RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS REPORT 2017 CONTENTS

1 Introduction 10 Advancing discovery 32 Key data

2 About Springer Nature 16 Advancing learning 33 How we report

4 Foreword from the 18 People and partners Chairman and CEO 24 Responsibility to 6 What responsible business the environment means to Springer Nature 28 Responsibility to 8 Grand Challenges the community

ADVANCING DISCOVERY ADVANCING LEARNING PEOPLE AND PARTNERS PAGE 10 PAGE 16 PAGE 18

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY PAGE 24 PAGE 28 1

Springer Nature is a leading global research, educational and DISCOVER professional publisher, home to an array of respected and LEARN trusted brands providing quality content through a range of innovative products and services. We are the world’s largest ACHIEVE academic book publisher, publisher of the world’s most influential journals and a pioneer in the field of open research.

In this, our first Responsible Business Report, we invite you to discover more about Springer Nature: about our values and the role we play in the communities where we operate around the world.

Every day, around the globe, our brands and imprints support the important work of millions of people – helping researchers and scientists to discover, students to learn and professionals to achieve their goals and ambitions.

“We believe every good idea should realise its potential.”

RESEARCH EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL

Advancing Discovery Advancing Learning Advancing Achievement

Books Language learning Medicine

Journals Schools curriculum Transpor t

Databases International Engineering curriculum Products and services Business management Higher education

Responsible Business Report 2017 2

ABOUT SPRINGER NATURE

Formed in 2015 through the merger possible service to the whole research Every day our imprints, of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave community: helping authors to share Macmillan, Macmillan Education and their discoveries; enabling researchers books, journals and Springer Science+Business Media, to find, access and understand the resources are used by Springer Nature now employs around work of others; supporting librarians 13,000 staff in around 50 countries, and institutions with innovations in millions of people. and distributes content in more than technology and data; and providing 180 markets. quality publishing support to societies.

Springer Nature advances discovery by As a leading educational and professional publishing robust and insightful research, publisher, Springer Nature also provides supporting the development of new quality content through a range of areas of knowledge, making ideas and innovative platforms, products and information accessible around the world, services. Our textbooks are used and leading the way on open access. Key in classrooms, lecture halls and to this is our ability to provide the best laboratories around the world.

2017 marked 175 years since Julius Springer founded his publishing company. In 2018, we celebrate the 175th anniversary of Daniel and Alexander Macmillan’s first foray into the book trade. These anniversaries, and others to come in the next few years, remind us of the roots from which the company continues to grow.

2017 2019 Springer 175th Nature Research 150th anniversary anniversary

2015 2018 2020 Springer Nature created through merger Macmillan Scientific American 175th anniversary of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave 175th anniversary BMC 20th anniversary Macmillan, Macmillan Education and Springer Nature 5th anniversary Springer Science+Business Media. 3

Advancing learning and discovery in 2017 Highlights

Launched 30 new journals, Launch of Springer Affordable We enabled researchers to including Nature Human Textbooks Campaign, aiding publish more than 90,000 Behaviour, Nature Ecology & students and helping institutional open access articles and Evolution, Communications Biology, libraries deliver greater value there were around 240 million Process Integration and Optimization across their campuses. downloads of fully open access articles for Sustainability and Economics of on the BMC, nature.com Disasters and Climate Change. and SpringerLink platforms.

Launch of Springer Nature Experiments, to make the Groundbreaking issue Nature Research, BMC and Springer world’s largest collection of of Nature, 'The Future of Work', Open signed up to the San Francisco experimental protocols and methods brought together research and Declaration on Research more easily usable when planning comment into the dramatic shifts Assessment, which calls for and running experiments, helping in the labour market caused by the improvements in the ways in which to improve research lab productivity. growth in artificial intelligence and the outputs of scientific research are machine learning. evaluated that look beyond the impact factor. We have also trialled mandatory Expansion of SciGraph, use of ORCID identifiers for research our Linked Open Data published in Springer Nature journals, 175 years since Julius Springer offering, which collates to help increase the recognition founded his bookstore and publishing information from across the research for their full body of work. house in Berlin in 1842. Marked landscape to make data important anniversary with events themed to the research process more around the future of the academic discoverable. The number of accessible book, as we take his legacy data relationships expanded from into the 21st century. Scientific American’s Twitter 130 million to more than one billion. feed now followed by more than three million people.

Life & Robotics symposium NursingXperience – arranged by the brought together 25 of the Professional division of Springer Macmillan Education launched its world’s leading roboticists to Nature and the biggest yearly event English Medium programme of discuss trends and future impacts of for learning and networking for curriculum materials for teachers, robots designed to assist humans. nurses in the Netherlands – attracted students and parents whose first more than 3,500 people. language is not English. Beginning with textbooks for maths and Endorsed the Transparency science, the programme also offers and Openness Promotion a range of professional development (TOP) Guidelines, which and training for teachers encourage more transparent using the materials. research processes.

JANUARY 2017 VOL 7 NO 1 www.nature.com/natureclimatechange

Hourly precipitation extremes

FOOD CARBON TAX Mitigation and health co-benefits OCEAN ACIDIFICATION Biodiversity and biogenic habitat GLOBAL CROPLANDS Heterogeneous emissions

Responsible Business Report 2017 4

HELPING TO SOLVE GRAND CHALLENGES

Springer Nature builds on the firm foundations of The values of our founders continue to live strongly within strong values and great tradition. From the very start, Springer Nature. We serve researchers, teachers and professionals on every continent to advance their discovery. Over time, our taking on grand challenges was core to the mission role has changed to a great extent. Today, we not only edit and of Julius Springer, who opened his first bookshop disseminate manuscripts, we share information, enable powerful and academic publishing house in Berlin 175 years collaborations across all disciplines and institutions, provide ago. Being passionate about progress through the valuable data and analytical insights and use modern tools to help researchers, educators and professionals stay up to date power of knowledge and equality, he stood up and and advance their careers. fought for these enlightened principles in the German revolution of 1848. Daniel and Alexander Macmillan, As leaders in open research, we believe in unhindered access to the brothers who first set up in the book trade in the intellectual treasures that generations of wise women and men have brought to the fore. We follow and focus on the abundant London and Cambridge, UK in 1843, were driven by opportunities of our times while tackling the grand, urgent societal the same innate curiosity and belief in the positive challenges – from personalised medicine and the use of new impact that sciences, humanities and literature could materials, to life-long learning, climate change and sustainability. bring to our daily lives. These challenges provide motivation and inspiration to many Springer Nature employees. It is also, as a company that publishes and brings together world-leading research, our responsibility to foster better understanding and evidence-based solutions to those challenges. Fortunately, our universe leaves many questions open for generations to come. Springer Nature aims to continue to play its progressive part in supporting the research community to answer these challenges successfully.

As a board, we are committed to developing Springer Nature as a responsible business, working with a highly experienced executive management and a passionate employee base to create productive and meaningful changes for the benefit of all.

Stefan von Holtzbrinck Chairman 5

THE VALUE OF OUR PUBLISHING

As the son of two academics, and having grown up This is why Springer Nature has led the way in open access on a university campus, I have always appreciated and why it continually invests in technology solutions – both to respond to the emerging challenges of researchers and to the hard work and dedication that goes into better serve them in their quest to advance discovery. advancing the scientific record. It has been a privilege for me to join Springer Nature as CEO. Springer Nature is an important part of a global ecosystem for I have found a company where employees are driven the creation and dissemination of knowledge. Responsibility comes with this: to our 13,000 employees, to the many thousands to make a difference by advancing science, learning more we work with in the research, education and professional and discovery, working closely with the teachers and development communities, to those in our supply chain and researchers who are inspiring minds and taking bold our partners in the community, and to wider society. In January steps to answer difficult questions. Our business 2018, Springer Nature launched Nature Sustainability, a new journal bringing together interdisciplinary research to discuss exists to serve these communities’ needs. sustainability policy dimensions and possible solutions. We cannot ignore our organisation’s own responsibilities and our impacts.

In developing this, the first Springer Nature Responsible Business Report, I have felt proud to hear about wide-ranging business and employee-led initiatives – only some of which have been compiled here – and the management board and I have listened to those areas where we can make improvements. Our ambition is to be the most progressive and respected publisher of research and education materials. The Springer Nature Grand Challenges programme, launched in 2017 (discover more here), extends this ambition to a wider audience. We have work to do to improve data collection and set our longer-term responsible business strategy and I look forward to reporting more on this in our next report.

