Sustainability management

ESRS 2 – Governance

ESRS 2 GOV-2 – Information provided to and sustainability matters addressed by the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies

Responsibility for sustainability

Responsible governance and sustainable action are fundamental guidelines for the entire leadership team. The Executive Management of Interzero Holding GmbH & Co. KG makes key operating decisions within the Interzero Group. A few especially relevant measures require the consent of the Advisory Board of Interzero Holding GmbH & Co. KG. Examples include strategic decisions, actions with Group-wide relevance and decisions about business transactions exceeding specific thresholds. The Advisory Board provides the Executive Management with support and advice on all major strategic issues. The Executive Management reports regularly to both the Advisory Board and shareholders.

The Executive Management takes collective responsibility for managing major sustainability topics, and making decisions in the context of sustainability that are based on the material impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs). The company considers all members of the Executive Management to possess the necessary skills and abilities – especially on the topic of the circular economy. As a company whose business activities focus on closing material loops and achieving long-term resource conservation, Interzero promotes an understanding of sustainability topics and knowledge exchange at all levels of the organisation. 

During the reporting period, Sebastiaan Krol (CEO) was responsible for the topic of sustainability. Effective 1 January 2025, these duties were transferred to the new CEO, Jan Kroker. The Corporate Sustainability Department reports to the CEO. During the reporting period, regular (at least monthly) information-sharing meetings were held to foster sustainability communications and will continue in this format with the new CEO. In addition, the Corporate Sustainability Department also keeps the Executive Management updated with full details of all new developments. Sustainability managers who coordinate sustainability issues and work to implement sustainability goals within different parts of the company report to him. These managers receive support from colleagues in distribution, digital transformation, media, HR, compliance, supply chain and environment as they implement the focal points of the sustainability strategy (see chart below).

Coordination of the double materiality assessment

Interzero conducted its first double materiality assessment (DMA) in 2024, modelling this analysis on the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) (see ESRS 2 IRO-1). This process was initiated by the Corporate Sustainability Department, which also manages and monitors the inventory of impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs). A list of material IROs was created as a first step in the DMA process. The IRO inventory assessment was completed by the respective departments and stakeholder groups. In a subsequent workshop, the results were discussed by management staff with strategic responsibilities and the Executive Management before being approved. The DMA results – i.e. the material IROs – form the basis for the company’s overall strategic process. The DMA is revalidated on an annual basis.

ESRS 2 GOV-5 – Risk management and internal controls over sustainability reporting

For this Sustainability Statement, the data collection process comprised multiple individual data sub-processes, which were organised and monitored by the Corporate Sustainability Department. Particular risks associated with sustainability reporting include erroneous or incomplete datasets. Accordingly, sustainability data collection made use of the dual-control principle: under the general oversight of the Corporate Sustainability Department, all data were first collected by the data owners – i.e. the experts from the respective departments. These data were then validated by the data stewards – i.e. experts with qualifications in this specific domain. Following editorial revision, all content was then reviewed by the Executive Management, the Legal department and the Corporate Communications department. For the future, the company plans to introduce a formal internal control system for the preparation of the Sustainability Statement.