RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS REPORT 2018

Knowledge. Partnership. Innovation.

Working together to solve the world’s biggest challenges. CONTENTS

1 Introduction ADDRESSING GRAND DIVERSITY AND 2 About Springer Nature CHALLENGES INCLUSION PAGE 8 PAGE 10 4 Chair and CEO statements

6 Supporting the sustainable development agenda

8 Addressing grand challenges

10 Diversity and inclusion

14 Publishing robust, accessible research

20 People and partners

24 Responsibility to the environment

28 Responsibility to the community PUBLISHING ROBUST, PEOPLE AND 32 Key data ACCESSIBLE RESEARCH PARTNERS 33 How we report PAGE 14 PAGE 20

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

Responsible Business Report 20172018 1

ACCELERATING KNOWLEDGE

Springer Nature is a leading global research, educational and professional publisher, home to an array of respected and trusted brands providing quality content through a range of innovative products and services. We are the world’s largest academic book publisher, publisher of the world’s most influential journals and a leader in the field of open research. Our education and professional publishing divisions are leaders in their markets, providing quality content through a range of innovative platforms, products and services. Our textbooks are used in classrooms, lecture halls and laboratories around the world.

Together, as a group of companies, we want to become the trusted knowledge accelerator, advancing learning and discovery for the benefit of all, passionate about understanding the needs of our communities and making change happen – better than anyone else.

RESEARCH EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL

Advancing Discovery Advancing Learning Advancing Achievement Books Language learning Medicine

Journals Schools curriculum Transport

Databases International curriculum Engineering

Magazines and services Higher education Business management

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Connecting ABOUT curious minds to advance SPRINGER NATURE learning and discovery As a truly global business, operating in more than 50 countries and distributing content in 180 markets, In 2018, we celebrated the 175th anniversary of Macmillan, one of Springer Nature’s 13,000 people work together our foundation companies. to serve the needs of researchers, students, teachers Coming from a humble Scottish family, and professionals around the world. David and Alexander Macmillan shared a love of reading and a belief in the We advance discovery by publishing As a leading educational and power of books to communicate ideas robust and insightful research, professional publisher, Springer Nature and to change lives. They published supporting the development of new also provides quality content through their first book, The Philosophy of areas of knowledge, responding to a range of innovative platforms, Training, in 1843, opening a bookshop the needs of the research community products and services. Our textbooks in London in the same year. and making ideas and information are used in classrooms, lecture halls accessible globally. and laboratories around the world. As the company grew, so did the two Our education experts bring together brothers’ belief in the importance of Each year we handle more than one insights from teachers and schools education and academic scholarship. million article submissions and publish and the latest educational research Alexander launched the scientific around 300,000 articles across almost to develop books, courses and research journal Nature in 1869. 3,000 journals and 13,000 books. resources for the classroom. When former British prime minister We are the largest open access research Harold Macmillan became chairman publisher – publishing around one in in 1965, he decided education should four of all open access articles globally continue to be a key area of focus – and home of the respected Nature for the organisation. This led to the portfolio of journals. Last year, our creation of Macmillan Education, content platforms were visited almost which continues its work today as part two million times a day. of Springer Nature.

Accelerating knowledge for...

AUTHORS LIBRARIANS LEARNERS BUSINESSES PHYSICIANS RESEARCHERS

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Advancing learning and discovery in 2018 Highlights

We started publishing 35 more We celebrated the 175th birthday Springer Nature’s diversity journals including Nature of Macmillan, with events in and inclusion roadmap was Sustainability, Sustainable Earth offices and at book fairs launched by the newly appointed and the Journal for STEM around the world (read more director of diversity and Education Research. on page 2). inclusion. SN Pride, a group for members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community at Springer SN Applied Sciences and SN Macmillan International Higher Nature, was also launched Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, Education launched its new (read more on page 12). two new interdisciplinary Red Globe Press imprint, serving journals, published their first the worldwide market for articles. Five in-house managing core adoptable textbooks editors coordinate the submission, for universities. peer-review and publication process for SN Applied Sciences, a broad-based interdisciplinary The winners of the first-ever For the first time since Springer journal, developed in response Nature Research Awards for Nature’s formation in 2015, a to the increasing volume Inspiring Science and Innovating global workforce engagement of article submissions about Science, in partnership with The survey, known as Pulse, was industry-related research. Estée Lauder Companies, were held (read more on page 21). announced in October. These global awards were created to recognise The second edition of Springer inspirational early-career women Encyclopedia of Sustainability researchers and those who have Science and Technology worked to champion women’s was published. and girls’ participation in science A new employee-run Green Office (read more on page 13). Network was created to encourage environmental responsibility and Science and the Sustainable City – action at site level around the world. part of the Springer Nature Grand More than 80 colleagues signed up Challenges programme – was to join the network, holding more held in Singapore alongside the than 20 meetings during 2018. World Cities Summit. Bringing We celebrated the 160th In London, an incentive scheme together members of academia anniversary of MMW-Fortschritte for employees resulted in a saving with others from policy and business, der Medizin, which was the first of more than 40,000 single-use the conference discussed areas medical journal in Germany cups between October and of research related to city to offer continuous medical December. design, planning and education to its readers.

infrastructure development.