Daniel Ropers Springer Nature CEO

Responsible Business Report 2017 6

What responsible researchers and educators who, through In 2017, Springer Nature’s Grand their work, want to leave the world better Challenges programme was launched business means than they found it, to solve problems and to inspire greater collaboration between to Springer Nature to disseminate their ideas. those who want to have a positive impact and support the principles of the These are principles many of us at UN’s Sustainable Development Goals How education and research connect… Springer Nature share and that inform (discover more here). We have a shared vision and common us as we develop better services for the values across our research, education research and education communities. Our Education business is focused on the and professional businesses. Our developing regions of the world, raising vision is to be the most respected and …to solve the world’s biggest challenges educational standards and creating progressive publisher in our fields. Springer Nature advances discovery opportunities for learners. Macmillan by supporting academic researchers Education has operated in South Africa As a global publisher of education and to more easily, efficiently and effectively for 100 years and in India for more curriculum materials and of evidence- have an impact through their research, than 125 years. By inspiring children based research, it is no surprise that including in solving some of the world’s with engaging and high-quality learning Springer Nature’s stakeholders care biggest challenges. This includes materials, we aim to create learners for about sustainability and business ethics. improving research processes and by life, whether they go on to higher-level Our employees and our authors expect creating better connections between study and research or move into work; us to show respect for the environment professional researchers and the wider through our education, higher-education and for the communities where we public. By breaking down traditional and professional offers, Springer Nature operate and to stand up for science and disciplinary boundaries and encouraging can support every step of the way. for robust research, especially where better knowledge sharing – whether they are threatened. between industry and academia, between We believe that research is a global teachers and students, or between endeavour and the free flow of Springer Nature works closely with a governments and society – we have a information and ideas is at the heart large global community of academic role to play in developing innovative of advancing discovery. We support solutions to societal challenges.

— By breaking down traditional disciplinary boundaries and encouraging better knowledge sharing, we have a role to play in developing innovative solutions to societal challenges. 7

and give a voice to the science and education communities on national SUPPORTING THE DIGITAL EVOLUTION OF INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARIES and international stages throughout the year, and are committed to Springer Nature has been offer support to librarians who are supporting a better understanding of working with institutional library concerned about digital preservation science in the media and general public. partners to help them manage the of research archives and have We believe that Springer Nature is the transition from wholly print library conducted and shared research largest employer of science writers in archives to eArchives, eBooks and about the trends in adoption and user the world. We provide support for several eJournal collections. acceptance of new digital formats. national science media centres, to train The benefits of an increasingly digital and support those writing about science Libraries in higher-education library include reduced space and in the press, and sponsor the John institutions around the word are maintenance requirements, enhanced Maddox Prize for promoting science increasingly reducing their physical functionality (including portable and evidence on a matter of public storage space for books and journals, access to content) and – importantly interest despite facing difficulty or as more and more content is available for librarians – greatly enhanced hostility in doing so. in both digital and print format, or usage statistics compared with – increasingly – solely digitally. We traditional formats.

GIVING SCIENCE A VOICE IN 2017

For Science–Lel Elm, the Arabic language version of Scientific American, reached one million users, extending the understanding of science in the Middle East.

Springer Nature and Scientific American hosted a Science Meets Congress event on Capitol Hill on the topic Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future, bringing together academics, government Springer Nature agencies and business to talk about energy transformation and has digitised more the regulatory and funding frameworks needed to create a more sustainable energy mix. than seven million articles and more than 240,000 books Championed Springer Nature Storytellers, a blog and event programme that highlights the importance and utility of storytelling in the past decade, in science. Storytellers offers authors and potential authors training so that these can be to better tell their own stories and so communicate their science. held in perpetuity and accessed for the We were key participants in Falling Walls, the annual gathering of advancement of science leading scientists who present research each year on 9 November in Berlin (the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall), supporting around the globe. the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and inspiring people to break down walls in science and society.

Editors-in-chief Mariette DiChristina and Philip Campbell chaired a number of science-led sessions at World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings in Davos and Dalian. Scientific American, in partnership with the WEF, published 10 Emerging Technologies to Watch – a list of ‘innovations that are on the verge of making a difference to society’.

Responsible Business Report 2017 8

Grand Challenges social sciences and humanities disciplines, chosen to help practitioners Research-based solutions develop innovative and effective policies, to real-world problems programmes and technologies to As one of the world’s largest address global issues. publishers, focused on academic research, educational content and Steven Inchcoombe, chief publishing science journalism, the dissemination officer at Springer Nature, said, “Springer and application of evidence-based Nature is committed to advancing sustainability research will allow discovery by publishing high-quality Springer Nature to play its part — and insightful research, supporting the delivering the Sustainable Development The Grand Challenges programme launched with an development of new areas of knowledge, Goals (SDGs) launched by the UN in initial focus on five challenges with clear relevance to and making ideas and knowledge 2015. If the SDGs are to be delivered, the SDGs. accessible around the world. Our Grand it will require academia, business and Challenges programme talks directly policymakers to work together to address The programme launched with an initial to this mission and invites academics, the world’s most pressing problems. focus on five challenges: climate change, business leaders and policymakers to global health, the food–energy–water come together, to use, reuse and build on In 2017, Springer Nature launched its nexus, a digitally transformed world this research to generate new solutions Grand Challenges programme, which and sustainable cities – topics with to the world’s most pressing problems.” aims to enable just this, by connecting clear relevance to the SDGs. policy and business leaders with the Springer Nature has been publishing highest-quality research and analysis The Grand Challenges programme important research to advance to help them generate and collaborate features cutting-edge research from discoveries in sustainability for many on solutions. a wide range of science, engineering, years and continues to develop new

Grand Challenge Relevant Sustainable Development Goals

Climate change

ABB ENABLES Global health

Food–energy–water nexus ABB CONTRIBUTES

Digitally transformed world

ABB ENABLES Sustainable cities ABB ENABLES

ABB ENABLES

ABB CONTRIBUTES ABB ENABLES ABB CONTRIBUTES ABB ENABLES ABB LES ENABABB CONTRIBUTES

ABB CONTRIBUTES ABB ENABLES

ABB CONTRIBUTES

ABB CONTRIBUTES ABB CONTRIBUTES

ABB CONTRIBUTES 9

outlets for publishing research on these topics as the research SUSTAINABILITY SUPPORT THROUGH PEER REVIEW itself evolves: We have been trialling two 2017, 1,000 water filters have been • In 2017, Springer journal sustainability-led projects, the distributed in Liberia, Nicaragua, Haiti, Sustainability Science first of their kind to acknowledge Honduras, Russia, Cuba and India. celebrated its 10th anniversary the fundamental contribution of and Nature Climate Change peer reviewers in the scientific marked its 6th. publishing industry, through a 1,000 water filters were distributed by our non-profit partnership. • Sustainable Earth, a new fully partnership with Filter of Hope in 2017. open access journal, and Nature Peer reviewers are enabling Sustainability both launch in 2018. BMC journal Sustainable Earth is people in developing countries to supporting Earth Day Network’s • The Springer Encyclopedia access safe drinking water as the Canopy Project, which works of Sustainability Science and result of a collaboration between worldwide to strengthen communities Technology launches its second Springer’s journal Environmental through tree planting. The Canopy edition in 2018. Earth Sciences and a non-profit Project empowers organisations humanitarian organisation. • The Springer Sustainable and citizens to conserve, repair Development Goals series of and restore tree cover to their Filter of Hope – Clean Water for books, launched in 2017, provides lands. Earth Day Network targets Life, is a non-profit organisation in-depth knowledge and fosters areas of the world most in need of that serves people in more than comprehensive research on the reforestation, including in some of 40 countries. Its goal is to change global targets to end poverty, fight the world’s poorest communities, the world through the distribution inequality and injustice, and tackle and land degraded by logging, fires, of highly effective and affordable climate change. Volumes in the floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. water filters, which remove bacteria, series are organised by the relevant The journal will donate one tree for protozoa and microorganisms from goal and guided by an expert every completed peer review report. contaminated water sources, making international panel of advisors. it completely safe to drink. Since the initiative started at the beginning of

Image provided by Earth Day Network

— Tree planting in India, as part of Earth Day Network’s Canopy Project.

Responsible Business Report 2017 10

ADVANCING DISCOVERY

Meeting research community needs

As a global publisher, Springer Nature is We make significant investments dedicated to providing the best possible into the authors and manuscripts that Today, globally, around service to the whole research community. we publish, and work to ensure they reach the widest audience possible. We do this: 30% of all research We help authors to share their published by Springer discoveries; enable researchers to • by helping develop ideas, finding the find, access and understand the work right journal for their research, and Nature is published of others; and support librarians and providing early editorial guidance so under an immediate institutions by creating innovative that the work submitted is the best it technology and data solutions. possibly can be open access model. • through rigorous quality assurance We use our position and our influence to processes, including peer review, to champion the issues that matter to the ensure the published research stands research community, taking a leading up to the highest level of scrutiny role in open research and being powerful advocates for the highest quality and • by publishing the research itself, in ethical standards in research. readable and accessible formats, and across well-maintained and developed access platforms.

