DHL Group has received the highest “integrated” rating for its corporate citizenship engagement, making it one of only three DAX-40 companies to achieve this distinction.
The evaluation was conducted as part of the study “Corporate Citizenship: From Philanthropic Outsider to Competence Center in Sustainable Businesses” by the consulting firm Wider Sense. The authors of the study examine the social engagement of DAX companies, assessing factors such as their scope, sustainability, credibility, and impact.
The study, which was presented in Frankfurt am Main in March, is already being published for the third time in 2024. In the years 2017 and 2021, DHL Group was classified with the second-highest rating of “strategic.” In 2024, the company now rose to the highest rating level of “integrated.” According to the authors of the study, DHL Group “integrates corporate citizenship into its core business, thereby generating tangible win-win situations for both society and the company.” This is the first time that this rating has been awarded.
DHL Group invests one percent of its net profit annually in initiatives that make a positive societal impact and improve the lives of people worldwide. A central pillar is the four Go Programs: GoHelp, GoTeach, GoTrade, and GoGreen. Through GoHelp, employees of DHL Group in so-called Disaster Response Teams have been providing global disaster relief for over 20 years, in close collaboration with the United Nations and local NGOs.
In the event of a natural disaster, members of the Disaster Response Teams utilize their logistics expertise on-site. Additionally, DHL is active in disaster preparedness. The employability initiative GoTeach supports young people in transitioning from school to the workforce and works closely with SOS Children’s Villages and the Teach For All education network in more than 70 countries. GoTrade program aims to open doors to global marketplaces for small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and emerging markets also by reducing global trade barriers and bureaucracy.
“The top rating confirms our long-standing commitment to developing effective solutions for social challenges together with our partners. It is also a great recognition for the hundreds of thousands of employees who volunteer with us for a wide range of social purposes. Our corporate goal is to connect people and improve lives,” said Vice President of Sustainability Communications and Programs at DHL Group, Christoph Selig.