PEER REVIEWERS GRADUATES TEACHERS POLICYMAKERS PROFESSIONALS SCIENTISTS

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SUSTAINABLE IMPACT

Looking at the global picture today, there can be no doubt that as politics become more turbulent and polarising, the need for international businesses to make a positive impact on sustainable development has become even more important. In 2018, Springer Nature reduced its environmental footprint considerably. The diversity and inclusion programme made significant progress and new appointments to the supervisory Even though millions of the world’s poorest are lifted out board added a range of skills and experience as well as of extreme poverty every year, we are still quite a distance improving governance and the gender mix . As a board we away from becoming a world of equality. Indeed, we are are also entrusted with the long-term sustainability of the likely moving further away from it. Sound answers to these company beyond 2018 and so the future financing of Springer problems are needed especially in the light of artificial Nature was secured for the next three years. But there is intelligence and its impact on our societies. At the same time much more to highlight. This report shares our approach with the Arctic temperature exceeding its historic average to responsible business in more detail. You will read about by more than five degrees in two consecutive years and with what we do exactly to help children to learn, to support almost every continent suffering its own drought, fire or flood, professionals in their careers and to make better-informed climate change is undeniably happening at an accelerated decisions, to engage with researchers on their journey to rate. And last but not least, this year we witnessed the birth of new discoveries and to help them share their work as openly the first genetically engineered baby and with it, potentially a as possible. It tells how we always try to connect with our turning point in human history. customers and communities. In that vein, I hope you will share These grand challenges are not being solved fast enough with us any suggestions or comments about how Springer and big new questions are out there waiting for answers: Nature can further develop its responsible business actions Who do we want to be? And in what state do we want to pass to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development on both the beauty of our planet and our wisdom to future Goals, because ‘the best is the enemy of the good’. generations? In finding answers, Springer Nature has a clear role to play building on its own strong heritage: one of our founders Julius Springer engaged himself politically on the Stefan von Holtzbrinck social-progressive front in 1848 and his contemporaries Chairman Alexander and Daniel Macmillan stood for wide curiosity, optimism, tolerance and integrity. 150 years ago, in 1869, the Macmillan brothers launched Nature. The first statement in its mission was and still is to this day to “place before the general public the grand results of Scientific Work and Scientific Discovery and to urge the claims of Science to a more general recognition in Education and in Daily Life”. If one takes it all together: The core commitment of Springer Nature is to ‘factfulness’ and evidence, to sustainability and equality, to ethical behaviour and a humanistic education, all of which are the prerequisites of progress and peace in our societies.

Needless to say, we should not only publish but also live up to these values, to the latest findings and to best practices ourselves. As chairman I am proud to see us moving decisively in that direction.

For more information about corporate governance at Springer Nature.

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ENABLING DISCOVERIES

When I joined Springer Nature over a year ago it was because I wanted to work for a purposeful company and alongside colleagues motivated to help make the world a better place through the acceleration of knowledge: in areas of the most significant research, in teaching and learning and 2. Diversity and inclusion. In our business and when working with others there is an imperative for us to address in the application of everyday work through our any problem that is standing in the way of great research. We professional information division. This is a key recognise the need for greater diversity and inclusion both in driver not just for Springer Nature, but for the our own workplaces and in the research community whose tens of millions of people involved in research, content we publish and have made significant progress with our diversity strategies within the business. Our 13,000 teaching and professional development that we colleagues around the world interact on a daily basis with a come into contact with every day. community of more than one million researchers, and with teachers and schools in more than 100 countries. With such a We are well placed to rally behind the importance of evidence- large network, we can positively contribute to improvements based research and to share the benefits of it through better in diversity and inclusion in the communities we work with communication and education to make a material impact on and we take this responsibility seriously. the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development 3. Robust research, openly accessible. As custodians of the Goals (SDGs). As a large global enterprise we must also look scientific record, we publish thousands of new discoveries closer to home and take responsibility for our own operations each month, providing quality assurance and peer review to reduce our environmental footprint, to promote an so that research stands up to international scrutiny and is inclusive environment rich in diversity and to forge ever-closer presented and shared in the best possible way. We implement links with the communities we serve. technology to reduce the time it takes for researchers to In this report, we focus on both what we do to advance share their discoveries and provide training and support to learning and discovery and how we do it. researchers so their research can have a greater impact. Our long commitment to open access research means Specifically, we focus on three of the most significant areas that today we are by far the largest open access research where we feel that we can make a positive contribution publisher - publishing more than 91,000 open access articles to the SDGs. in 2018. We make academic research freely accessible and discoverable through partnerships, innovation and 1. Solving grand challenges. As publishers of trusted, collaboration with communities. evidence-based research, we have a vital role in accessing and disseminating new discoveries that can help solve I am delighted that in this report we are able to show grand challenges. In our education division we also work progress on several fronts and look forward to building with UN agencies to raise awareness of the SDGs with every on this even more in 2019. age group. We consider, actively manage and report on the operational impacts of our business, including our carbon emissions, paper sourcing and labour standards in our supply chain to make sure we are lessening our footprint on the planet and treating people fairly. We report on these impacts Daniel Ropers in the People and Partners, Environment and Community Chief Executive Officer sections of this report.