Photo by Teddy Seguin ©Osada/Seguin/DRASSM 11

Advancing discovery

Improving the highest levels of integrity in research, sound and reliable research practices. publishing process and seek to identify incidences of The group aims to ensure our journals As a global publisher, one of the most misconduct and take appropriate adhere to editorial best practice and effective ways we can advance discovery action where there are concerns. supports in-house staff and external is by improving the integrity and speed of editors when there are concerns about the publishing process to the benefit of As a member of the Committee on research integrity or when retractions the whole research community. Publication Ethics (COPE), Springer or corrections may be required. Nature is guided by the COPE principles We believe that our primary duty as a in handling cases of research and It does this by: leading research publisher is to ensure publication misconduct. COPE provides that authors who trust us to publish their online resources for editors and forums • providing resources for authors, peer work do so in the confidence that we will to discuss difficult cases. We have a Code reviewers and editors on publication make every effort to ensure that it is as of Conduct for editors-in-chief, which ethics issues discoverable, accessible, understandable, sets out standards we expect from • promoting both the adoption of best usable, reusable and shareable as possible. our external editors in relation to practice by all stakeholders involved in publication ethics. the scientific process, and the ethical Research integrity conduct, reporting and evaluation of Springer Nature is committed to our role Springer Nature’s Research Integrity scientific research as guardians of the scientific record and Group supports our journals and books to striving to ensure that all published in delivering a positive and proactive • investigating unethical practices, while content reaches appropriate editorial approach to identifying and preventing ensuring all involved – authors, reviewers, and ethical standards. We aspire to the publication misconduct and encouraging editors and readers – are treated fairly

Responsible Business Report 2017 12

— Springer Nature advances discovery by publishing robust and insightful research, supporting the development of new areas of knowledge, making ideas and information accessible around the world, and leading the way on open access.

• requiring responsible and ethical we publish – and, in doing so, advance important information, so that more publication behaviour when unsound discovery. We support our editors-in- can be learned and more can be or unethical practices are found chief, editorial board members, section discovered. We want to bring academic editors, peer reviewers and authors research to broader audiences in more • correcting parts of the scientific record by providing guidance and systems to engaging and accessible ways, and when needed because of unsound, enable them to improve manuscripts. enable the sharing of both open unethical practices or honest mistakes. We are also trialling innovative new access and subscription content. practices through small-scale pilots All issues raised with our journals or staff, such as peer-reviewer accreditation, and Sharing content widely or through our systems, are investigated. exploring more ambitious ideas such as SharedIt underlines Springer Nature’s If employees or others whom we work the potential role of artificial intelligence. commitment to enabling new research with have concerns about research findings to be shared as widely as integrity, these can be raised through The Focus on Peer Review online course, possible. Launched across the Springer an editor or through our confidential developed by Nature Masterclasses, Nature-owned portfolio in 2017, SharedIt whistleblowing system, Speak-Up uses video interviews with Nature was initially piloted in 2014, when it was (discover more here). Research journal editors, experienced the first time a publisher allowed free peer reviewers and published authors to sharing of subscription journal articles. Good mentoring of researchers is key to share key insights into the complexities It allows authors and subscribers to post encouraging robust integrity practices. of peer review. The content, which links to view-only, full-text subscription Nature has run the Nature Awards for includes videos and interactive activities, research articles anywhere – including on Mentoring in Science for the past 12 years provides users with a comprehensive social media platforms, author websites, to encourage good practice and celebrate and practical overview of the peer-review scholarly collaboration networks, in great mentors in the community (discover process. It focuses on four areas: the institutional repositories, even via email more here). role of a peer reviewer, how to prepare – allowing researchers to share their own a peer review report, the ethics of peer and others' research with colleagues and Peer review review and innovations in peer review. general audiences. The links are dynamic Peer review is at the heart of the and will take readers to the most up- research process and central to the Innovating across science to-date version of record. SharedIt now integrity of the scientific record. In-house communications covers more than 2,700 journals and, editorial staff spend thousands of hours As the rapid evolution of technology in its first year, SharedIt links were used identifying and selecting suitable peer creates ever more channels for the to read Springer Nature articles more reviewers and managing the process dissemination and amplification of than 3.2 million times, by readers from of peer review, to ensure and improve research, we see our role as connecting more than 40,000 institutions. Links the quality of the scientific literature people with the most relevant and shared by authors were accessed 13

1.15 million times and those included in published under an immediate (gold) open news articles by media outlets more than access model. We now publish 630 fully Good mentoring of 850,000 times. open access journals, and more than 1,800 Springer Open Choice (hybrid1) journals. researchers is key to Access to research More than 70% of Springer Nature journal encouraging robust from developing countries content published by authors from the UK, We believe that we need to invest in Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands is integrity practice. education and scientific research in now published via gold open access. places where it’s needed but where people may not be able to afford it. Opening up experimental data We believe that research data should We achieve this by working globally with be easy to find and access so that it can organisations such as Research4Life, be used in other research programmes INASP and CGIAR to support their around the world, so have been initiatives. proactively developing services to help the research community to share their Through these programmes, Springer data in reusable and accessible ways. Nature offers low-fee, and sometimes We work closely with repositories and no-cost, access to research to contribute to organisations that promote and support efforts to reduce the scientific knowledge open standards across the global gap between industrialised countries and research community, including the the developing world. Research Data Alliance (RDA), CODATA and FORCE11. Since 2014, Scientific Data, Springer Nature Driving the development an online open access journal published subscribes to the COPE of open research by Springer Nature, has enabled Springer Nature has a long history researchers to get publication credit for principles in handling of innovation across journals, books, describing their datasets, making them cases of research and databases and our publishing platforms, more useful and reusable; while BMC and we see the rise of open research Research Notes enables researchers to publication misconduct. in all its manifestations, including publish short notes, observations and open data, as one of the major forces descriptions of data that might be useful reshaping the way researchers for the community but would otherwise communicate and collaborate to advance have remained hidden in a lab notebook the pace and quality of discovery. or as a footnote in a dataset.

We have developed and offer open Following a successful pilot in 2017, access options for authors through all an increased range of research data our research imprints (BMC, Springer, support services have been rolled out, Nature Research and Palgrave Macmillan) aimed at helping institutions and funds and across all disciplines. We’ve also to overcome some of the challenges that taken bold steps to advance open access currently stand in the way of greater by flipping some of our best-known sharing of research data. Research data subscription or ‘hybrid’ journals, such editors will curate and enhance metadata as Nature Communications, to fully open to improve its discoverability. Editors access models and – in some cases will also help authors draft summaries – ‘flipping’ the research from many and data availability statements to thousands of researchers active in whole improve human readability, data linking countries. We believe that open research and citation. The new services can be benefits the whole scientific and research used for any scholarly research data community, facilitates collaboration, aids (including code, videos, images, text, raw the application of research to solve real- and processed data) whether or not they world problems, fosters economic growth are associated with a publication. and increases the public’s appreciation — and understanding of research – in 1 Journals that offer both subscription and open essence, it advances discovery. Today, access content. globally, 30% of all research journal content published by Springer Nature is

Responsible Business Report 2017 14

Finding new ways to add value articles and reviews and, in time, we want research. Springer Nature was the first We want to apply our skills and resources to make other collateral developed by organisation worldwide to implement beyond publishing to better serve the academic research – such as data, code ORCID in the workflow for books as well needs of researchers. This may be and video – more visible in the same way. as journal articles. This not only enables by creating tools, services or training Data on more than 260,000 books and academics from institutions all over that help the research community to 4.5 million chapters are currently made the world to gain due credit for their understand and utilise new ideas and freely available via Bookmetrix. During work, but also supports research concepts, or by providing the metrics and 2017, there were more than four million integrity by providing a credible source information that can help librarians and user sessions. of reference for authors, peer reviewers institutions to more effectively utilise and editors. their limited budgets. Our focus is always Full recognition for academic on investing in the services, tools and work, with ORCID Supporting innovation outside initiatives that add value to the community. We want our authors to share their Springer Nature discoveries and receive proper credit for We know we don’t have all the answers Innovating in academic book publishing doing so. In 2010, Springer and Nature to the challenges that face our business. Springer Nature publishes more than Publishing Group were among the Springer Nature LaunchPad meetings 13,000 academic books each year. founders of ORCID, an interdisciplinary, were created as a way of crowdsourcing Academics who publish chapters in open, not-for-profit organisation that knowledge and creating new books have historically found it much provides researchers with a unique and partnerships with start-ups that have harder to demonstrate the number of personal ORCID identifier (ORCID iD) ideas and can create new opportunities citations and views their work achieves. to link their publications to their unique in our industry. Two events in 2017, Working with metrics provider Altmetric, record. In 2017, we introduced a trial to in Amsterdam and Berlin, introduced Springer Nature developed Bookmetrix, mandate ORCID iDs for corresponding Springer Nature to eight innovation which provides real-time data about the authors publishing across 46 of our organisations that pitched ideas. We reach, usage and broader impact of each journals, because we believe the system continue to work with four of these, book or chapter for all authors, editors provides vital information for all those allowing us to address challenges in and readers. Bookmetrix also captures involved in the process of publishing our business in innovative ways, while

260,000 Data on more than 260,000 books and 4.5 million chapters are currently made freely available via Bookmetrix.

