26 March 2020
Springer Nature Group has published its annual Responsible Business report on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. The report highlights how the publisher supports research, education and professional communities, and outlines ways it is supporting delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), managing its environmental impact, and the actions being taken to support diversity and inclusion.
Springer Nature has taken action to reduce its net carbon emissions by around 30% in 2019 (taking carbon offsets into account) by increasing its use of green electricity and reducing air travel, and has a goal of being carbon neutral by the end of 2020. The company is also on track to meet its 2023 targets for greater diversity in leadership, with women now making up around 41% of its most senior leaders - up from 39% in 2018.
The 2019 Responsible Business report addresses the most significant material issues for Springer Nature, including:
advancing sustainable solutions and delivering real progress against the world’s greatest challenges by publishing content, hosting events and participating in high-level discussions to advance knowledge related to many of the SDGs
opening up research and enabling researchers worldwide to easily and immediately read, use and build on it
supporting diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the research community and within its global workforce
addressing environmental impacts, reducing both its operational carbon footprint and the amount of plastic used in packaging and delivery of product
The full 2019 report can be downloaded on the Springer Nature website.