Berlin, 16.04.2013 - The German Council for Sustainable Development highly welcomes the proposal of the EU Commission on non-financial disclosure. The European Commission has proposed an amendment to existing accounting legislation in order to improve the transparency of companies with more than 500 employees on social and environmental matters. They will need to disclose information on policies, risks and results as regards environmental matters, social and employee-related aspects, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery issues, and diversity on the boards of directors. Read more

Berlin, 11 June 2013 Since its implementation in October 2011 51 companies submitted a declaration of conformity towards the German Sustainability Code. The latest entries were submitted by HEAG Holding AG, Lebensbaum (Ulrich Walter GmbH) and the swedish company Fenix Outdoor. Thus, 24 stock listed, eleven publicly owned companies and one scientific organisation have given a strong commitment towards sustainability. First companies have submitted a declaration covering two reporting years, as MAN AG, Siemens AG and Deutsche Boerse Group.

Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel paid tribute to the German Sustainability Code in her speech at the annual conference of the German Council for Sustainable Development on June 25th, 2012. She declared that it represents a valuable orientation for sustainable economic activity: "The code enjoys the support of the Federal Government. We promote its application by even more companies." The  instrument is also supported by the German network of the Principles for Responsible Investment of the United Nations (UN PRI), whose chair advised its signatories the application of the Sustainability Code for investment decisions and the documentation of comliance with the principles in core business.

The GSC makes the sustainability performance of companies and organizations measurable and comparable. He will contribute to a stronger orientation towards sustainability on capital markets. The German Sustainability Code, as adopted by the Council for Sustainable Development in October 2011, is published as printed brochure in English and can be requested in the order service. A French version and various other documents can be found on the project website "German Sustainability Code (GSC)".

Day after day we take a lot of actions that co-decide, if the climate is protected, if limited resources are preserved or human rights respected: it starts with the breakfast egg in the morning, continues with the choice of the means of transport for the track to work and does not end in flipping through a catalogue looking for the new fridge, which should be taken into consideration. Consumers have power and they can do that already today - without bigger efforts and without abdication of convenience. That shows the booklet «The Sustainable Shopping Basket» of the German Council for Sustainable Development which is available for download in English here.