Reporting standards
Annual financial statements
The annual financial statements of DB AG, as prepared by the Management Board, and the consolidated financial statements and Group management report of DB AG, which is consolidated with the company’s management report, for the period ending on December 31, 2023, were audited and awarded an unqualified audit opinion by PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (PwC), the auditor appointed by resolution of the Annual General Meeting.
Sustainability reporting
The 2022 Integrated Report refers to the reporting/calendar year 2022. For the purpose of comparison, most of the key figures are also presented for financial years 2021 and 2020.The Integrated Report is published on an annual basis. The 2022 Integrated Report will be published on March 30, 2023 (2021 Integrated Report: March 31, 2022). The Integrated Report addresses the key stakeholder groups of DB Group. The reporting covers all material economic, social and environmental aspects. All fully consolidated DB Group companies are included in the reporting. Deviations from this reporting scope are noted as such.
The data collection methods and bases of calculation used for the data in the Integrated Report are based on the relevant standards:
- GRI standards: The Integrated Report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. In the GRI Index, we refer to the contents of general and specific disclosures.
- CSR-RUG: We also implement the requirements of the CSR Directive Implementation Act (CSR-RUG) on a voluntary basis. Information on the key areas of action can be found in the non-financial statement.
- UN Global Compact: In addition, the Integrated Report provides information on the implementation of the ten principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC).
- TCFD: Moreover, DB Group follows the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) on the reporting of climate-related information. The TCFD index lists references to the relevant passages in the report.
- Audit: Material sustainability-related content, indicators and text passages that do not fall within the scope of the statutory audit of the management report with reasonable assurance are marked by the section heading “Further disclosures” and a gray background, and are audited with limited assurance by a third party appointed separately by the Management Board, PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (PwC).
Selection of sustainability topics
Our Strong Rail strategy also forms the overarching framework for our reporting. We are also reliant on the support and acceptance of our stakeholders in order to successfully implement our strategy. In 2019, as part of a comprehensive materiality analysis (2019 Integrated Report), we therefore asked them for an assessment of 16 important areas of action for sustainability in DB Group. These areas of action reflect the focus points of our strategy and supplement it with other topics that our stakeholders consider relevant. In 2023, the updated material topic set from the previous year underwent a validation process.
Our sustainability topics are made up of:
- Key topics according to the GRI: Supplemented by the additional topic of attractive employer and job security since the previous year.
- Topics from the transparency aspiration: Arise from our comprehensive transparency aspiration towards our stakeholders.
- Additional topics: Supplemented on the basis of an internal assessment of their significance.
Non-financial Statement
DB Group has opted for the voluntary submission of a non-financial statement (NFS). As part of our integrated report approach, we provide comprehensive information on all material sustainability topics.
The update of the materiality analysis in 2023 resulted in a change in the key areas of action within the scope of the CSR Directive Implementation Act (CSR-RUG). The topic of attractive employer and securing skilled labor was newly classified as material. The contents of the NFS can be found in the relevant chapters of the Group Management Report and were prepared using the GRI standards and taking into account the UNGC reporting requirements. In addition, we provide additional voluntary disclosures on further matters.
Components of the NFS | DB topics |
Business model | |
Social matters | |
Employee matters | Work of the future, employment conditions, Group security, Transformation |
Other concerns (customer benefit and product quality) | |
Voluntary additional information | |
Environmental matters | Climate protection, Nature conservation, Air quality control, Water consumption |
Respect for human rights | |
Combating corruption and bribery | |
Other matters (economic performance capability) |