TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

Working together to solve the world’s biggest challenges

The Springer Nature Group works closely with a large global community of academic researchers and educators who, through their work, want to leave the world better than they found it, to solve problems and to disseminate their ideas. We work to reduce our environmental footprint, to promote an inclusive environment rich in diversity and to forge links with the communities we serve.

As one of the world’s largest publishers of research and education content, our responsible business strategy considers both what we do to open doors to discovery, how we do it as a company of around 10,000 colleagues, and the impact that our work may have on the environment and society.

    Trapezium

    Progress as a Responsible Business

    2019 Responsible Business Report

    We are making progress as a responsible business and have a role to play in addressing the sustainable development goals. We have continued to reduce our carbon footprint and, by the end of 2020, we will be a carbon neutral company. In 2019, we took steps to improve diversity and inclusion within our business, and provided support to projects around the world.

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    Supporting the sustainable development goals

    As one of the world’s largest publishers of research and education content, our responsible business strategy focuses on what we do to advance learning and discovery, and how we do it as a company of around 10,000 colleagues. We focus on three areas.

    Supporting the sustainable development goals

    Supporting the sustainable development goals

    We consider, manage and report on the operational impacts of our business, including our carbon emissions, paper sourcing and labour standards in our supply chain, to ensure we are lessening our footprint on the planet and treating people fairly.
    We also publish trusted, evidence-based research that addresses the world’s biggest challenges and accelerates progress toward’s the UN’s sustainable development goals.

    Creating greater diversity and inclusion

    Creating greater diversity and inclusion

    We recognise the need for greater diversity and inclusion (D&I) in our own workplace. In 2018, we set a target that for 2023: 45% of our global leadership roles will be women.

    We also seek to collaborate with research communities and contribute positively to D&I improvements in science.


    Robust research, openly accessible

    Robust research, openly accessible

    Our long commitment to open access (OA) research means that we have published more OA research than any other publisher, including more than 100,000 OA articles in 2019. We make academic research freely accessible and discoverable through partnerships, innovation and collaboration with communities.

    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.

    Access to research from developing 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 globally with organisations such as Research4Life, CGIAR and INASP. Springer Nature Group offers low-fee and sometimes no-cost access to research. These programmes help to reduce the scientific knowledge gap between industrialised countries and the developing world.

    Knowledge of agricultural science

    Knowledge of agricultural science

    Working with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.

    Reducing the knowledge gap

    Reducing the knowledge gap

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

    Responsibility across Springer Nature Group

    Research integrity

    Research integrity

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

    Code of Conduct for editors

    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.

    Peer reviewers enabling clean water

    Peer reviewers enabling clean water

    Partnering with Filter of Hope to bring water filters to communities that need them.

    Julius Springer Charitable Fund

    Julius Springer Charitable Fund

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