— We enable researchers to publish observations and descriptions of data that might otherwise have remained hidden in a lab notebook. 15

also supporting smaller organisations and, where possible, closed down. Any also remain accessible via some of our that may otherwise find it more difficult concerns about online piracy or physical partners’ platforms, as is the case today to develop as part of the supply chain of counterfeiting can be reported to our in Mainland China. Our action was taken a global organisation. We hope to hold anti-piracy team. to safeguard access to more than 99% of similar events in future. our content, because we believe it is in Complying with local rules the long-term interests of our authors, Copyright and piracy and regulations our customers, the scientific community We believe that authors should retain As a global publisher, we must and the advancement of research copyright and receive clear credit for take account of the local rules and that the vast majority of our content their work, whether published in our regulations in the countries in which our continues to be accessible in Mainland books or journals. As such, in 2017, authors live and in which we distribute China. We have and will continue to work we agreed to no longer take copyright our published content, including local with the Chinese regulators and other from our primary research article distribution laws that can be applied in authorities to minimise the content authors and to switch to require only an certain countries. affected. The fact that we need to exclusive Licence to Publish from them; comply with such local laws regarding implementation of this will begin in 2018. This has meant, for example, that access the distribution of our content has no to a small percentage of our content, influence on our editorial policies or It is important that we protect our via our platforms and products, is judgements on the content we publish; authors against infringement of limited in Mainland China and, during this is decided independently on the their intellectual property, while also 2017, some of our authors and editors basis of the integrity and significance of considering the sensitivities and contacted us to express their concerns the research alone, without any external concerns of the research community. We about this. When access to content bias or limitations. proactively identify, monitor and take is restricted, that content remains action against potential instances of accessible and can be shared, used and infringement to ensure that any threats reused by colleagues and the rest of to the intellectual property rights of the academic community in all the other our authors are targeted, disrupted markets where it is distributed, and can

3.2m In its first year, SharedIt links were used to read Springer Nature articles more than 3.2 million times.

— We provide quality content through a range of innovative platforms, products and services.

Responsible Business Report 2017 16

ADVANCING LEARNING

Springer Nature’s Education and Enabling better learning and discovery

Professional divisions create and support outcomes is our core responsibility 10 million In India, Macmillan Education learners throughout their lifetimes. as an educational publisher. With a curricula reach 10 million learners. business focused in developing regions Macmillan Education of the world, we often work closely to Macmillan Education is a global publisher support communities where we operate, of curriculum resources – for primary, including donating curriculum content secondary and higher education – and and sponsoring educational activities in English language teaching materials that areas of severe disadvantage (discover aim to empower the world’s teachers to more here). inspire students on their lifelong journeys in education. • Macmillan Education operates in more than 120 countries worldwide. For 175 years, Macmillan has been engaging curious minds. Today, Macmillan • OneStop English, a resource site for Education adapts and develops high-quality teachers packed with resources in core curriculum content and materials through subject areas such as skills, grammar books, digital resources and other tools, to and vocabulary, has more than meet the needs of teachers, students and 700,000 registered users in more than communities, often working closely with 100 countries. different ministries of education. 17

Curriculum and language learning in both print and digital form, and offer Mexico assessments along with teacher training. Some 1.2 million students use our textbooks and curriculum materials Higher Education in Mexico, where Macmillan Education Our Higher Education division develops and its local arm, Ediciones Castillo, books and learning resources principally working with the Mexican Secretary of for university-level students, from Education, provide more than six million undergraduate to graduate, with a secondary school textbooks each year. focus on the social sciences, humanities, We are also one of a number of publishers business and study skills. As well as participating in a pilot programme to publishing some of the most successful take English language instruction to academic textbooks in print, we produce primary-school students in state schools, widely accessible eBooks and sophisticated, providing materials to be used across interactive eLearning products. the country. Affordable textbooks in Southern Africa the US and Canada — Macmillan Education South Africa works We are a leader in enabling students In the medical sector, we provide high-quality closely with educational authorities to access affordable textbooks in the US content to doctors, healthcare professionals, across southern Africa to create engaging and Canada with the launch of a successful dentists, pharmacists and other experts. courses that are flexible enough to campaign targeting academic librarians address the demands of rapidly changing in 2017. The campaign encouraged teachers, in computer science, history, curricula. We operate in South Africa, academic libraries to help reduce the literature and political science. Each set Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia financial burden on students by promoting includes between 175 and 200 titles that and Zimbabwe. the use of more than 8,500 designated can be accessed online or offline, used by Springer textbooks already freely available students for group study and collaborative India online via university licences. learning, and enabling teaching staff to We have been in the school and higher- monitor student usage and engagement. education market in India for more than Macmillan Explorers Explorers makes excellent use of research 125 years and are today partnering with Piloting in 2017, ahead of a full launch published by Springer Nature, for use in more than 10,000 schools reaching more in 2018, Macmillan Explorers provides teaching in higher education. than 10 million learners. We produce unlimited access to comprehensive sets learning materials for K–12 curriculum of eTextbooks for university students and

ADVANCING ACHIEVEMENT

Springer Nature’s Professional division Improving safety and reducing and their student. The simulators is one of the leading professional emissions in driving instruction also make a positive contribution to information providers in Europe and Springer Nature’s transport brands the environment, reducing overall includes Springer Healthcare, a leading address requirements of professionals emissions from driving lessons. medical communications and education working in the fields of logistics, One hour in a simulator produces provider, alongside businesses and passenger traffic, car fleets and 14 times less CO2 than the equivalent brands in the areas of medicine, other areas. Our road safety education lesson in an on-road vehicle (187g transport, business and engineering. publishers are market leaders in several CO2 rather than 2675g CO2). European countries. According to a study by Institut für Keeping the medical sector up to date Automobilwirtschaft (IFA), the use In the medical sector, we provide The Vogel-Simulator is a popular of driving simulators in Germany doctors of all specialisations, as well tool used by driving instructors in reduces the typical number of on–road as healthcare professionals, dentists, France and Germany. It introduces driving lessons by between three pharmacists and other experts, with learners to car driving in a realistic and five hours. With around 300,000 high-quality content and updates driving simulator. By creating a simulator lessons a year using our about novel treatments and other safe environment for initial lessons, system in Germany and France, this developments. Springer Healthcare the learner becomes familiar with equates to an annual CO2 saving of also has significant expertise in medical how to handle the vehicle, making around 505 tonnes. Additional savings communications and medical education the first lessons in a car more are made from reduced wear and tear across all major therapy areas. comfortable for the driving instructor on the cars.

Responsible Business Report 2017 18

PEOPLE AND PARTNERS

Responsibility to our people

Springer Nature is a true people highly skilled and academically qualified business. Our success is driven by – we estimate that around two-thirds our employees around the world, who of our employees are educated to Our leadership come from more than 50 countries master's degree level equivalent or principles are relevant and are based in more than 100 office higher. In our research business, we locations. Most of our people work in often recruit people at the early stages to all our employees internationally dispersed and globally of their career and provide them with the and capture Springer organised teams. We see this as a core opportunity to gain important editorial strength of our business, particularly and technology skills at Springer Nature. Nature’s culture and when it comes to hiring talent: for key This enables them to develop their career ways we want to work roles, we search around the world to find within Springer Nature or beyond in the the best person for the job, wherever wider industry, or for some to return to with each other. they’re located. A very large proportion academic research careers. This is one of of our employees, in all the locations the ways we stay well connected with the where we work around the world, are research communities we serve.

Photo by David Copeman 19

Operating in a global way presents Diversity at Springer Nature challenges, especially in how best to manage virtual teams, how to ensure good communication across geographies and cultures, and how to develop diverse leadership teams that reflect the whole workforce. We offer specific training to 56% support our leaders in managing virtual of staff are female 68% teams and cross-cultural communication of our top three tiers via our online learning platform, LEAP, 41% of management are of our top three tiers which can be accessed from our offices of European nationality globally. To make sure our employees can of management benefit from the learning opportunities are female offered, we regularly run online and on- site sessions to demonstrate how to use LEAP and its integrated online learning libraries, which employees can access for personal development.

