The Fraport AG is the owner and operator of Frankfurt‘s International Airport. The company is the only German Airport, which is listed in the German Mid-Cap share index (MDAX), where 50 mid-sized companies are traded. Due to the listing on the stock exchange, the company is committed to fulfill international transparency requirements like the application of international accounting standards and quarterly reporting. Additionally to the Annual Reports and the official publications, Fraport publishs “Fairplay", a so-called “Sustainability Report” to communicate their activities dealing with Corporate Social Responsibility.
This document is published in german and english language, can be ordered as a printed document as well as downloaded from the company‘s homepage. The aim of this Fairplay-report is to provide information about the strategies they are working with and the “concrete steps they are taking to develop the company based on a sense of economic, ecological and social responsibility.”
To enable a holistic sustainability management, Fraport has set up a Sustainability Board in 2008, which is “positioned at the level of executive management and reports directly to the executive board.” By having the committee at such a high position within the management-hierarchy, the Fraport Group likes to demonstrate the importance of CSR-issues within the company‘s preferences.
How Fraport‘s CSR activities are to be seen is evaluated in this academic case study as an critical CSR Assessment.
Table of Contents
1. Background
2. The Company
3. The Drivers
4. Taking Action
5. Environment Fund
6. The Business Benefits
7. Why is it CSR?
8. CSR Assessment
9. Summary
Objectives and Topics
This case study examines the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy of Fraport AG, specifically focusing on the company's ecological initiatives and their integration into the wider aviation business model. It explores how a major international airport balances operational growth with environmental mitigation and social accountability.
- Strategic ecological sustainability targets for 2020
- Implementation of the Fraport Environment Fund
- Stakeholder engagement and management of environmental impact
- Evaluation of corporate transparency and CSR communication
- Critical analysis of airport-community relations
Excerpt from the Book
Environment Fund
Fraport has established the Environment Fund in the year 1997 to make a permanent contribution to environmental protection. During the last 12 years, more than 500 individual projects in the areas of wildlife conservation and environmental protection as well as projects in the fields of environmental education and ecological research had been financed by the fund at a cost of nearly €24 million.
The money for this fund is provided after a board decision about the amount of donation of the Fraport AG. A particular requirement for receiving money out of the fund emphasizes the CSR-idea: “The funds are used exclusively for nature and environmental projects in the area surrounding the airport and they are not credited against mitigation measures for expansion of the airport.“
Examples of projects that have been sponsored by the Fraport Environment Fund can be found at their CSR-homepage www.aktivfuerdieregion.fraport.de. Such examples are: - reclamation of school playgrounds - creation of the Rhine-Main Regional Park - expansion of a bird sanctuary - protection of wild orchards - campaigns to support bat and butterfly populations - promoting nature conservation projects in the region, e.g. the ecological research project “Taunus Flora“ with €100,000
With supporting the “Riedstädter flood meadow project” by money out of the Environment Fund, the airport likes to help protecting one of the most endangered habitats in Central Europe. The area encompasses around 45 hectares and has an “incalculable value for local recreation and green tourism in the region.”
Summary of Chapters
Background: This chapter outlines the scope of the case study, focusing on the research regarding Fraport AG's sustainability reporting and their structural approach to CSR management.
The Company: Provides an overview of Fraport’s operational scale, economic performance, and the three-pillar strategic framework of sustainability.
The Drivers: Discusses the external pressures, including environmental concerns and regulatory demands, that compel airports to pursue sustainable practices.
Taking Action: Details specific ecological goals and operational measures, such as the Eco Terminal project and various resource-saving initiatives.
Environment Fund: Analyzes the structure and impact of the financial fund dedicated to supporting regional environmental and educational projects.
The Business Benefits: Examines the economic and reputational logic behind CSR investments and their role in improving local community relations.
Why is it CSR?: Explains the classification of the Environment Fund and similar initiatives as legitimate CSR activities intended to compensate for environmental impacts.
CSR Assessment: Reviews external evaluations of Fraport's CSR communication and presents contrasting critical perspectives on their environmental performance.
Summary: Concludes that while airports face inherent environmental challenges, proactive reporting and investment in local projects demonstrate a committed approach to regional sustainable development.
Keywords
Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, Fraport AG, Frankfurt Airport, Aviation Industry, Sustainability, Environment Fund, Ecology, Carbon Neutrality, Stakeholder Management, Environmental Protection, Rhine-Main Regional Park, Sustainability Report, Corporate Governance, Transparency
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper is a case study investigating how Fraport AG, the operator of Frankfurt International Airport, manages and communicates its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study covers environmental management in the aviation sector, the strategic use of sustainability reporting, community engagement, and the role of corporate funds in ecological preservation.
What is the central research objective?
The goal is to analyze how the company identifies environmental impacts, engages stakeholders, and uses specific programs to reconcile its business operations with its social and ecological responsibilities.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The work employs a descriptive case study method based on company reporting, published sustainability data, and external critical analysis of the firm's environmental track record.
What topics are addressed in the main section?
The main section details the specific ecological targets for 2020, the functioning of the Environment Fund, the business benefits of CSR, and an external assessment of the company's communication style.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Aviation, Environment Fund, and Stakeholder Engagement.
How is the Environment Fund governed?
The fund is supported by annual donations decided by the board of Fraport AG, with the strict requirement that projects must be local and not used to offset legal mitigation obligations for airport expansion.
How is the Rhine-Main Regional Park project described in the text?
The text identifies it as the largest environmental project funded by Fraport, aimed at creating a network of green spaces, though it also notes a lack of transparency regarding other shareholders involved in the project.
What is the author's stance on Fraport’s CSR efforts?
The author views the company's approach as proactive and essential for building long-term relationships with the surrounding community, while acknowledging the inherent conflict between airport operations and environmental impact.
- Quote paper
- Diplom-Staatswissenschaftler (Univ.) Sascha Hissler (Author), 2009, Corporate Social Responsibility of Fraport AG, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/149393