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Supporting the sustainable development agenda

As one of the world’s largest publishers This will require academia, business and of academic research, educational policymakers to work together to address content and science journalism, involved the world’s most pressing problems. in the dissemination and application of If humanity is going to evidence-based sustainability research, Our responsible business programme succeed in tackling our most acting as a responsible business is a core focuses on three of the most significant difficult challenges, it’s going component of what we do. areas where we feel we can make a positive contribution to the SDGs: to take all of us working We therefore believe that Springer Nature addressing grand challenges; diversity together, across disciplines has a key role to play in contributing and inclusion; and publishing robust, and over time." to the United Nations Sustainable openly accessible research. Our

Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDGs, contributions come from both what we Mariette DiChristina, Editor-in-Chief, launched in 2015, set out an agenda for publish and how we act. This framework Scientific American and Executive global sustainable development, and are sets out where our expertise and reach Vice President, Magazines at intended to be delivered by 2030 through can have the most meaningful impact: Springer Nature the achievement of 169 specific targets.

Our framework for supporting the SDGs

Our respect Our role as for the people a publisher: and partners Advancing learning who work for and discovery and with us

01 0 olin rn Our three pillars iersit llenes in priner ture n inlusion support o supportin elier in our business te s o te ustinble n orin eelopent ols it oters

Forin 0 Minimisin relationships ith Robust reser impact on the the community: environment by education and research openl essible operating responsibly communities, and and monitoring wider society performance

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Research-based solutions to Promoting science, research Springer Nature is, to our knowledge, real-world problems and education the largest employer of science writers Given that Springer Nature is a global Our Education business is focused in the world, increasing the reach and publisher of educational materials on raising educational standards and impact of the products of research by and evidence-based research, it’s no creating opportunities for learning in making them accessible to businesses, surprise that our stakeholders care the developing regions of the world. policy leaders, educators and the public. about sustainability and business ethics. By inspiring children with engaging, We provide support for national science Our employees and authors expect high-quality materials, we aim to create media centres, and train those writing us to stand up for science and robust learners for life, through higher-level about science in the press. research, especially where they are under study and research, or at work. Through threat, and to operate to high standards our education, higher-education and We also sponsor the John Maddox Prize with respect to the environment and professional offerings, Springer Nature for those who, despite facing difficulty or communities where we work. can support them every step of the way. hostility, promote science and evidence We believe that research is a global on a matter of public interest. We collaborate with a large global endeavour and that the free flow of community of academic researchers and information and ideas lies at the heart of educators who, through their work, want advancing discovery. We give a voice to to leave the world better than they found the science and education communities it by solving problems and disseminating on national and international stages their ideas. We share these aspirations throughout the year, and are committed and use them to develop better services to improving the understanding of for research and education communities science in the media and among the around the world. general public.

As a leading publisher of research, education and professional materials we work around the world to publish robust, accessible research and high-quality learning materials.

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ADDRESSING GRAND CHALLENGES

We publish a large body of research each year that relates to sustainable development and the SDGs. In 2018, we continued to develop our Grand Challenges programme, which connects policymakers and business leaders with research and analysis. Launched in 2017, the programme seeks to inspire greater collaboration across five areas related to the SDGs: climate change, global health, the food–energy– water nexus, a digitally transformed world, and sustainable cities.

Science isn’t the answer to everything. But an informed decision-making process is helpful.”

Jerry McNerney, US Congress Representative, California

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Springer Nature Grand Challenges cities and communities (SDG 11), and HOW COULD A PUBLISHER Our Grand Challenges portal features sustainable food systems (directly linked HELP END HUNGER? cutting-edge research from a wide range to SDG 12, responsible consumption We publish a wide variety of content of science, engineering, social sciences and production). Nature Sustainability relevant to the SDGs and believe and humanities disciplines. These have aims to bring together a broad range that this research can help support been selected to help practitioners of sustainability research in one place; implementation of the global goals. develop innovative and effective policies, facilitate ongoing debate about how But how might this work in practice? programmes and technologies to academia is supporting the field; and address global issues. define practical solutions for more In November, a diverse range of effective policymaking. colleagues from London, Berlin and Events and summits New York came together for a hack During 2018, we held events to bring Sustainable Earth day. We discussed how Springer together researchers, policymakers and is a fully open Nature could contribute to SDG 2: businesses to consider how the latest access journal that Zero hunger, through the content we research can help decision making and directly addresses publish and other tools and services. sustainable solutions. the SDGs. It aims Some of the ideas presented to bridge the are now being taken forward. In Singapore, we hosted Science and research–policy We hope to hold more hack the Sustainable City, an event co-located divide through days and workshops on other with the World Cities Summit; and, in the publication SDG topics in 2019. Washington DC, our second Science on of guideline the Hill event brought the latest research articles, which provide a sound evidence on artificial intelligence and robotics base and make direct suggestions for BRINGING THE SDGs TO LIFE in healthcare to the US Congress. policy implementation. The journal FOR CHILDREN We hope to develop more events and has a community focus and through a activities in 2019. partnership with the Canopy Project, one In India, Macmillan Education tree will be planted for every reviewer has worked with UNESCO and Sustainability publications report received in the peer-review local education boards to include Many of Springer Nature’s journals process. Early articles have addressed SDG-related content in curriculum address sustainability issues of topics such as biophilic urbanism (the materials. Intended to help primary- relevance to the SDGs. In 2018, we incorporation of natural elements in the school-aged children learn more launched several new publications with built environment), climate information about environmental issues and direct relevance to the global research services and planetary boundaries. sustainable development, these communities that are seeking to make include project work, videos and a real difference: The Springer Sustainable Development songs on topics such as air and Goals series published two new books soil pollution, waste and water Nature in 2018, with several more planned management, and personal and Sustainability is for 2019. All are guided by an expert community hygiene. an interdisciplinary international advisory panel. journal that blends A second set of printed materials Managing the impacts of Springer Nature natural, social and online apps explores World In this report (and elsewhere), we outline and engineering Heritage sites in India. This will some of the most significant impacts that research to support develop the investigative skills of Springer Nature has on the environment new policies and young learners while introducing and society. We use the SDGs as a deliver actionable them to the concepts of heritage framework to consider the potential solutions to sustainability challenges. The and conservation. impacts of the business – both positive journal’s content intersects with almost and negative – and how we manage them every one of the UN’s SDGs, with (see more on pages 24–27). a particular interest in sustainable

Springer Nature publishes content relating to all 17 SDGs. These nine goals are directly addressed by content shared on the Springer Nature Grand Challenges portal.