Our Code of Conduct and leadership principles set out our expectations of all who work for Springer Nature: that all employees are treated fairly and respectfully by directors, managers and knowledge and, around the world, most of supported by D&I advocates and employee colleagues. Everyone at Springer Nature our management teams have been hired resources groups (employees who has a responsibility to help us maintain a locally and come from the region in which volunteer to support a specific initiative) safe and respectful workplace, free of any they are working and leading teams. representing many areas of the company. discrimination, harassment, unwanted physical contact, intimidation or bias. During 2017, our supervisory board For countries where there is a legal and management board committed to framework for diversity reporting, Promoting diversity and inclusion launching a new diversity and inclusion Springer Nature publishes additional We embrace diversity and foster (D&I) strategy, with a focus on how we information. This includes gender inclusion because it makes us stronger promote both gender and cultural diversity pay gap reporting required in the UK, and provides greater opportunities for in all our global decision-making bodies where we report on all UK employing our people and our business. Since the and other influential groups. We strive entities including, voluntarily, entities end of 2016, a global Springer Nature for a holistic view on all the ways we are not covered by the legal requirements diversity task force has been working to different and we want to nurture diversity (discover more here). understand what the diversity challenges in its many dimensions. A new global are for us as an organisation, and what director of D&I has been recruited and we can do to be more diverse and will take this strategy forward in 2018. more inclusive. We’re already a diverse The director will work closely with a D&I — organisation: 56% of our employees are council of senior leaders, chaired by our Our success is driven by our employees female – which compares well with our general counsel, and a D&I advisory group, around the world. benchmark companies – and we have employees in around 50 countries. But, like our benchmark group, the gender and cultural balance decreases with seniority and varies by region: for example, 41% of those in the three tiers of the organisation that include the management board and the next two reporting levels (comprising 303 of our approximately 13,000 staff) are women. Of this group, 68% are of European nationality, which doesn’t yet reflect our spread of revenues or staff numbers around the world. We value Photo by David Copeman local-market and regionally specific

Responsible Business Report 2017 20

Forging a common culture organisation. In February 2017, senior framework that reflects company As a newly merged company, we’ve taken leaders attended the One Springer values. The programme aims to equip considerable care and effort since 2015 Nature conference, which, alongside leaders with the tools and practices to to determine how, collectively, employees business meetings, provided time for lead in a complex environment, while of Springer Nature define their values discussion about the common culture helping them to live and breathe our new and preferred ways of working. In 2016, we want to create. This has proved an leadership principles. In 2016–17, 389 through a set of collaborative workshops, important piece of post-integration work leaders attended 37 programmes, run at we defined nine leadership principles. and will be developed in 2018. 10 locations in four languages, more of These leadership principles are relevant which will be scheduled for 2018 to help to all our employees, and aim to capture In 2016, we launched a global leadership develop better consistency in how our Springer Nature’s culture and ways we programme for new and senior managers leaders act across our global operations. want to work with each other across the to enhance a common leadership

os Potental Focus on achieving our Free the potential mission and purpose by of your team delivering sustainable business results

re Create a supportive rst and stimulating Trust in people and environment in which share responsibility people can thrive

ane nspre Embrace Inspire others and champion through your actions necessary change

ton nae Be decisive and take Listen and engage action when needed with people

erse Promote a diverse and global perspective 21

Listen and engage with people risks to people who work for Springer is one of our leadership principles. Nature. We are planning to roll out a In 2017, we developed a set of revised global health and safety policy We proactively invite communications principles that help in 2018. In the US, Germany and the us deliver this principle, and we believe UK, we provide a confidential employee employees to share that everyone, at every level of the assistance service to employees and their their ideas for, and organisation, should be encouraged and families when they need advice or support supported to respectfully contribute on issues around stress, finances or health concerns about, their opinions. We proactively invite and wellbeing. We also provide training the business. employees to share their ideas for, as modules in related areas, including well as concerns about, the business resilience and stress management. with their managers, works councils or information and consultation forums, and Sharing insights into into business and culture in India and at town hall and other group meetings. business and culture to share German and Dutch culture with Hive, our collaborative social platform, Our Cross-Cultural Internship programme Indian colleagues. By integrating young provides the space to openly exchange began in 2006 and is unique in our students into working life in India, we insights and views, and debate issues industry. Each year, in February and contribute to intercultural understanding affecting Springer Nature. Employees August, a selected group of German and within our working environment and and business partners, including authors, Dutch students and university graduates support this by participating in social suppliers, editors and customers, who departs for the Springer Nature offices development projects. have questions or concerns about the way in Pune and Chennai in India, where they Springer Nature is operating, can raise gain experience in project management, As well as the valuable work experience our these if needed via the Speak-Up system typesetting for books, periodicals and interns gather in India, many participants (discover more here). journals, image processing, design and have found career opportunities within pre-printing solutions across all areas of Springer Nature following their internship. Looking after our people the publishing industry. The Cross-Cultural Around 165 people have participated in the During 2017, work has been under way to Internship programme creates the programme so far, with more than 30% of understand the main health and safety opportunity to gain fascinating insights those employed with us afterwards.

— In February 2017, senior leaders attended the One Springer Nature conference, which provided time for discussion about the common culture we want to create.

Photo by David Copeman

Responsible Business Report 2017 22

Responsible in the best possible way. This means Publishing and editorial policies always acting with honesty and integrity, To reflect our belief that scholarly business practices applying the same high standards to communication is aided by greater how we do things as to what we do. transparency of the processes by which Code of Conduct and policies we operate, and as a demonstration of Springer Nature’s Code of Conduct and • Leading the way as industry pioneers Springer Nature’s joined-up approach Code of Conduct for Business Partners brings with it the responsibility to to being the most progressive research are essential frameworks that set set an example for the rest of the publisher, in 2017 we created a new out the guidelines and boundaries of publishing world – we should always home for our publishing and editorial behaviour for how we treat each other – strive to use our influence for good. policies on the Springer Nature website. as colleagues, suppliers and customers. The polices have been developed Although we are a relatively new Springer Nature considers compliance in consultation with the research organisation in our current form, Springer with the laws and regulations that impact communities we serve – including our Nature’s businesses have a strong set of our business to be an essential part of authors, peer reviewers, external editors common values and a collective desire to acting responsibly. This means that: and library customers – and underpin have a positive impact on society. our respect for academic independence; • We will adhere to applicable laws even our commitment to ensuring authors The codes of conduct build on the clear if this involves a business disadvantage. have a real choice in the type and mode vision that describes how we operate at • Where national laws are more restrictive of publication for their research; an Springer Nature: than Springer Nature’s internal policies understanding that this research needs and guidelines, national laws take to be published as quickly as possible • As proactive partners, we build strong precedence. Equally, where local laws while commanding the highest level of relationships with our suppliers and are less restrictive than Springer trust; our responsibility in safeguarding customers based on mutual respect and Nature’s codes and global policies, the scientific accuracy of the published trust, ensuring we can all benefit from we expect our employees and other record; and, via our connections our collaborations well into the future. representatives to follow those codes with the communities we serve, our • Our role as quality champions means we and global policies, even if the conduct understanding of the changing needs work harder to ensure the job is done would otherwise be legal. of the academy.

OUR SHARED VALUES

PROACTIVE PARTNERS Putting our customers at the heart of all we do, responding to their current needs and anticipating future opportunities.

QUALITY CHAMPIONS Committed to delivering the highest possible standards in content, customer experience, technology and delivery. — Speak-Up is a confidential whistleblowing system hosted for us by an independent company and INDUSTRY PIONEERS monitored by our compliance officers. Through influence and innovation, shaping the future of publishing for our communities and for society. 23

