About the report

It is organized according to the areas for action of the DB2020 strategy, which involve a harmonization of economic, social and environmental targets. Different departments at DB worked together to execute this integrated approach.

The selected topics follow the guidelines of Version 3.0 of the Global Reporting Initiative. The report also takes requirements gleaned from stakeholder dialogues into account.

The report covers the 2012 calendar year. Most key figures include values from 2010 and 2011 to allow you to compare data. For some key figures, only data from 2012 are available. In these areas, reporting on sustainability is still being established.

The report covers all fully consolidated companies of Deutsche Bahn. Any deviations from this reporting group are indicated. DB Arriva was first consolidated on September 1, 2010, following its acquisition earlier that year. As a result, full data series are not available for select financial key figures for the 2010 reporting year.

The methods and principles used to collect and calculate the data in the report are based on the applicable standards. Any estimates made are indicated.

The report's six topic-based sections explain the DB Group's strategic approaches and measures.

The Sustainability Report meets application level A* of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the principles of the UN Global Compact. It contains DB's progress report for the UN Global Compact and GRI index and indicators.   

The essential indicators and text for the 2012 reporting year were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (PwC). The audit confirmed that the report complies with the requirements of application level A+. Audited report content is indicated in the text. Individual audited statements are also indicated.

DB last published a sustainability report in 2009. In the intervening years, reporting was accomplished through a brochure, most recently "Facts and Figures about Sustainability 2011." Information relating to sustainability has increasingly been included in the annual report since the last sustainability report was published.

Sustainability reporting is now also being realigned in conjunction with the DB2020 strategy. The Sustainability Report 2012 has expanded the scope, and some of the collection methodology has changed as well. As a result, some figures cannot be compared to previous data, for example data from the annual report, sustainability report and UN Global Compact. In the future, the company wants its reporting landscape to reflect the greater weight given to non-financial aspects by the DB2020 strategy. To that effect, the next report published will be the 2014 Integrated Report, which will then be published annually.