Press release

• iq digital publishes sustainability report for the 2024 financial year
• The marketer for quality media once again receives the EcoVadis bronze medal and ranks among the top 18 percent of all companies assessed

 

Düsseldorf, 16 October 2025 – iq digital publishes its first sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, providing transparent information on progress, challenges and future measures. The report covers the three dimensions of environment, social and corporate governance and was prepared in accordance with the EU's voluntary reporting standard for SMEs (VSME, as of 12/2024), which enables small and medium-sized enterprises to report about their sustainability performance with little effort.

 

The company has deliberately chosen to include both the basic module and the comprehensive module of the standard. The relevant topics were determined by a double materiality analysis and supplemented with industry-specific data points. The aim is to provide as complete and transparent a picture as possible of sustainability activities – beyond the current requirements.

 

‘With this sustainability report, we are revealing what drives us, what measures we have already taken, where we stand today – and what path we want to take in the future to further improve our environmental and social impact,’ says Steffen Bax, CEO of iq digital. "Our goal is to put the creative power of digital communication at the service of sustainable development. While we are seeing setbacks in environmental transparency and many companies scaling back their efforts rather than stepping them up, we believe that the future is an obligation. We are consciously setting a positive course – not out of a sense of duty, but out of conviction."

 

The company is thus sending a strong signal for transparency, responsibility and future-oriented action.

 

Among other things, the report highlights:

• Climate protection measures and progress in reducing the carbon footprint,

• the implementation of initiatives for social responsibility, diversity and inclusion,

• sustainable partnerships and transparent supply chains,

• as well as a commitment to trustworthy marketing in high-quality digital environments.

 

The publication of the report underscores iq digital's long-term commitment to not only practising sustainability internally, but also making it visible externally – as a driving force for the industry and a reliable partner for customers and stakeholders.

 

The full report is now available for download on the company website.

 

The publication of the report shows that efforts in the area of sustainability are paying off: iq digital has once again been awarded the EcoVadis bronze medal for its comprehensive commitment to sustainability. This places the company among the top 18 percent of all companies assessed worldwide – a total of over 150,000 from a wide range of industries.

 

Maik Rogge, Deputy Managing Director of iq digital, comments: ‘For us, sustainability means taking responsibility for today and tomorrow, and is therefore a central focus of our corporate strategy. Guided by our values of responsibility and quality, we are shaping our contribution to a sustainable society. With its high-quality journalistic media, our portfolio stands for attitude and orientation – and thus for the social responsibility we bear towards our customers and future generations.’

 

EcoVadis is one of the internationally recognised providers of sustainability assessments. Assessments are based on four key ESG criteria: environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. In September 2025, the marketer had its comprehensive sustainability management system – including clear responsibilities, defined processes, guidelines, key performance indicators and targets – audited by EcoVadis. The analysis was carried out in accordance with international standards and was supported by AI-assisted teams of experts.

 

About iq digital:

iq digital media marketing gmbh is the exclusive marketer for leading media brands in Germany. Its portfolio includes top-tier media in the areas of general news, business & finance, trade media, and millennial-focused content. Websites such as DER SPIEGEL, FAZ.NET, Handelsblatt Online, Süddeutsche Zeitung, WirtschaftsWoche Online, manager magazin, Harvard Business manager, and Der Tagesspiegel provide decision-makers with daily updates on all relevant topics. Headquartered in Düsseldorf, iq digital is a joint venture of FAZ Verlag, Handelsblatt Media Group, Süddeutsche Zeitung Verlag, and ZEIT Verlag. It stands for high reach in the news and business/finance sectors as well as for special-interest offerings targeting niche audiences. With a total digital reach of 32.9 million* unique users, iq digital is one of the leading marketers of digital quality media and media brands. 

*Source: agma DNA, net reach / February 2025 

 

Press contact: 
Simone Lopez Sanchez 
simone.lopezsanchez@iqdigital.de 
iq digital media marketing gmbh
Toulouser Allee 27 
40211 Düsseldorf