Editorial independence the ICC UK Committee on Corporate Springer Nature respects the Responsibility and Anti-Corruption independence of the media and maintains Policy and contributed to the OECD/G20 We review our highest- a clear separation between editorial and Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance paid content. We respect all applicable Handbook for Business. risk suppliers annually. press codes of practice. If you see something – say something! Discover more about our policies here. We encourage our employees and We have established a number of business partners, including authors, technical and organisational measures Respect for human rights suppliers, editors and customers, who designed to protect our systems, We follow the UN Global Compact, have questions or concerns about the commercially sensitive information, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational way that Springer Nature is operating, to and customer and staff data. Among Enterprises and the standards issued by raise these with us as soon as possible. others, these include embedding security the International Labour Organisation Our message is, “if you see something first principles into our application (ILO) – and we expect our business – say something”. Any person who does development process, rolling out partners to do the same. Our annual not want to raise their concerns with us security initiatives at infrastructure and Modern Slavery Statements set out more directly can raise them via our Speak-Up server-build level, defining an incident fully how we address and monitor these system, a confidential whistleblowing response protocol, and planning for areas in our supply chain. system hosted for us by an independent disaster recovery scenarios. company called Business Keeper AG. This Our main areas of risk, and how we audit system is monitored by our compliance General data protection regulation these, include: officers and reports can be directed to To prepare for the new European an independent external ombudsperson. general data protection regulation • Risk assessment – We assess our supply- In 2017, the most common code of (GDPR) taking effect in May 2018, chain risk on an annual basis. We include conduct concerns raised through this a dedicated team started working the types of goods and services provided, whistleblowing service related to conduct in 2016 to develop a Springer Nature the location they are provided from and towards colleagues and others working at data protection programme, based on the estimated annual level of spend. Springer Nature. All reports via our Speak- and compliant with the GDPR, to be Up system or to our compliance officers • Contractual clauses – We are rolling out applied globally. are routinely reviewed, escalated where ethical conduct clauses, including audit necessary and actions reported to senior rights, in relevant suppliers’ contracts. Springer Nature’s IT and data privacy leaders; semi-annual reports are provided teams aim to ensure that systems and • On-site audits – We review our highest- to the supervisory board. Editorial and processes are, by design and default, risk suppliers annually. Suppliers with content integrity-related issues are passed built on the principles of the GDPR. whom we spend at least €100,000 per to Springer Nature’s Research Integrity We have implemented data protection year, and who work for us in higher- Group (discover more here). and information security policies and risk territories, will be reviewed by guidelines, developed templates and independent auditors at least once Springer Nature is a responsible taxpayer delivered training, assessed existing every three years. and we recognise the need to contribute processes, and adopted technical a fair share of tax in the jurisdictions • Pre-contract due diligence – We request measures and standards to comply with in which we operate. The contribution all significant potential suppliers that data-protection regulations and other we make to those jurisdictions includes are in-scope for active management to relevant legislation around the world. corporate income, indirect and complete a due-diligence questionnaire. employment taxes. Our tax strategy for • Ongoing monitoring – All relevant the year ended 31 December 2017 is suppliers are required to complete published on our website. and update the labour standards questionnaire once every three years Digital security and (unless they have been through an data protection audit within the required time frame). We aim to be data driven and customer centric, offering valuable services and We recognise the important part that insights to our customers and partners. We international business plays in the fight recognise the potential risks to customers, against corruption. In addition to our staff and company reputation if we don’t internal policies, our group compliance ensure the security and resiliency of our officer represents Springer Nature in data and our systems.

Responsible Business Report 2017 24

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Reducing the impact of our operations

For 175 years, Springer Nature has Springer Nature’s main environmental — promoted robust scientific research impacts. This is complicated by the 2 Examples include: and, more recently, published books nature of our business. We do not ‘Global risk of deadly heat’ and journals dedicated to the emerging manufacture products; our books and ‘Global warming and recurrent mass environmental challenges facing the journals are printed by third-party bleaching of corals’ world. We contribute to public debate suppliers. Nonetheless, as we continue ‘Impacts and mitigation of excess diesel-related by presenting facts on issues relevant to publish print materials, we recognise NOx emissions in 11 major vehicle markets’ to wider society in an impartial and that the sourcing of paper used for our accessible way. During 2017, research products is a relevant potential impact of furthering the understanding of our business. Our carbon footprint relates climate change effects, published in to energy used in our buildings and our flagship Nature journals, received business travel. While we operate from international coverage in dozens of more than 150 offices and warehouses major media outlets2. around the world, as many buildings are leased rather than owned, so we are For this, our first Responsible Business limited in our scope for reducing resource Report, we have conducted a detailed consumption through changes to the exercise to identify and understand building fabric and equipment. 25

Environmental governance Scope of environmental reporting Standard. Data gathered from invoices and In 2017, we set up an environment Following the 2015 merger that created meter readings includes significant sources committee, comprised of senior executives Springer Nature, it has taken time to of energy consumption, such as electricity, from across the business. This committee bring together disparate reporting natural gas, diesel (for back-up generators), sets the direction for environmental systems, including those used in supply- district heating and fuel for fleet vehicles. management within Springer Nature chain operations and sourcing. Because We have also estimated fugitive emissions and reports to the management board. of the complex nature of our supply of F-gases from air conditioning systems. A number of recommendations have chain, this process is not complete and Data is extrapolated for all sites where been made, including identifying areas we plan to refine our reporting approach Springer Nature has operational control, where Springer Nature could strengthen in the coming years, to provide improved based on the data from our core sites and processes to enable reporting with greater accuracy and transparency, enable us reported under scopes 1 and 2. For leased accuracy and consistency in the future. to compare data, and reflect evolving offices, where service charges are included international reporting standards. within a flat fee, such as for smaller offices To better understand the scope for or those with shared systems, we report environmental performance improvement, We have gathered environmental data from extrapolated figures as 'leased building a cross-company survey was introduced 47 core sites, including offices with more services' in our scope 3 emissions. This to identify opportunities at major sites. than 100 staff and sites representative item also includes electricity consumption This work, and the creation of group-wide of particular functions and geographies. for our outsourced data centres. Data from environmental reporting processes, are key We estimate these represent 79% of our our travel suppliers covers an estimated steps for Springer Nature to improve our total building area, 77% of our energy 85% of emissions associated with flights environmental impacts, with the intention consumption and 86% of our headcount33. and the remainder has been extrapolated to monitor and develop appropriate We have aligned our carbon reporting from financial data, erring on the side of measures in future so we can take steps approach to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol overestimation. We have limited data on to reduce our carbon footprint. Corporate Accounting and Reporting rail travel and have not included it in

COMPANY IMPACTS SUPPLYCHAIN IMPACTS

Buildings Offices and warehouses Utilities for serviced offices and sites (unmetered usage) and third-party data centres

Office Heating/ Electricity Water Waste Heating/ Electricity Water Waste paper cooling cooling

and associated carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2 emissions) and associated carbon emissions (scope 3 emissions)

Transport Springer Nature fleet Business travel and associated carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2 emissions) and associated carbon emissions (scope 3 emissions)

Company cars Company vans Flights

Printing Production paper

Other Carbon impacts of energy transmission and distribution (scope 3 emissions)

3 Includes employees and subcontractors.

Responsible Business Report 2017 26

this year's figures. We align our carbon distributed digitally. This is particularly calculation methodology for business seen in the research side of our business. 61% flights to that of our largest travel Printed documents, however, are still We recycled or sent for reuse management company, BCD. vital to the way we deliver content. In our 61% of waste from our offices. education and professional businesses, Data on water and office paper there is a continued need for textbooks consumption and waste generation is and other physical curriculum materials, collected from the 47 core sites where although digital product ranges are books and journals. This means that our available, and extrapolated for the rest growing. Most of our printed journals and products are only printed when they are of our portfolio. For water, most of the books are manufactured by third-party ordered, reducing levels of waste and available data relates to metered tap suppliers. We seek to ensure that paper overall volumes of printing. We expect water; purchases of large drums of bottled and board used for products we publish this trend to continue. water for drinking and sourcing of water are sourced responsibly. from bore wells are largely estimated. Key impact: travel Data on waste is also largely estimated, In 2017, around 31,200 tonnes of paper As part of a geographically dispersed and because general waste management is were purchased for the manufacture of our globally managed organisation, employees often provided as a service by the landlord printed items. Springer Nature is a member of Springer Nature travel regularly for of our leased sites and not measured. Data of the Book Chain Project, a joint initiative work, including internationally. This on consumption of office paper is drawn of more than 20 leading publishers, which helps to ensure that our business is from invoices for the most part. In 2017, supports publishers in understanding well connected to the global research we began to gather environmental data the origins of, and forest-management communities that we serve, as well as relating to consumption of printing paper practices for, the wood fibre used in papers to maintain strong connections within for producing books and journals, either and boards. During the year, Springer our internal teams. We are aware of purchased directly by us or on our behalf Nature’s environment committee confirmed the carbon impacts of air travel, which by our printing suppliers. In 2018, we will the company’s commitment to buying comprises almost half our carbon improve these processes with the aim of paper with certified content, starred 3 or 5 footprint. A new global travel policy reporting a wider range of indicators in in the PREPs database4 wherever possible, launched in 2017 includes consideration our next Responsible Business Report. in a renewed group-wide paper policy. We of alternatives to travel, and the class of are auditing our current paper suppliers travel to be chosen if alternatives such Key impact: paper use and sourcing and will in future report on the proportion as remote conferencing are unsuitable. As a global publisher of scholarly of paper used that meets this standard. Additionally, our fleet comprises 8% of our books and journals, Springer Nature carbon footprint, mainly from company publications have, historically, been On the research side of the business, cars but also delivery vehicles and buses mostly printed. Today, an increasing there has been a significant growth in for staff commuting in areas lacking proportion of our portfolio of content is print-on-demand for Springer Nature public transport.

