First sustainability report for PCG

The challenge at PCG

The Public Cloud Group (PCG) was founded in July 2021 as the result of a merger of several companies. From the very beginning, it was clear to everyone involved: this cloud service provider intended to firmly anchor sustainability within the company. PCG’s goal is not only to create value for its customers through its public cloud solutions, but also to take on social and environmental responsibility – generating meaningful impact for employees, the environment, and society. To ensure sustainability is managed at the highest level, the position of Head of Sustainability was established directly within the Management Board.

However, PCG had little prior experience in the area of sustainability. No employee had ever created a sustainability report. There was no defined sustainability strategy, and no structures or processes in place to efficiently collect ESG-related data. At the same time, the company wanted its first report to meet a high-quality standard. To achieve this, PCG brought in VERSO – with its professional sustainability software and proven expertise.

The solution

PCG outsourced nearly the entire reporting process to VERSO. All relevant data was collected using the VERSO software. Our sustainability experts guided the process end to end, created a carbon footprint covering Scopes 1 and 2 in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, and wrote the content for the report. But VERSO provided more than just software and consulting – through the VERSO Academy, it also served as a sustainability knowledge enabler, helping PCG build targeted ESG expertise internally.

The focus of PCG’s first report was to assess the company’s current state of sustainability. As a reporting framework, the Public Cloud Group selected the German Sustainability Code (DNK), which is well suited for medium-sized enterprises and offers clear minimum requirements and structure. The report was created in close collaboration: PCG collected the key data from various departments, and VERSO’s sustainability experts reviewed the information for completeness and plausibility, offering guidance on how to close data gaps. In cases where no data was yet available, new processes and a timeline for implementation were defined. The final sustainability report was published as both a standalone website and a PDF – in full alignment with PCG’s corporate design.

Beyond the first report, VERSO continues to support PCG in its ongoing sustainability journey. A materiality assessment is currently underway to define relevant topics, targets, actions, and KPIs. The goal is to develop a sustainability strategy that enables a systematic approach within the organization. In parallel, structures and processes are being implemented or optimized to further strengthen the company’s ESG data foundation.

The result

Through its collaboration with VERSO, PCG created a high-quality sustainability report that will serve as the foundation for its ongoing efforts in the field of sustainability. VERSO’s software and expert support enabled a highly effective and efficient process. PCG was able to complete the report faster, more easily, and with significantly less internal effort. Thanks to the VERSO Academy, additional knowledge was built up along the way. As a result, PCG’s Head of Sustainability spent just 40 hours on the report – freeing up valuable time to focus on implementation or new priorities such as collecting Scope 3 data for the carbon footprint.

The VERSO software is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing PCG to get started right away. Built-in guidance supports data collection and, together with our sustainability experts, ensures that incorrect or incomplete data is avoided. The acquired know-how, along with the newly established processes and structures, will significantly accelerate and simplify future reporting and the company’s broader sustainability management.

Building on the first report, PCG will take the next steps together with VERSO: identifying material topics, setting clear goals and actions, and embedding them into a comprehensive sustainability strategy.

The report is not only used for external communication – it was also shared with all employees. It received particular praise for the clear positioning of sustainability within the company, as well as the honesty and transparency of the reporting. The report has helped strengthen employee engagement and loyalty across the organization.

Advantages in brief

• Reporting and carbon footprint preparation fully outsourced
• High effectiveness and efficiency
• Only 40 hours of internal workload
• More capacity for implementing sustainability measures
• Streamlined data collection in the VERSO software
• Review of data for completeness and plausibility
• Boost in employee motivation
• Knowledge building through the 12-week VERSO Academy program