CONTENT

FOREWORD

ABOUT

GOETZPARTNERS

SUSTAINABILITY AT GOETZPARTNERS

PEOPLE

PROJECTS

PLANET

PHILANTHROPY

APPENDIX

03

GOETZPARTNERS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021

[ GRI 102-14 ] Dear Reader ,

We founded goetzpartners with a simple goal in mind : to create an advisory firm that takes a new approach to engaging with clients and the wider world . Helping others do business better enabled us to transform our responsibility to drive changes benefiting current and future generations into a reality . This principle continues to shape our corporate culture today .

As we write this report , our world faces tremendous macroeconomic and social challenges . 2021 brought tough times for the world – and goetzpartners was no exception . During the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic , we had to continue limiting in-person interaction with our clients and in our offices . We also had to keep our spirits up , even when we couldn ’ t meet face to face . The pandemic also had ramifications for staffing and supply chains and we continue to feel this today . The M & A market remains a hotbed of activity . The impacts of climate change also left their mark last year in the form of extreme weather events like flooding and heat waves . And with the war in Ukraine , the rising cost of living , and energy shortages never far from the headlines , 2022 looks set to be another difficult year .

In light of these challenges , goetzpartners is more committed than ever to our employees and to society . That ’ s no real surprise because sustainability has been a core element of our identity since goetzpartners was created thirty years ago . Long before regulations defined a framework , goetzpartners made the long-term future of our clients , colleagues , the climate , and local communities a priority . Our formal Corporate Social Responsibility program was launched in 2014 with volunteering projects in Germany , followed by pro-bono projects and financial support from the goetzpartners Foundation . Ever since then , we ’ ve continuously been refining our program to reflect new requirements from internal and external stakeholders organized around four pillars : People , Projects , Planet and Philanthropy .

Another recent milestone in our sustainability journey was our decision to join the UN Global Compact in 2021 , the world ’ s largest corporate sustainability initiative . This report includes information about how we are putting the Global Compact ’ s ten principles into action . We ’ re further highlighting our commitment by reporting in accordance with GRI principles for the first time .

Since our first CSR report in 2019 , we have offset our emissions through environmental projects with WWF . In 2021 , we collaborated with ClimatePartner and now officially bear the label of a carbon-neutral company as goetzpartners Holding AG . But we ’ re not stopping there : we aim to cut our CO2 emissions per full-time employee by 50 % by 2030 compared to the base year 2014 . goetzpartners remains focused on advancing diversity and helping our clients embrace sustainability in their day-to-day activities as well . In order to achieve our aim of building a bridge between the for-profit and the non-profit world , we ’ re also working with Wider Sense , a consulting firm focusing on social impact , philanthropy , and the non-profit sector .

Our commercial success and our contributions to society are rooted in the tireless efforts of our employees worldwide . On behalf of them all , we invite you to read about the ways we are helping create a better planet for our clients , employees , and society .