— Our research journals and books publish important research about climate change and related issues. The forest density study, published in Nature in 2015, estimated that 15 billion trees are cut down each year. 27

We made significant investments in Reducing impacts of our offices backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees 2016 and 2017 into technology solutions A major programme of refurbishment of Origin (REGOs). The London of fice to help reduce the amount of travel has been taking place at the Springer al so has bicycle storage, with space required and enable globally dispersed Nature campus in London, part of for more than 100 bicycles, to support teams to work together more easily. which is housed in a relatively energy- sustainable commuting. Videoconferencing, messaging, chat and inefficient former industrial building. collaboration systems are used regularly As a newly merged company, there In June 2017, Springer Nature moved to share information between teams. was a need to create additional desk into its new Walmolen office in Houten, During 2017, Springer Nature staff capacity in the central London hub. the Netherlands. A brand new energy- spent more than 67,000 person hours The changes have been made with efficient build, the office has LED lighting using our most commonly accessed efficiency in mind while improving the throughout, a bicycle shed and showers suite of online conferencing tools. These quality of the working environment, with to support commuting by bicycle, and tools are complemented by our social additional informal and formal meeting a thorough recycling system with intranet, Hive, which enables us to share and collaboration spaces providing staff collections for paper, plastic and glass, information consistently and effectively with a choice of locations from which to and composting for coffee. An employee across the globe. Between April 2016, work. Carbon emissions savings have committee was appointed to advise when the Hive platform launched, been achieved through a combination on layout of the office with an open- and December 2017, the number of of measures, including replacing leaky plan design in mind, along with employees registered grew to more single-glazed windows with new air-tight, sufficient room for communal areas than 9,500, with active users more than crittall-style windows and better roof and discussion spaces, as well as doubling in that time. We continue to insulation. Installation of a variable concentrated working areas. review our system roadmap to ensure we refrigerant flow (VRF) system reduces — are using the right collaborative tools to heat loss from the ventilation system. 4 The PREPs database, maintained by the Book Chain meet our needs. Presence detectors, intelligent light Project, assesses responsible forest sources for switching and zoning keep lighting at an paper brands by analysing pulps to identify the Energy and resource use at our sites appropriate level, switching off lights tree species and the countries in which those trees Like many office-based companies, when areas are empty and making were harvested. electricity consumption accounts best use of daylight in areas close 5 Per person data includes both employees and for the majority (84%) of the carbon to windows. A building management subcontractors based at our 'core' sites. emissions associated with our buildings. system remotely controls and monitors 6 Figure relates to 18 large offices for which Consumption is highest in the UK, the electrical plant that controls the we have reliable data. Germany and India, reflecting our heating and ventilation. Power is global footprint. In the UK, we purchase purchased through a cooperative buying high-quality renewable electricity for consortium that focuses on electricity our largest sites, accounting for 18% of generated from renewable sources, our global electricity consumption by buildings within our operational control. — Our highest consumption of diesel in Springer Nature’s brand stationary installations is for back-up new energy-efficient generators in India, which are used in the office in Houten, case of power outages. In 2017, we used the Netherlands. approximately 8 cubic metres of water and approximately 1,650 sheets of office paper per person5. We recycled or sent for reuse 61% of waste from our offices6.

To strengthen our environmental management, we conducted a survey to identify which measures – such as LED lighting, behavioural change initiatives and heating/cooling adjustments – have already been implemented at our sites, which have been considered and rejected (and why), and the potential for other interventions. This survey has identified the good practice already in place and key areas to work on.

Responsible Business Report 2017 28

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY

Enabling access to education and science

While Springer Nature is a relatively new education and science – to help curious organisation, formed in 2015, it is built on minds develop and grow. Around the the foundations of companies that have, world we invest time and money in for almost two centuries, been committed projects that share our aims and have a We want to advance to advancing learning and discovery by positive impact on society. discovery by enabling publishing content that helps young minds to love learning, students to achieve better In 2017, the management board access to equitable, results, academic researchers to succeed approved a new framework for our quality education and professionals to continue to develop contributions to the community that through their careers. draws together, under a common and science. approach, programmes we support The responsibility that Springer Nature has through financial or in-kind donations, to the community extends beyond our own or by encouraging our employees to activity as a publisher. volunteer their time. The framework explains how we will help people We want to advance discovery by and communities to Discover, Learn enabling access to equitable, quality and Achieve.

Photo by Teddy Seguin ©Osada/Seguin/DRASSM 29

Contributions to cost access to some of our subscription of the business free to choose whether journal content in developing countries; to donate to projects of their choice, communities this was alongside other training we found a large degree of consistency and support services, as part of our in the initiatives that our businesses In 2017, we gave more than €570,000 membership of the Research4Life are choosing to support. This has led in donations and sponsorship to charities programme and collaborations with us to develop a framework for future and organisations to support projects CGIAR and INASP. 2017 was the first contributions to the community, to help and programmes that align with our year, since the merger that created us to be more strategic in these choices aims – this includes education projects, Springer Nature, that we have centrally and to better articulate the impact we travel and child-care support for collected this information, using have in the communities we serve and early-career researchers, mentoring information from our central finance the projects we work with. This is an programmes for academics and more. systems alongside a company-wide area we know to be important to our Our employees also gave time towards survey. We plan to refine our reporting in employees and we plan to develop the a variety of projects that align with this area in future. framework further in 2018, including our framework and support our local how we monitor its impact. communities. In addition, we distributed While there has been no company-wide resources such as books and office policy on donations or sponsorships of equipment, and provided free and low- this kind in the past, with different areas

DISCOVER

Supporting programmes that open research to new audiences and DISCOVER promote research integrity and quality communication.

LEARN

ADVANCING Supporting projects that excite and DISCOVERY inspire children and young people for a lifetime of learning and to Enabling access to develop the curiosity and skills to equitable, quality education engage with science, technology and and science sustainability.

LEARN ACHIEVE ACHIEVE

Advancing discoveries by enabling students and early-career researchers to deepen their research and professional skills and open up new opportunities for collaboration.

OTHER EMPLOYEE-DRIVEN LOCAL ENGAGEMENT

Springer Nature operating as a responsible local employer: other employee-driven local engagement in support of issues including medical research, humanitarian assistance and donating/sharing resources with local in-need communities.

Responsible Business Report 2017 30

Discover Learn

The John Maddox Prize for At Springer Nature, our mission of Standing up for Science furthering knowledge and learning The John Maddox Prize, now in its sixth doesn't begin and end with what we do at year, is a joint initiative of Nature, the work; our staff care about education in charity Sense about Science and the a broader sense and believe that we can Kohn Foundation. This prestigious prize, help affect change. with a value of £2,000 to the recipient, recognises the work of individuals who Since 2014, Springer Nature has promote sound science and evidence partnered with Civitas Schools, on a matter of public interest, facing supporting a Saturday school in London difficulty or hostility in doing so. Sir John for children in the local area. Every Maddox was the editor of Nature from Saturday, more than 30 children between 1966 to 1973 and from 1980 to 1995. seven and 11 years old gather at the This prize commemorates Sir John as a Springer Nature campus for maths and passionate and tireless communicator English tuition. The school provides and defender of science. extra-curricular support for local children who would not ordinarily — In 2017, the John Maddox Prize was have access to it. With a business focused in developing regions of the awarded to women’s health champion world, our education division supports community and Dr Riko Muranaka. A journalist and Springer Nature provides a space for the school projects in several countries. lecturer at Kyoto University, Dr Muranaka school to meet as well as funding for is recognised for her work championing the three members of staff and a range Outside the UK, our people are actively the use of evidence in public discussions of teaching resources. The need for this supporting causes that echo the core of the human papillomavirus (HPV) type of activity is especially important values of Springer Nature. In South vaccine. Dr Muranaka’s work to put the in the King’s Cross area, close to the Africa, Macmillan Education is helping evidence for the safety of the vaccine Springer Nature offices, where a high local communities by providing resources clearly before the public has continued in proportion of children have English as to schools in low-income areas. the face of attempts to silence her with a second language and the number of Macmillan Education-funded reading litigation and undermine her professional pupils eligible for free school meals is trolleys and corners aim to create a standing. In persisting, she has tried to nearly four times higher than the national conducive environment for literacy ensure that a scientific account of the average. Over recent years, Civitas development that encourages children to weight of evidence is available not only has been able to track the progress of engage with reading and build confidence for Japanese families but for public children attending the Saturday school in their reading comprehension. Reading health globally. and demonstrate that the children who trolleys and corners have been donated attend make accelerated progress. to 20 townships and rural schools in five Researchers and communicators provinces, impacting the lives of more who contest poor scientific thinking Justine Brian, Director of Civitas Schools, than 15,000 learners. face a diverse range of challenges in said, "The partnership with Springer professional, public and political realms. Nature is enriching the lives and raising Macmillan Education also supports In 2017, with more than 100 nominations the aspirations of the children that Kingsway Secondary School in providing for 95 people from 25 countries, the attend our Saturday classes. Working pastoral support for its pupils, including John Maddox Prize judges took the with a partner who not only supports the a scheme to provide nutritional meals to unusual step of drawing attention to teaching and learning but is also able to those from underprivileged backgrounds. a number of shortlisted nominees – provide a quiet and convenient location for with their permission – to highlight classes to take place is especially helpful.” Vision for Literacy Business Pledge the extent of these challenges and to Springer Nature has committed to ask institutions to consider how their In addition to the school, staff on our tackling the UK’s literacy challenge and own actions contribute to or improve London campus also volunteer their time is proud to have signed the Vision for problems in the communication of and expertise to local causes, including Literacy Business Pledge 2018, which science and evidence. hearing readers at a nearby primary was launched at the start of the year by school and providing one-on-one support the National Literacy Forum, a coalition at homework and coding clubs. led by the National Literacy Trust. 31

