Springer Nature Group has published its fourth annual report on its progress as a Sustainable Business. The report, which covers environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, shares the steps being taken to champion open science, support delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and the work it is doing to reduce its own environmental impact. The company updates on the progress it is making in increasing diversity, equity and inclusion within its own leadership and how it is seeking to influence greater inclusion within the research and education communities it works with. The report also highlights the role of research publishing in the global endeavour to tackle COVID-19.
Since 2017, Springer Nature has taken significant steps to reduce its net carbon emissions and in March 2020 pledged to become carbon neutral. The Sustainable Business Report confirms the company is now net carbon neutral for carbon emissions associated with its offices, fleet and flights (Scopes 1, 2 and partial Scope 3). This has been achieved by significantly increasing the use of green electricity, via suppliers or through renewable energy certificates, for more than 150 offices around the world, and the use of high-quality and socially-responsible carbon offsets from CommuniTree, a Plan Vivo-certified reforestation and carbon balancing project in Nicaragua.
During the year, Springer Nature has built on its commitments to improve diversity, equity and inclusion across its business. On track to meet its 2023 targets for greater diversity in leadership, women now make up 43% of Springer Nature’s most senior leaders - up from 39% in 2018. In 2021, the company is committed to setting targets for race, ethnicity and international representation in leadership.
As a leader in publishing independent and evidence-based research tackling societally important issues, the 2020 Sustainable Business Report shares some of the ways in which it is supporting delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Since the Goals were signed by 197 countries in 2015, Springer Nature has published more than 300,000 relevant articles or book chapters, which collectively have been downloaded more than 750 million times.
The 2020 Sustainable Business Report as well as other relevant documents and reports from previous years is available at www.springernature.com/SustainableBusiness.
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