Taking Responsibility

Springer Nature works closely with a large global community of academic researchers and educators who, through their work, want to disseminate their ideas, solve problems and leave the world better than they found it.

Our people share a passion for making a positive difference to the world by helping this community find solutions to the world’s biggest problems, and acting responsibly to protect the planet for future generations.

We also work closely with the communities local to us and our 45 offices across the world. We get involved through events, charitable donations, and volunteering to support researchers, science communicators and to encourage new generations to consider careers in STEM.

On this page you will find more information on the work we do to reduce our environmental footprint, create an inclusive workplace across our company of nearly 10,000 colleagues, and forge links with the communities we serve.

Springer Nature’s sustainability reporting

Annual Report 2025 - Be Part of Progress

In Springer Nature’s 2025 annual report you will find business highlights and our Combined Non-Financial report, where we share information about sustainability policies and progress. Read to discover more about our sustainability performance (including key ESG data), our ongoing support for the SDGs through our publishing activities and other examples of our efforts to be a responsible business. An update on our key performance indicators as assured by our auditors is also available to view in a separate supplement of sustainability KPIs.

View and download Springer Nature’s 2025 annual report

Accelerating solutions to urgent societal challenges

As one of the world’s largest publishers of research and education content, our sustainable business strategy focuses on the areas where we can have the greatest positive impact.

Springer Nature and the sustainable development goals

We’re in the ‘Decade of Action’ and aiming to accelerate sustainable solutions to global challenges.

At Springer Nature, we believe that research and education have a fundamental role to play. We use the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) to help us consider our potential impacts - both positive and negative - and how we manage them. We believe that our most significant impact is through our publishing activity, which helps bring to light and disseminate important knowledge related to the SDGs.

Find out more about our SDG publishing programme.

Championing inclusion

At Springer Nature our mission is to be part of progress – and that begins with inclusion: of people, perspectives, and ideas. We believe that diverse perspectives drive progress, and we are committed to creating an environment where people and ideas can flourish.

That’s why we are building an inclusive culture within our organisation where our people can be themselves, thrive and grow. And we extend that commitment to the knowledge we share – working with our partners and communities to support research and learning that is inclusive, globally relevant, and reflective of the world we serve. Because inclusion leads to more robust research, more relevant learning, and better outcomes for society.

Climate Research in Action

To mark the COP26 climate conference, Springer Nature launched Climate Research in Action: a campaign designed to highlight the importance of research in identifying climate solutions. It includes a dedicated climate collection of the most important recent research articles from across the Nature Portfolio as well as an immersive guide to the conference from the Nature editorial team.

Also included is The Ozone Story: the scientific discovery of a hole in the Ozone layer first published in Nature which spurred global leaders into action and resulted in the most successful environmental policy of all time, The Montreal Protocol.

Visit the campaign microsite here

Awards and Ratings

We are pleased to have been recognised for our sustainability efforts and reporting across our business.

In 2025 we were awarded a Gold Rating for sustainability performance from Ecovadis, the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings.

Our 2021 report Unlocking Potential won the accolade of Best in the World in the publishing category of the Hallbars Sustainability Report Awards.

In 2022, we won Diversity Team of the Year at the British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our work on our DEI website.

Policies and Reports

Other relevant information and guidance on what to do if you wish to report a concern about a potential breach of the Code of Conduct, can be found in the Policies and Reports section of the website.

Springer Nature Code of Conduct - January 2021 - EN

(PDF, 3.06 MB)

D Code of Conduct Business Partner - March 2026 - EN

(PDF, 2.69 MB)

Springer Nature Modern Slavery Act Statement 2025 - EN

(PDF, 489.53 KB)

Policies & Reports

Accessing and publishing research in low- and low-middle-income countries

We invest in education and scientific research in places where it’s needed, but where people may not be able to afford it. We achieve this by working with organisations such as Research4Life and CGIAR, providing no-cost or low-fee access to research published in any of our journals in low- and low-middle-income countries.

Sustainable open access requires its own funding, usually in the form of article processing charge (APC) payments or transformative agreements. These can be difficult to finance in low- and middle-income countries and in some research disciplines, so Springer Nature operates an APC waiver and discount policy.

We also donate textbooks and equipment through partnerships with organisations like Books2Africa and we donate the residual value from recycled paper produced by recycling our obsolete stock.

Knowledge of agricultural science

Working with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.

Reducing the knowledge gap

Research4Life provides the developing world with access to critical scientific research.

Responsibility across Springer Nature

Research integrity

Springer Nature subscribes to the COPE principles in handling cases of research and publication misconduct.

Code of Conduct for editors

We have a Code of Conduct for editors-in-chief, which sets out standards we expect from our external editors in relation to publication ethics.

Acting on carbon

Supporting CommuniTree to encourage reforestation and protect the livelihood of farmers in Nicaragua.

Julius Springer Charitable Fund

The charitable organisation Julius Springer Charitable Fund e.V. provides active financial support for people in need.