Sustainability in the media company: Funke media group on a green course until 2050

Sustainability in the media company: Funke media group on a green course until 2050

A lot is happening in the Cologne media landscape, especially when it comes to the important topic of sustainability. The Funke Media Group, one of the largest media companies in Germany with over 5,000 employees and headquartered in Essen, has set itself ambitious goals. The focus is on decarbonization and establishing sustainable business models, as wan-ifra.org reports. This initiative is particularly relevant at a time when subscriber numbers appear to be declining and pressure to implement climate protection agreements is increasing.

Funke is not only pursuing the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, but is also committed to ensuring CO2 neutrality for its entire company by 2035. The aim is to create a CO2-neutral value chain for all products. Social responsibility is very important, and diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of the initiatives. Ullah from the Funke Group emphasizes that sustainability should be viewed as an investment in the future and that it is essential to uphold legal requirements and journalistic independence.

Acting sustainably in the media industry

The challenges facing the media industry are diverse. Over 280 media leaders from more than 50 organizations recently gathered at the Indian Printers Summit to discuss the need to reduce emissions. The corona pandemic has also accelerated the change to sustainable practices, for example by minimizing business trips and encouraging home offices. Sustainability is becoming a crucial factor for consumers and employees alike, according to the findings from the report by xplr-media.com.

The Funke Media Group has launched “Funke for Future,” a product that generates income from sustainability initiatives, and the “Funke for Future Academy” offers training on carbon accounting. It becomes clear here that sustainable corporate practices can go hand in hand with the creation of new business areas.

Future challenges and opportunities

Across the media industry, sustainable methods are no longer just an option, but are becoming a necessity. Implementing green energy in paper production, printing and transportation could significantly reduce companies' carbon footprint. An approach that does not go unnoticed, as confirmed by lokalkompass.de.

The communities are not alone; The media bears a decisive responsibility for the perception of the trend towards sustainability in society. Alexander Rossner from Zukunftswerk emphasizes that the reach of media professionals can be used as an important tool for environmental and climate protection. It remains to be hoped that these initiatives will find even more imitators and raise the media landscape to a new, sustainable level.