Annexes
List of Contributions to SDGs
Based on the link between Škoda Auto sustainability activities and specific SDG sub-targets
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non- communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
■ Škoda Auto supports health and well-being (via projects focused on ergonomics, mental health and health day).
■ Rapid material assistance and logistical support to Ukraine was provided and through the activities of the People in Need foundation direct financial support was sent to the Tjachiv Hospital.
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
The Company continuously monitors the use of hazardous chemicals and implements new safer technologies.
■ The rising share of electric cars with no local emissions contribute not only to the reduction of the CO2 emissions but also contribute significantly to the air quality improvement.
GOAL 4: Quality Education
4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
■ One of the program pillars of the Škoda Auto Endowment
fund is aimed at the development of the quality of primary and pre-schools.
4.2 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
■ One of the program pillars of the Škoda Auto Endowment fund is aimed at the development of the quality of primary and pre-schools,
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
■ Škoda Auto supports the IT education of women and children. In cooperation with Czechitas, it organises short – and long-term courses for women and children who want to strengthen their IT skills.
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
■ Škoda Auto University offers a tailored practice-oriented education in business administration. The university provides a number of Bachelor’s and Master’s study programmes and develops high-quality applied research.
■ Škoda Academy offers a wide range of on-the-job and off-the job measures for all employees to support up and re-skilling.
■ Externally, the Company intensively supports technical education and has long been cooperating with 40 secondary schools and 17 universities.
■ In 2021 and 2022 the Company, in cooperation with Škoda Auto University and the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, organised the annual EDU Week of lectures and seminars for educators of all types of schools and educational institutions.
■ In the reporting period, as part of the project “Science Has a Future”, 60 methodological materials were created for teachers to teach physics.
■ The Škoda Auto EDU.LAB project was established in 2021 to promote technical education among primary and secondary school students.
4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.
■ Škoda Auto supports the IT education of women and children. In cooperation with Czechitas, it organises short – and long-term courses for women and children who want to strengthen their IT skills.
■ The Company focused on supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees via educational activities in cooperation with Škoda Auto University and Škoda Academy (summer camps for children and youths aged 6-15 with various activities, excursions and games, support for communication in the Czech language and Czech language courses for Ukrainian students, adults, and healthcare professionals).
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
■ Škoda Academy offers a wide range of on-the-job and off-the job measures for all employees to support up- and re-skilling for example:
· Digital competences and tech skills
· Technical education and e-mobility
· Leadership, cultural and mindset topics, mental and physical health
4.8 Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
■ In May 2022, the 2030 Diversity Strategy was created and communicated. The new strategy defines the direction of diversity, equity, and inclusion until 2030.
■ More than 20,000 employees were involved in European Diversity Month. Thanks to wide communication on all communication platforms and more than 15 events, the Company was able to address several dimensions of diversity, such as gender balance, family friendly policy, LGBT+, internationalisation and others.
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
■ Strategic goal: By 2030 one in every four positions in Škoda Auto management should be filled by a woman.
5.8 Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
■ In cooperation with Czechitas, Škoda Auto organises short- and long-term courses for women and children who want to strengthen their IT skills.
5.9 Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
■ Strategic goal: By 2030 one in every four positions in Škoda Auto management should be filled by a woman.
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
■ Water reuse is used in all the Company’s paint shops. These include the use of cascade backwash technology and water recycling using membrane technology.
■ Large retention tanks that hold water and subsequently release this rainwater in a regulated manner help to manage water efficiently.
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
■ Škoda Auto wants to make it easier for its customers to charge their electric cars anywhere in Europe. Therefore, since 2021, the Company has been offering the Powerpass service.
7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
■ Converting energy sources from fossil to renewable is a priority for Škoda Auto regarding energy consumption. The Company plans to shift to renewable energy sources, such
as biogas, within five years in Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny.
7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
■ Škoda Auto achieved a further improvement of energy efficiency regarding production. Škoda’s goal is to improve energy efficiency by 1% every year (2018-2030), the overall improvement from the base year will be 16%.
7.4 By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
■ Škoda Auto’s measures to produce low- and zero-emission cars have a positive impact not only on mitigating climate change but also on the quality of the air we breathe.
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
■ Škoda Auto is actively involved in programs in the field of research, technical development and innovation, education or environmental protection focused on e.g. electromobility, urban mobility, Industry 4.0, 3D printing, environmental protection, or increasing the qualification and skills of students and employees.
■ Škoda Auto encourages innovative thinking among employees by an incentive programme called ZEBRA.
8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.
■ As stated in its GoTOzero environmental mission, by using recycled materials and renewable resources, the Company reduces the need for primary raw materials. The Company improves its energy and resource efficiency and establishes cycles for materials and water. Together with business partners, Škoda reduces the use of natural resources along the supply chain.
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
■ The Company has implemented an Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) management system that goes beyond legislative requirements.
■ In 2022, after 3 years, the Company obtained a new certificate according to ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, which it subsequently retained. The system includes internal employees, agency workers and employees of external entities.
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
■ The company contributes to the country’s gross domestic product and total exports. It employs thousands of people. Through its responsible policies, it is influencing the transformation of Czech industry and economy into more sustainable and resilient one.
■ Škoda Auto invests in sustainable solutions such as non-fossil energy sources, electric vehicles production and development of infrastructure for EVs.
9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
■ The company strives for sustainable industry approach based on environmentally friendly production, responsibility towards employees and communities and an innovative approach in the development of its product and service portfolio.
■ Škoda Auto promotes technical education. The Company has also proven high level advocacy in the field of Transformation and future of the automotive industry.
9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
■ Škoda uses Decarbonisation Index (DCI) to measure its product carbon footprint. By 2030 the Company aims to reduce the DCI of Škoda products by 40% compared to 2018.
