How TÜV SÜD is Decarbonising With Sustainable Digitalisation

Sustainability has been at the heart of TÜV SÜD’s mission since its founding in 1866, with a long-standing commitment to improving safety, protecting the environment and managing technological risks. 

Today, the company continues to integrate sustainability into its global operations, helping businesses embrace innovation while reducing their environmental impact. 

Through ambitious climate targets, renewable energy investments and technical expertise, TÜV SÜD is playing an important role in supporting the transition to a low-carbon future.

A century of innovation and sustainability

For nearly 160 years, TÜV SÜD has combined technical expertise with a commitment to sustainability, safety and innovation. 

Operating from more than 1,000 locations with more than 30,000 employees worldwide, the company supports organisations in managing technology-related risks while promoting responsible growth. 

Its approach extends beyond regulatory compliance by helping customers build trust in both the physical and digital worlds. 

Sustainability and digitalisation remain central to the company's long-term vision, guiding the development of its services and business practices. 

Leading the company's sustainability strategy is Chief Sustainability Officer Dr. Céline Bilolo, who has held the global role since January 2024. 

She oversees and coordinates TÜV SÜD's worldwide sustainability services, commitments and initiatives, ensuring environmental responsibility is embedded across the organisation. 

Driven by the belief that sustainability is an urgent priority rather than an optional business objective, she champions practical action to accelerate progress towards global climate goals. 

“I identify strongly with the label 'impatient optimist' coined by Bill Gates,” writes Céline on LinkedIn.

“I believe in progress and am optimistic that we can protect the future, but we cannot wait until it is too late. The most important step is getting started. 

“We are currently falling short of our global sustainability goals and need to act.”

With personal and professional connections to both Germany and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Céline brings an international perspective that helps the company understand diverse environmental challenges while developing solutions that benefit communities worldwide. 

Her leadership reflects TÜV SÜD's focus on combining technological innovation with measurable sustainability outcomes that support a safer and more resilient future.

Renewable energy for electricity consumption

TÜV SÜD has made significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of its own operations, particularly across its UK business. 

The company now sources 100% renewable electricity for its UK electricity consumption and has invested in large-scale solar photovoltaic installations at its Fareham and East Kilbride facilities, helping to reduce reliance on imported energy and lower GHG emissions. 

“By using our own Sustainability Services team to report our annual UK carbon footprint, we have leveraged their carbon accounting and auditing experience to identify areas for improvement within our organisation,” says Leon Youngs, Head of Sustainability Services at TÜV SÜD.

“We are proud to be a company making a positive contribution towards the global climate crisis, whether it be through our day-to-day business activities or the services we offer our customers.“

It has also expanded its ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems certification across the entire UK operation, reinforcing its commitment to continuous environmental improvement. 

The company joined the Science Based Targets initiative in 2022, with its near-term, long-term and net zero targets officially validated in January 2025, aligning its climate strategy with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal. 

TÜV SÜD plans to strengthen sustainable procurement, improve emissions data collection, encourage lower-carbon travel, implement energy management systems and achieve further reductions across its value chain as it works towards net zero emissions by 2050.

Decarbonising with technical solutions

Alongside reducing its own emissions, TÜV SÜD is supporting wider decarbonisation efforts through innovation and technical leadership. 

Its National Engineering Laboratory has developed the world's first SI-traceable primary standard flow measurement facility for dense phase CO₂, providing highly accurate measurement capabilities for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects. 

This pioneering facility enables precise calibration and testing of CO₂ measurement systems, helping ensure confidence in emissions reporting, regulatory compliance and commercial transactions across the growing CCUS industry.

“We are proud to launch this facility which will play a crucial role in supporting the global transition to net zero,” says Gabriele Chinello, Lead Principal Consultant and TÜV SÜD’s former Head of CCUS.

“By providing the highest standards of measurement accuracy for CO₂, we are enabling industry and governments to meet their climate goals with confidence and transparency.”

TÜV SÜD's broader sustainability achievements also include earning EcoVadis Gold status in 2024, placing the company among the top five percent of organisations assessed for sustainability performance.