as anti-corruption and adherence to antitrust laws.