■ Škoda systematically implemented more sustainability elements into its products as natural, recycled and recyclable materials in its cars. This is the case for instance in seat covers made from new wool and recycled PET bottles in the all-electric Enyaq SUV.
■ The Company implemented environmentally sound technologies in its paint shops.
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
■ Škoda Auto´s social sustainability strategy defines five priorities as Education, Mobility, Volunteering, Well-being, and Diversity.
■ More than 20,000 employees were involved in European Diversity Month.
■ Škoda Auto supports diversity primarily internally, but it is also an ambassador of diversity outside the Company. The strongest example of external ambassadorship is the official partnership with Prague Pride in 2022.
10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.
■ The Company provides its employees with time off in the event of personal obstacles to work in addition to the applicable legal regulations Parents who have been employed by the Company for at least 3 months are eligible to receive a payment of CZK 10,000 per child born to cover social expenses.
10.7 Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
■ Integration of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic – A total of 25 projects were supported with a total amount of more than CZK 5.4 million, which supported over 1,250 children and adult refugees in all Škoda Auto regions.
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
■ Support for the sustainable development of the Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny, and Vrchlabí regions is a long-term priority at Škoda Auto. The Company invested tens of millions of CZK in priority areas in the reporting period.
■ Dozens of projects developing civil society, culture and local heritage, leisure activities for children or social care are supported via grant schemes with the objective to support public involvement in regional development efforts and target identified bottlenecks.
■ Bike sharing support: Support for bike sharing in regions and the development of new cycling paths.
■ Region without barriers: Grant to support disadvantaged individuals, with the aim of reducing social exclusion, supporting caregivers, and providing palliative care providers.
11.4 Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
■ Dozens of projects developing civil society, culture and local heritage, leisure activities for children or social care are supported via grant schemes with the objective to support public involvement in regional development efforts and target identified bottlenecks.
11.5 By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
■ In 2021, Škoda Auto held a collection to help South Moravia and the area of Lounsko, the area hit by the tornado. The aim of this collection was to provide financial resources to those in need from the region.
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
12.1 Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.
■ Škoda Auto has a proven record of advocacy in these regulatory topics:
■ Decarbonisation
■ Electromobility and charging infrastructure
■ Energy supply and renewable energies
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
■ The environmental approach of Škoda Auto is declared by its Environmental Policy and based on efficient management of natural resources and energy, as well as the use of environmentally friendly and energy-saving technologies, and recycled materials.
■ The Company prioritises the use of local raw materials with a lower carbon footprint compared to the primary material.
■ In the area of circular economy and resource savings, the new car models are developed with an increased share of sustainable, especially recycled materials.
12.4 By 2030, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
■ Škoda Auto approach waste management responsibly and throughout the entire cycle.
■ The network of take-back points for tyres and lead-acid batteries was significantly expanded in 2021.
■ No production waste from the plants in the Czech Republic is sent to landfills since 2020.
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
■ Škoda Auto endeavours to prevent waste generation and to use raw material resources sparingly. If waste is already generated within a production process, the waste management hierarchy is consistently applied. i.e., material and energy use is preferred over landfilling.
■ As part of its environmental commitment, the company succeeded in sending Zero waste to landfill in 2021 and 2022.
12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
■ Company reports regularly on its sustainability matters. It publishes its sustainability report which meets international sustainability reporting standards.
12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.
■ Škoda Auto set up a process of integration of environmental and social standards criteria in its selection process. This concept is called S-Rating and implemented since 2019.
12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
■ The company educate and involve its employees into sustainability topics on a regular basis. Many activities are published on a website skoda-storyboard.com.
GOAL 13: Climate Action
■ The Company continued with its decarbonisation journey in production towards 2030 and is part of the Group´s commitment on climate neutrality by 2050.
13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
■ Škoda Auto puts emphasis on education on sustainability and efficient energy management within an authorised sales and service network. The portfolio of activities includes web-based training, webinars, consulting services, and voluntary certification.
GOAL 15: Life on Land
15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
■ Potential negative impact of Škoda Auto’s major projects on soil are part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, so far, no negative impact has been identified.
■ The company has been taking care of a legacy contaminated soil on its premises of the Mladá Boleslav plant and the Kosmonosy service centre. The company has been monitoring the state of respective soil and remediating any issues regularly. The contamination is being gradually eliminated.
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
■ Škoda Auto is striving to reduce all forms of violence by mandatory Code of Conduct Training for all employees.
16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
■ The Company does not approve any kind of children work
16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
■ Škoda Auto strives to act responsibly and transparently not only internally but also externally. Škoda Auto has developed further the relations with business partners by integrating the environmental and social standards to a Code of Conduct for Business Partners.
■ Furthermore, The Whistleblower System is used, and the Company supports it to get feedback from stakeholders and to manage possible risks.
16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
■ Škoda’s corporate governance ensures that the business runs in a responsible, qualified, and transparent way.
16.b Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.
■ Škoda Auto has a proven record in advocacy in Transparency of Public Affairs
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
17.16 Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.
■ Škoda Auto is a member of industrial, economic associations, and where it shares its knowledge and promotes the sustainable development.
■ Currently the Company is targeting its efforts jointly with the Government of the Czech Republic towards supporting the transformation process aimed to the converting of the Czech Republic to the eHUB of the Central and Eastern Europe.
■ Škoda Auto has developed further the relations with business partners by integrating the environmental and social standards to a Code of Conduct for Business Partners.
■ The Škoda Auto Endowment Fund has been a member of the Donors’ Forum since 2021.
17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
■ Škoda Auto is a member of advisory bodies of state administration . The Company is also represented in academic institutions and universities.
■ In November 2021, Škoda Auto extended its current governance model by creating the External Sustainability Council.