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Diversity benefits science

It is imperative for us as publishers to find ways to address any problem that is standing in the way of great research, so we seek to collaborate with research communities to raise the bar on diversity and inclusion. For Springer Nature, working towards an even more inclusive and diverse workplace creates opportunities. It contributes to increasing employee engagement and allows our people to perform at their best and it drives innovation and helps us to cater to the diverse We introduced communities we serve. a diversity and inclusion roadmap in 2018.

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Given the importance of publication and We are a diverse organisation, with our In 2018, Springer Nature’s management other academic activities, from peer workforce located in around 50 countries board agreed to set global targets for review and conference participation to and women making up 57% of that improving the gender balance in our academic success and visibility, several workforce. But the gender and cultural global leadership positions. While many recent studies have called for journals balance decreases with seniority and of the actions that we are taking in our and other stakeholders to take steps varies by region: for example, in the top D&I strategy are relevant through all to ensure against bias and to promote three tiers of the organisation, including tiers of the organisation, we believe that representation of women and under- the management board, only 39% of the an increasing proportion of women in represented groups. 315 individuals are women. Of these senior decision-making roles is one way tiers, 65% are European nationals, which to measure our success. This should have Across the whole of Springer Nature, doesn’t reflect the geographical spread a positive impact on the gender pay gap our people interact with more than of either revenue or people. We value within the company over time. one million researchers and authors local and regional market knowledge: every year, coordinating the activity of most of our management teams have By 2023 we are aiming for 45% of those around 90,000 editors and 700,000 been hired locally and come from global leaders in the top three tiers of the peer reviewers, and meeting with many the region in which they work. organisation to be women, in comparison others at conferences and symposia. with 39% today. We are also considering Editorial boards and peer reviewers other key performance indicators to track make judgements and decisions about our progress towards becoming a more the type of research that gets published. inclusive and diverse company. Our conference team arranges more than 30 conferences each year, working with 39% 65% In countries where there is a legal panellists and keynote speakers. framework for diversity reporting, we publish additional information. of our top of our top This includes gender pay gap reporting, 1 three tiers of three tiers of as required in the UK. management management are women. are of European UK Gender pay Discover more gap report nationality. at 5 April 2018 2018 UK Gender — pay gap report Our aim: by 2023, Our new global director of diversity and inclusion has led the development of a 45% of the top D&I roadmap. The roadmap identifies three tiers of the two initial areas of focus: gender balance organisation will and cultural diversity in our senior be women. leadership roles; and global decision- making bodies and the pipeline that leads to them.

To drive change, we focused on several With such a large network, we can initiatives spanning inclusive leadership, positively contribute to improvements in recruiting, talent development, metrics diversity and inclusion (D&I) in science – and community building. To start the and we take this responsibility seriously. conversation, we have rolled out online training to all employees about how to Diversity and inclusion in our business identify and address unconscious bias, We are proud to play an active role in with on-site workshops about inclusive promoting and celebrating diversity both leadership due to follow in 2019. A through our publications and across our recruiting checklist for hiring managers company. Since 2016, a global Springer and human resources aims to support Nature task force has been working to our recruitment process so that we understand the diversity challenges we reach a broader pool of talent. In some face, and what we can do to attract and locations, this is supported by on-site retain diverse talent, so that we become sessions on implicit bias in recruiting. a truly inclusive workplace.

1 www.springernature.com/responsiblebusiness

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SN PRIDE NETWORK

Sponsored by our CEO Daniel Ropers, SN Pride was launched in 2018. More than 300 colleagues have joined this employee resource group, with local representatives in London, the Netherlands, Spain, Argentina, Germany and the US. Employee resource groups like SN Pride aim to facilitate information sharing, networking, professional and personal development, aid community outreach and support Photo by Geoff Marsh diversity in our recruitment Members and supporters of the SN Pride Network, London chapter. processes. The network seeks to create a space in which people Mentoring Diversity and representation, feel comfortable and represented. We are piloting two mentoring working with research and Feedback from colleagues so far programmes. education communities has been very positive. There is a large body of research Rachel Jacobs, Group General The first, for international mid-level suggesting that persistent gender Counsel and D&I Champion: “We managers around the world, aims to disparities exist in research and are committed to diversity and foster exchange, raise the profile of education communities. This includes inclusion at the highest levels of international talent, and contribute to the distribution of research funding, the organisation and while I think succession planning and our future institutional hiring, the allocation of we have made a good start on our talent pipeline. institutional resources, authorship on diversity and inclusion journey, there papers, the representation of academic is still much more we can do. Change A second pilot supports mid-level editors and peer reviewers in journal has to come from all of us when managers who have parenting or care processes, and speaker opportunities creating a truly inclusive workplace, responsibilities, where a mentor provides at conferences. and SN Pride provides both a virtual guidance and support to help the and a real-world community to mentee continue to pursue their career During 2018, Nature Human Behaviour enable sharing of ideas, networking development actively while navigating has published research about how gender opportunities and more.” family responsibilities. diversity – in research teams, research methods and research questions – can aid Employee networks scientific discovery and innovation.2 Other In 2018, we supported employees publications demonstrated that there in setting up networks they feel are is far more to do: research published in important. We launched SN Pride, our Nature Geoscience claimed that there has network for the LGBTQ+ community been little progress in ethnic and racial and allies. In 2019, community building diversity in earth, atmospheric and ocean around D&I will remain an important sciences in the past 40 years.3 part of our approach and we will continue to offer opportunities for colleagues to Tackling this issue head-on, Nature get involved with planned new employee Research set up its own diversity steering groups, including a parents network, a group, chaired by the editor-in-chief, network for employees with disabilities, in 2017. Now taking a company-wide and a women’s network. approach, this group seeks to explore how we work with the research community to make a positive difference, with a particular focus on addressing the speed of change. Scientific American also has its own diversity steering group.