was raised for three local projects: Achieve Supporting the wider Kinderplanet, a facility at the local hospital community that cares for children with cancer and their families; Frauen Notruf, which develops action guides for schools to support young The Nature Awards for The Julius Springer Charitable Fund people who have been victims of sexual Mentoring in Science Since 2004, the Julius Springer Charitable assault; and Aufwind Mannheim, which Of all the activities that take place in the Fund (JSCF) has helped many people in fights child poverty in Mannheim by giving lab, perhaps the least remarked on and the tough situations by easing their financial struggling families basic supplies and least rewarded is that of the mentorship burden with a donation. The grants the promoting self-confidence among children. of young researchers. But mentoring is JSCF makes are divided into three target vitally important to help young scientists areas each year: individual people in need, Helping employees after progress in their research and develop their projects in a chosen region where the the Mexico earthquakes professional capabilities. This is why, in company operates, and a medium-term- In September 2017, the Chiapas region 2005, Nature launched its annual awards impact project chosen especially by the of Mexico was struck by an earthquake for outstanding scientific mentorship that, JSCF’s board members. The regional measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale. With each year, focus on recognising mentors focus supports a specific project or group more than 600 colleagues based in Mexico, in a specific country or region. of people in that area from low socio- there was an immediate process activated economic backgrounds, determined by, to confirm that they were safe. While we In 2017, the awards focused on Spain. and with the help and engagement of, local were pleased to report that there were Nature Research Group’s editor-in-chief, Springer Nature colleagues. The regional no fatalities or serious injuries among our Sir Philip Campbell, who established focus for 2017 was South Africa. colleagues, some did suffer damage to the awards, said at the ceremony in their homes, including a small number who Madrid, “These awards have taken place In 2017, the JSCF helped, among many were made homeless. In the immediate in 13 countries or regions, including the other individuals, Petra Hoffarth, a aftermath, Springer Nature created a special western United States, Nordic countries, wheelchair user who was struggling to get assistance fund for those colleagues who South Africa, Japan and China. These around day to day, with a donation towards lost or suffered serious damage to their are very varied cultures, and yet the key a customised car. Petra said, "Whenever homes, to support them with rehousing and characteristics of outstanding mentors I get in the car and have the option to immediate repairs. are remarkably similar. Spain’s great drive wherever I want, I feel like a child on examples are no exception – they are Christmas Eve." One Mexican colleague who received extraordinary in their ability to nurture employee assistance funds said, emerging scientists of great diversity.” Supporting local initiatives “I appreciate the understanding and Staff in Springer Nature’s Heidelberg support I have had in these difficult days, office have held a Christmas market from those who have dedicated their words, (Niklausmarkt) in support of local charities their time and their moral support to me. for many years. Staff make, donate and To the company: the help you have given sell a wide variety of items to raise money us is an incentive to keep going and not give for projects that have been nominated by up, and to feel that neither I nor my family colleagues. In 2017, more than €26,000 are alone."

Charitable contributions from the JSCF since 2011 include: — Petra Hoffarth with her customised car, donated by • Sponsorship, over four years, of income backgrounds in specific the JSCF in 2017. the SchlaU School in Munich, an challenging situations in the US. education initiative established • Sponsorship of 15 girls at Udayan in 2004 devoted to young and Care Public Charitable Trust in unaccompanied refugees. Around India, including financial support 1,700 refugees have successfully and mentorship. graduated from the school. • Scholarships of €15,000 each • A SG$50,000 grant from Springer to three students from Japan’s Singapore to help motivate ex- Fukushima region, following the offenders to obtain education. tsunami and subsequent nuclear — • US$50,000 towards university catastrophe. 2017 John Maddox Prize winner, studies for five students from low- Dr Riko Muranaka.

Responsible Business Report 2017 32

DISCOVER MORE

Key data

This is the first time that Springer Nature, 2017 which was established in 2015, is reporting Economic Revenue (€ billion) 1.64 data on areas of our performance that reflect our corporate responsibility. Our research Proportion of content published immediate (gold) open access1 30% content We will develop these key indicators, Number of fully open access journals 597 alongside our strategy and goals, to best Number of fully open access books 137 reflect our impacts as a business.

People Number of full-time employees (headcount) 12,988 — 1 Includes research journal and review article content Number of full-time employees (FTE) 12,625 only, published in fully open access journals or Number of employees by continent (headcount):

within hybrid journals. Excludes editorials and Europe 5,037 opinion pieces. North America 873 2 This figure includes energy used by sites where we Latin America 864 have operational control, our serviced sites and data Asia 5,798 centres, and excludes properties leased by Springer Nature to third parties (estimated at 3,345MWh of Africa 245

energy usage, 2,395 tonnes of CO2e). Oceania 171 3 This figure relates to renewable electricity Male Female purchased directly by Springer Nature. Our Gender split: management board 83% 17% largest outsourced data centre also uses 100% Gender split: tiers 2 and 3 58% 42% renewable electricity. 4 Additionally, the ‘outside of scopes’ (‘biogenic’ part Environment Total energy (MWh)2 32,622 of biofuels) emissions are estimated at 86 tonnes. Renewable energy (MWh)3 3,715 5 Figure relates to typical office and warehouse Greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes CO e)4 waste streams and excludes recycling of unsold 2 product and damaged production paper (estimated Scope 1 5,079 at around 2,000 tonnes) and recycling Scope 2

of construction wastes. location-based emissions 12,368 6 Figure is based on data for 18 of our largest offices. market-based emissions 10,540 Data for our largest warehouses shows these mainly Scope 32 24,763 have paper and packaging waste, which is sent for flights reuse and recycling. 20,751 7 This estimated figure comes from group-wide leased building services (market-based emissions) 1,848

research and information taken from financial transmission and distribution of energy 2,164 systems, and includes funds given in donations Total water usage (m3) 109,420 and sponsorships to charities and non-profit Total waste production (t)5 1,140 organisations to support projects and programmes % recycling of office waste6 61% that align with our aims. 8 Out of 9,698 staff registered for eLearning. Office paper (t) 104 Data is not captured for approximately Production paper (t) 31,201 3,000 typesetting staff with no management Social impact Cash donations and sponsorship (€ thousands)7 €578 responsibility; the Code of Conduct is shared with these staff via other means. Compliance % of staff undertaken Code of Conduct training8 95% 33

How we report Responsible business governance framework Our Responsible Business Report focuses on performance and activities SPRINGER NATURE SUPERVISORY BOARD from 1 January to 31 December 2017. It includes some case studies and MANAGEMENT BOARD AND EXECUTIVE SPONSOR (CEO) other stories that, in some cases, refer to activities that began before 2017, where these are ongoing projects or are CULTURE, VALUES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORTING otherwise still relevant to work we did in COMMUNITY COMMITTEE 2017 or to our most material issues. Review and respond to Review material issues, Review material issues and material issues identify owners and set compliance requirements In 2017, we created a Springer Nature action plans responsible business governance Create and communicate Launch strategic framework framework to set, drive and monitor the framework for contributions Embed data collection responsible business strategy. processes and metrics Articulate policies Advise on reporting content Advise on reporting content Deliver reporting Springer Nature formed in 2015 and 2017 Explore opportunities requirements is our first reporting year. Our approach to to involve staff Explore opportunities reporting will be refined and developed in to involve staff 2018, based on what we have learned and feedback from our key stakeholders.

We undertook a materiality process to determine the key issues to address SUMMARY MATERIAL ISSUE SECTION in this report. We sought input from Commitment to sound science and research integrity Advancing discovery sustainability professionals, strategy and market intelligence teams within Employee talent and retention, diversity and inclusion People and partners Springer Nature, and others who work closely with our external stakeholders Employee and business partner conduct People and partners to advise on the material issues. The Innovations in product management and the supply chain Advancing discovery report includes those deemed to be of high or medium materiality for Springer Regulatory compliance Advancing discovery Nature, when considering stakeholder People and partners concern and impact on our business. The Resource management: paper, energy and waste Environment list of issues was reviewed and adapted at various points of the year to ensure that it remained responsive to emerging stakeholder concerns.

Responsible Business Report 2017 You can send enquiries to communications@ springernature.com or to Group Communications, Springer Nature, The Campus, 4 Crinan Street, London WC1X 8HL.