Interview with Jürgen Höfling, CEO DHL Global Mail

World Mail Review May 2008 Do you regard corporate social responsibility as an important issue for your organization?

Yes, I do. DHL Global Mail is committed to accepting social responsibilities in its business activities worldwide. This commitment is totally in line with the corporate values of our Group.

What do you mean by DHL Global Mail “accepting social responsibility”?

This means that we are committed to using our core strengths in such a way that local communities and societies benefit from our activities. We respect the traditions, structures and values of the countries where we operate. And the protection of our environment is another key part of our corporate strategy. DHL Global Mail takes a clear position in all these areas, which in turn helps to promote our employees’ social commitment as well.

This certainly sounds good. But don’t you have different priorities when it comes to business?

Of course, we want to be an organization that achieves success by delivering excellent quality to our customers. But this goal does not conflict with our commitment to acting responsibly as a global player. On the contrary. Companies with international operations are increasingly measured by factors beyond their financial performance. Governments, the media, business partners and the general public want reassurance regarding a company’s ethical principles. A growing number of customers from the private and public sectors will only do business with companies committed to ethical standards.

Can you provide some examples of initiatives that reflect this commitment?

For example, we aim to reduce the environmental impact of our business activities as much as possible. DHL Global Mail takes part in Deutsche Post World Net’s “GoGreen” initiative, which offers an increasing range of environmentally friendly, low-emission products and services. Under GoGreen, an increasing number of delivery services use alternative drive systems in vehicles and low-emission fuels, or offset the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from transport. Emissions are compensated for by internal and external climate protection projects.

How can DHL Global Mail employees assume social responsibility in their everyday work?

Our employees are very familiar with our corporate values and social actions thanks to workshops, information sessions, and other communication channels such as the Intranet. Regular worldwide employee opinion surveys show that the vast majority of DHL Global Mail staff values social initiatives and draws additional motivation from being part of a socially responsible organization.

Do you think the concern for social issues among staff will have a positive impact on the way employees relate to one another?

Yes, this is very important indeed. For a global company like ours, with approximately 4,000 employees creating a broad cultural spectrum throughout our network, it is crucial that we pursue joint goals and share internationally accepted principles. This is key to shaping a company-wide culture that will help to solve problems in our day-to-day business more easily, create an open working atmosphere and ultimately have a positive impact on our results.