2 “Making gender diversity work for scientific discovery and innovation” Nature Human Behaviour (2018) 3 “No progress on diversity in 40 years” Nature Geoscience (2018)

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Workstreams are currently looking at minimising the gender gap in areas such DIVERSITY IN PEER REVIEW NATURE RESEARCH AWARDS: CHAMPIONING INSPIRATIONAL as the make-up of conference panels, During Peer Review Week in WOMEN SCIENTISTS the authorship of commissioned content, September 2018, Springer Nature editors-in-chief and editorial board hosted an afternoon of talks and Astrophysicist Mirjana Pović has members, and peer reviewers. We are debates at a London university, to taught science to orphans in working to ensure that commissioned encourage discussion around the Rwanda, helped to organise content represents issues that impact theme of diversity and inclusion in community support for women minority and disadvantaged populations. peer review. Editors and authors with HIV in Tanzania and from our journals, blog platforms contributed to space research in We are also working to improve the and social media networks explored Africa. She has also excelled in her diversity of talent coming into the many aspects of the peer-review own research at the Ethiopian research and publishing sectors. process. These included a patient Space Science and Technology Colleagues are volunteering to support peer-review trial being conducted Institute in Addis Ababa and the students from diverse and under- by BMC, and ways to make the pool Institute of Astrophysics of represented backgrounds, including of peer reviewers across the global Andalusia in Granada, Spain. a programme where around 30 academic community more inclusive colleagues in London mentor young and diverse. The panel discussion In recognition of her work, she women considering further study in was live-tweeted, resulting in 46,000 received Nature Research’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, social media impressions and more Inspiring Science Award, one mathematics) subjects, and another than 700 engagements – a reflection of two new prizes developed in initiative where colleagues provide of the level of interest in the topic. partnership with The Estée Lauder tutoring to A-level science students Companies, at a ceremony in from local schools (see page 30). London in October 2018.4 In recognition of efforts to attract more girls and young women to science, The first-ever Nature Research and to honour early-career women Award for Innovating Science was researchers, in 2018 we launched the presented to the Association of Nature Research Awards for Innovating Hungarian Women in Science in Science and Inspiring Science. (NaTE) for sponsoring Girls’ Day, a campaign that encourages high-school students to consider a career in science and technology. The campaign has attracted some 10,000 participants over the seven years that it has run. Photo by Russell Davies Photo by Geoff Marsh Mentors from Springer Nature offer guidance and support to STEM students from a girls’ school local to our offices.

Katalin Balázsi (left) accepts the Nature Research Award for Innovating Science, on behalf of the Association of Hungarian Women in Science (NaTE), and Mirjana Pović (right) receives the Inspiring Science Award.

4 “Hungarian association wins prize for promoting participation of women in science” Nature (2018)

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PUBLISHING ROBUST, ACCESSIBLE RESEARCH

Improving the publishing process

We are proud to be the largest open access research publisher in the world. We work hard to ensure that the research we publish is of the highest quality and disseminated as widely as possible. One of the most effective ways to advance discovery is to improve the integrity and speed of the publishing process, for the benefit of the whole research community. We believe that our primary duty is to make the work we publish easy to discover, access, understand, use, reuse and share. Springer Nature publishes more open access research than any other publisher.

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Research integrity Research Integrity Group (SNRIG). The All issues reported to our staff are Committed to our role as guardians of the SNRIG works with authors, editors, staff, investigated: in 2018, the SNRIG scholarly record, we strive to ensure that reviewers and the research community to looked into more than 1,000 cases, all published content meets appropriate maintain high editorial standards and to in the context of around one million editorial and ethical standards. We aspire prevent misconduct. It does this by: submissions to Springer Nature each to support the highest levels of integrity year. The most frequently reported in research, seek to identify errors and • providing resources on publication issues were plagiarism; duplicate misconduct, and commit to transparently ethics issues, including eight training submissions and publications; and and rapidly correcting the published modules launched in 2018 problems with authorship, data or record where necessary. the peer-review process (see below). • promoting both the adoption of If issues are confirmed, we take action best practice by all stakeholders, As a member of the Committee on by publishing expressions of concern and the ethical conduct, reporting Publication Ethics (COPE), Springer or, in very serious cases, retracting and evaluation of research Nature is guided by COPE principles related articles. when handling cases of research and • investigating potentially unethical publication misconduct. We have a Code practices while ensuring all involved of Conduct for editors, which sets out are treated fairly the standards we expect in relation to • advising editors on appropriate publication ethics, and use COPE’s online actions, such as correction or resources to inform the discussion of retraction, when unsound publications difficult cases. or unethical practices are found.

