About this report

ESRS 2 BP-1; ESRS 2 BP-2

STRABAG SE’s consolidated sustainability report for the 2024 financial year was prepared in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The scope of consolidation for the consolidated sustainability reporting corresponds to the IFRS scope of consolidation for the consolidated financial statements and includes, in addition to STRABAG SE, all major domestic and foreign subsidiaries directly or indirectly controlled by STRABAG SE. The sustainability statement includes the sections “Sustainability report”, “Environment”, “Social”, “Governance” and “Appendix B” and concludes with an audit certificate.

The transition from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) has resulted in significant changes to the sustainability reporting in this Annual Report. The changes compared to the previous year can be summarised as follows:

  • New reporting structure in accordance with ESRS 1 Appendix F
  • Performance of a double materiality assessment in accordance with ESRS 1
  • Disclosure of additional quantitative and qualitative information through the application of new topical standards and consideration of the upstream and downstream supply chains. The disclosures generally relate to the scope of consolidation; exceptions are accompanied by a note.

When performing the materiality assessment, the time horizons specified by ESRS (short-term – within a financial year; medium-term – within five years; long-term – more than five years) were taken into account. For the analysis of physical and transition climate risks, short-term (until 2030), medium-term (until 2040) and long-term (until 2085) time horizons were considered in order to align these risks with the Group’s emission reduction targets, among other things.

Developing a structured approach to data collection is a challenging task for a Group of our size and level of diversification. In some cases, estimates were made in the chapters “Climate change” and “Circular economy” to report metrics for which the required data quality is not currently available. We also use estimates when making forecasts, for example regarding our reduction pathway. Further information on the data sources used and the calculation methodology can be found in the notes to the corresponding indicators. STRABAG has been using new conversion factors to calculate greenhouse gas emissions since 2024. To ensure comparability with the previous year and the base year, the Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for the 2023 financial year have also been recalculated (old: 962,944 t CO2e, new: 927,472 t CO2e).

For the present report, the transitional provision related to ESRS Section 7.1 “Presenting comparative information” was applied. This means that no comparative ESRS metrics from the previous year are reported in this sustainability report. Information on the previous year’s key performance indicators can be found in the annual reports from previous financial years and in the ESG Data Factsheet. The key performance indicators in this report were subjected to a voluntary limited assurance engagement by PwC Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft GmbH, Vienna, and have not been certified by any other external third party.

STRABAG SE is also making use of the transitional provisions set out in Appendix C of ESRS 1 and will not disclose any anticipated financial effects according to ESRS E1, ESRS E4 and ESRS E5 nor will it make any disclosures for ESRS S1-11, ESRS S1-12, and ESRS S1-15.

No information was omitted from the report to protect intellectual property or for similar reasons.

ESRS 2 GOV-5

STRABAG employs various control mechanisms to ensure that the report is prepared in accordance with the rules. However, these mechanisms are not embedded in a dedicated risk management process for sustainability reporting.

The subject of sustainability, with its environmental, social and governance facets, is the responsibility of the CEO. The responsibility for reporting, including the materiality assessment and the resulting impacts, risks and opportunities, lies with the STRABAG SE Management Board. The Management Board is informed annually of significant changes in sustainability reporting and is responsible for approving the Annual Report. It presents the Group management report, including the consolidated sustainability report, to the Supervisory Board.

Implementation of the reporting requirements is coordinated and supported by the SID function “Sustainability – Governance, Reporting & Data”. For the material topics identified in the materiality assessment, the STRABAG SE Management Board nominates specialist managers to coordinate the respective reporting topic across the Group, draft text building blocks and develop key performance indicators in line with the ESRS requirements. The nominated specialist managers, supported by the SID function “Sustainability – Governance, Reporting & Data”, are available to the auditor to help review the information contained within in the report and the results of the double materiality assessment.

The close collaboration between the SID function “Sustainability – Governance, Reporting & Data” on the one hand and the specialist managers and controlling on the other ensures that the qualitative and quantitative information is recorded and validated in accordance with the rules. Preventive controls such as the four-eyes principle, but also the assessment of metrics throughout the year, ensure that the collected data is reviewed for plausibility and that the corresponding processes are further developed as needed. STRABAG pursues a range of measures to improve data quality in the long term, including an increasing standardisation and automation of our data collection as well as employee training. These measures are designed to avoid risks such as methodological inconsistencies and transcription errors in the long term.

ESG-related risk management processes are described and regulated by overarching corporate policies such as the STRABAG SE Management Manual and its associated policies, as well as in other Group Directives, management systems and the Code of Conduct. Work is ongoing to further integrate and expand our ESG-related risk management.