Our commitment to sustainability is long-standing and grounded in the “triple bottom line” concept, which encompasses the dimensions of people, planet, and profit. For us, this means: sustainable business performance, that balances economic success with environmental and social responsibility. It aims to foster business that enables sustainable economic growth and societal progress, by creating positive impact for our clients, our people, our investors, and our communities.
We monitor global developments and evaluate their impact on our business. We value open dialogue with our stakeholders and respect their diverse expectations. Together, this helps us to make informed decisions while continually shaping our sustainability approach.
The values and beliefs within our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics reflect our understanding of sustainability, which is also anchored in respective policies and processes. It is further informed by internationally recognized standards and principles and the formal commitments we have made. Examples include:
- Ten Principles of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact
- UN Principles for Responsible Investment
- UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
To take forward its expired Millennium Development Goals, the UN set a new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which also provides guidance in how we think and act.
Deutsche Bank’s Management Board is responsible for the integration of sustainability across the bank. A centrally organized sustainability team within our Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) function acts as an interface between internal and external stakeholders.
In November 2017, our Management Board made the decision to strengthen governance by establishing a Group-wide Sustainability Council, composed of senior managers from across the business. The council will act as an advisory body to the Management Board and will further develop and enforce our sustainability approach.