Continuing to prioritise research integrity Employees or others with whom across all our publications, we appointed we work can report concerns via an a dedicated research integrity director editor or through a confidential in 2018, to lead the Springer Nature whistleblowing system, Speak-Up.

PEER REVIEW

Peer reviews lie at the heart of the In December, Springer Nature and We engage with a network research process and are central to the Publons, part of Clarivate Analytics, of more than integrity of the scientific record. Our teamed up to improve the peer-review network of internal and external editors process and enable reviewers to receive spends thousands of hours identifying recognition for their contributions. 700,000 and selecting suitable reviewers, and peer reviewers Following a successful pilot, which saw managing the process of peer review. 60,000 reviewers record more than This assures and improves the quality 275,000 reviews on Publons, the new of the scientific literature we publish Publons Reviewer Recognition Service and, in doing so, advances discovery. will be rolled out across more than We continually invest and innovate 2,000 Springer Nature journals. It will in peer reviews to find the most recognise the work of the researchers appropriate process for the different (who provide more than one million communities we serve, and we are reviews every year), starting with pioneering several new developments Scientific Reports, which is one of the in peer review, including open, double- world’s largest open access journals.5 blind and recognition rewards.

5 Publons reviewer recognition service

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In 2018, BMC and Nature We require authors of primary life science Driven by our long-standing experience Communications joined other publishers research papers in Nature journals in this area, we are working with a in calling for greater transparency in the to submit a checklist to support the group of journal editors and experts on peer-review process, by signing an open transparent reporting of key practices, transparent reporting and reproducibility letter coordinated by ASAPbio. Open including randomising, blinding and to develop minimal reporting standards peer-review reports are now published calculating appropriate sample sizes. in the life sciences. alongside articles in 70 BMC journals. Two independent studies have found evidence of increased reporting standards We also provide services to help make Working with cross-industry groups, we in Nature journal papers resulting from data sets more accessible, readable and are also experimenting with blockchain the introduction of reporting checklists usable so that other researchers can to make the peer-review process more and specific references.7,8 replicate the original work. transparent and trustworthy. The technology allows authors, editors In a 2017 survey of Nature authors, which Solutions that empower lab scientists and reviewers to share information sought to understand their perceptions to quickly find, evaluate and reproduce efficiently, while respecting privacy of such reproducibility initiatives, 49% experimental procedures are a critical and confidentiality.6 thought that the checklist had improved aspect of scientific research. Launched the quality of research published in in 2018, Springer Nature Experiments Reproducibility Nature (15% disagreed) and 37% thought brings together a portfolio of around All readers of scientific literature need the checklist had improved quality 60,000 articles about protocols and to feel confident that the analyses and in their field overall (20% disagreed). methods, drawing on the entire Springer results of all published research are Encouragingly, a remarkable 78% said Nature protocols and methods portfolio. trustworthy and that, if the research that they had continued to use the As the first research tool of its kind in life were to be repeated, the same result checklist to some extent, irrespective of sciences, Springer Nature Experiments would occur. Supporting the research their plans to submit research to a Nature can play a key role in supporting community with robust processes is an journal in the future.9 reproducibility and scientific robustness. important part of the publishers’ role.

There has been much discussion in the academic community about the ability 600+ for research results to be replicated by fully open access journals others, and the tools used by publishers 49% to avoid misleading or inaccurate research from being released. Nature journals have been at the leading edge of authors thought of this push for rigour and reproducibility that the checklist through thought leadership, advocacy, improved the quality policies, infrastructure and service of research published. solutions. Our strategy for supporting transparent, reproducible research is built on five main areas: experimental design (including reporting standards and checklists), data, code, materials and protocols.

6 www.blockchainpeerreview.org/faqs/ 7 Study in BioRxiv (2017) 8 Study in PLOS (2017) 9 “Checklists work to improve science” Nature (2018)

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Opening up research

As the rapid evolution of technology Globally, around one third of all research We were also the first major publisher creates ever-more channels to published by Springer Nature is done so to enable the sharing of subscription disseminate and amplify research, we can under an immediate (gold) open access content. Our free content-sharing connect people with the most relevant and model. We now publish more than 600 initiative, SharedIt, provides shareable important information, so that they can fully open access journals, and more links to view-only versions of papers in discover and learn more. We want to bring than 1,900 Springer Open Choice (hybrid) subscription journals. academic research to broader audiences journals. More than 70% of Springer in more engaging and accessible ways, Nature journal content published by We want to advance discovery through and enable the sharing of both open authors from the UK, Sweden, Austria data sharing, and are committed to access and subscription content. and the Netherlands is now published via helping researchers take an open gold open access. approach to their data wherever Taking action to make our content possible. We make research accessible as accessible as possible, Springer to a wide audience through our award- Nature has done more to drive the open winning journalistic content, and with access agenda – in new developments, 14 local language editions of Scientific investment, risk-taking and volume – 29% American, we reach an even wider than any other publisher. In the past geographic audience. 20 years, we have embraced offsetting agreements; invested in BioMed We make our content available via Central (BMC) and Open Choice; machine-readable interfaces. Our Proportion of research voluntarily adopted a six-month references are available via Crossref, published immediate embargo for Nature titles; made Nature while reference lists, together with (gold) open access in 2018. Communications fully open access; broader open linked data, are accessible and launched Scientific Reports, a through SciGraph. multidisciplinary open access journal.

We now publish more than 90,000 immediate open access papers a year and continue to explore new solutions. But, as a first mover, we also experience challenges first hand: funding flows that need to change, a lack of global coordination, disciplines that lack open access resources, and institutions that try to benefit from taking a back seat. As policymakers and funders consider how research can be made more open and accessible, we have a role to play in developing a solution that is sustainable for all.

We encourage preprint posting and self-archiving of author-accepted manuscripts and have some of the most liberal policies of any publisher. 1,900+ Springer Open Choice (hybrid) journals Springer Nature has done more to drive the open access agenda than any other publisher and we publish around one in four of all open access research articles worldwide.

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Opening up research pre-publication Sharing experimental data We have been working to improve We believe that research data should be PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS visibility of potentially significant easy to find and access, so that it can science that is being considered for be used in other research programmes Opening up access to research publication and encourage collaboration around the world. We have been requires collaboration among opportunities in the research community. proactively developing services to help funders, institutions, researchers In 2018, Springer Nature, working with the research community share its data in and publishers. Believing that partner Research Square, launched In reusable and accessible ways: such partnerships will help us to Review, a service that aims to open up the accelerate progress, Springer Nature • We work closely with repositories submission and peer-review process for is partnering with the Wellcome and organisations that promote and authors and beyond. The first service of Trust on a pilot project to help its support open standards, including its kind, In Review provides authors with funded researchers make their the Research Data Alliance, CODATA real time access to the submission status data sets available to the wider and FORCE11. of their manuscript at a granular level, research community. including the number of reviewers invited, • Since 2014, Scientific Data, an online number of reports received and access open access journal, has given We are also working with to a private author dashboard through researchers publication credits for ResearchGate, an online professional which they can suggest reviewers. It also describing their data sets, making them network for sharing and discussing allows authors to showcase their work more useful and reusable. research, to understand how to funders and others, and to engage researchers can legally access, use • BMC Research Notes enables the wider community for comment, and share our content on its platform. researchers to publish short notes, collaboration and potential citations, observations and descriptions of while their manuscript is under review. In data that might otherwise have Innovating to serve the research Review was initially available on a select remained in a lab notebook or as a community number of BMC journals and will be footnote in a data set. We want to apply our skills and resources rolled out across more Springer Nature beyond publishing to better serve the journals in 2019. In 2018, we published a survey of needs of researchers. This involves 7,700 researchers that demonstrated creating tools, services and training Access to research from that the academic community supports that help the research community to developing countries data sharing. Three-quarters (76%) understand and utilise new ideas and We invest in education and scientific of researchers rated the importance concepts, or providing the metrics and research in places where it’s needed of making their data discoverable highly, information for librarians and institutions but where people may not be able to and nearly two-thirds (63%) submitted to optimise their limited budgets. Our afford it, by supporting the initiatives of data files as supplementary information, focus is always on investing in initiatives organisations such as Research4Life, deposited the files in a repository or that add value. INASP and CGIAR. We also offer article did both. There are, however, also processing charge waivers to papers challenges to data sharing: being able Springer Nature is the largest publisher whose authors are based in low-income to organise it in a presentable and useful of academic text books – more than countries (as classified by the World way (46%), uncertainty about copyright 13,000 each year. We are, however, Bank in July 2018). and licensing (37%), and not knowing constantly innovating and believe which repository to use (33%). that technology has much to offer Through these programmes, Springer book publishing. In 2018, the first Nature offers low-fee, and sometimes Springer Nature has launched new books using the More Media digital free, access to research. This helps to support services to help researchers, application were published. The app, reduce the scientific knowledge gap institutions and funders manage and store which can be downloaded for free, between industrialised countries and research data. Editors curate and enhance allows print books to be enhanced by the developing world. metadata to improve its discoverability; interactive or multimedia content on they also help authors to draft summaries a smartphone or tablet. By scanning and data-availability statements to the page of the printed books, the improve human readability, data linking reader can immediately access relevant and citations. The new services can be digital content. used for any scholarly research data – including code, videos, images, text, raw We know we don’t have all the answers to and processed data – even if they are not the issues faced by our business and our associated with a publication. stakeholders, so we work in partnership In 2018, the first books using the More Media digital with others to develop solutions. application were published.

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Author satisfaction (% of 'excellent' or 'good' responses) ENGAGING PATIENTS AND 100% CARERS IN RESEARCH 90 89 89 89 88 88 87 87 80% Research Involvement and Engagement (RIE) is an 60% interdisciplinary health and social care journal focusing on patient 40% involvement and wider engagement in research. Submissions to the 20% journal are peer reviewed by both academics and patients, whose 0% editorial decisions carry equal weight. 2015 2016 2017 2018 This year, in cooperation with the Key Book authors Journal authors British Medical Journal, RIE conducted Note: Satisfaction measures have varied over time and so have been aligned for reporting purposes. a survey to learn more about the experience of patient peer reviewers. The feedback was positive: 90% In 2018, for example, we held hack days Production time for books (days) in Germany and the UK, bringing together of respondents felt it was ‘extremely’ Dec 2017 business expertise and developers to 115 or ‘very’ important to add patient explore potential options. At our first or carer perspectives to an article, Sep 2018 76 hackathon in San Francisco, hosted at and 92% thought more journals the Microsoft Reactor, we explored how should adopt patient review. Copyright and protecting virtual and mixed-reality technologies intellectual property As a result, the editors of RIE plan to could use the millions of scientific data We believe that authors should retain continue to explore the contribution points to which we have access to solve copyright and receive clear credit for and impact of patient peer reviews for real-world problems. Over two-and- any work published in our books or the benefit of public healthcare. a-half days, several prototypes were journals. As such, in 2017 we agreed to developed, including a way to visualise stop taking copyright from authors of and track the global degradation of coral subscription primary research articles; reefs, in the hope of raising awareness the implementation of this approach and helping to address this major is ongoing. In 2018, we amended ecosystem crisis. our remaining Copyright Transfer Agreements to be more permissive To track how well we are meeting and, during 2019, we will require only the evolving needs of the research an exclusive Licence to Publish for the community, we monitor the satisfaction primary research we publish. of the authors, reviewers and editors who work on our books and journal articles. It is important that we protect our Authors consistently rate Springer authors against any infringement of their Nature very highly: in 2018, 61% of intellectual property, while considering journal-article authors rated their overall the sensitivities and concerns of the experience as ‘excellent’ and another research community. We proactively 28% as ‘good’. Springer Nature has joined large and identify, monitor and take action against small publishers, university presses and potential infringements, to ensure that Where such surveys identify areas for learned societies in a group exploring any threats to the intellectual property improvement, we look to make changes: how to address the harm being caused rights of our authors are targeted, for example, production time for books by pirate sites, including Sci-Hub. These disrupted and, where possible, closed has significantly reduced during the illegally share the content of libraries, down. Any concerns about online past two years, from an average of academic institutions, learned societies piracy or physical counterfeiting can 115 days in December 2017 to 76 days and publishers, and ultimately affect the be reported to our anti-piracy team. in September 2018, as a result of accuracy of the scientific record. measures to standardise and unify processes for book production across different parts of Springer Nature.

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PEOPLE AND PARTNERS

Responsibility to our people

With our people located in more than 50 countries around the world, Springer Nature comprises many internationally dispersed and globally organised teams. A large proportion of our employees are highly skilled and academically qualified, with nearly two-thirds educated to at least master’s degree level or equivalent. In our Research business, we often recruit people in the early stages of their careers and provide them with opportunities to acquire additional editorial and technology skills, useful for their future. We adopted a global health and safety policy in 2018.

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We provide support that helps our Our Code of Conduct and leadership In 2018, more than global leaders to work efficiently in principles set out our expectations of virtual teams, communicate across all who work for us: that all employees geographies and cultures, and develop are treated fairly and respectfully by 9,000 diverse leadership groups that reflect directors, managers and colleagues. the wider workforce. We offer training Everyone at Springer Nature has a employees completed values programmes, ranging from business responsibility to help us maintain a safe and conduct training skills to resilience, via LEAP, our and respectful workplace free from online learning platform. These can discrimination, harassment, unwanted be accessed globally and are made physical contact, intimidation or bias. available in multiple languages. To make This is supported by training modules sure our employees benefit from these about values and conduct, which opportunities, we run regular online includes training on anti-harassment and on-site sessions to demonstrate and unconscious bias. In 2018, more how to use LEAP and its integrated than 9,000 employees completed this online libraries for professional and training. An anti-discrimination policy personal development. will be rolled out in 2019. Our diversity and inclusion strategy is covered on pages 10–13 of this report.

Forging a common culture just beginning to measure employee PULSE ENGAGEMENT Springer Nature has an established set of engagement in this way, we have been INDEX SCORE behaviours, rolled out to leadership and advised that this is a good result. But, relevant to all employees, which aim to we want to continually improve our Our engagement index of 70 has capture our culture and ways of working. engagement over the long term and, been judged as ‘good’ by our survey in particular, identify the reasons why partner Kantar TNS, but we can see Our global leadership programme certain business areas and locations from the results that our ranking is for both new and established senior exhibit lower levels of engagement. slightly below their benchmark, and managers enhances a common we want to make progress. framework that reflects our company The results of this initial survey will act values. It aims to equip participants with as the baseline for future measurement TNS Springer Index the tools they need to lead their teams and reporting. In 2019, our senior norm Nature in a complex environment, while helping managers will use the results and open 100 them to demonstrate our behaviours. comments to identify our key issues. This may also lead to additional surveys about Excellent Since the start of the programme in individual topics, or for specific groups 80 2016, 607 leaders have attended or regions, helping us in the long run to 74 58 programmes, delivered in four improve employee engagement. 70 languages at locations around the world. 60 Looking after our people In line with one of our behaviours, listen In 2018, we adopted a global health and engage with people, we conducted and safety policy, which references both 40 our first Pulse engagement survey in mental and physical health risks. This 2018. These short, targeted employee helps us to coordinate our initiatives and ‘health checks’ give us an indication of build on the work that individual offices 20 how people are feeling. By holding them have been doing. In the US, Germany regularly, we’ll be able to keep track of and the UK, we provide a confidential our progress and make improvements. assistance service to employees and 0 Low their families when they need advice In this first year, our engagement score or support on issues related to stress, was slightly below the global all-industry finances or health and wellbeing. benchmark used by our survey partner We also provide training modules in Kantar TNS. For a relatively new global related areas, including resilience and company (three years post-merger) stress management.

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Responsible business practices

Code of Conduct Springer Nature considers compliance • an understanding that this research Our businesses have a strong set of with the laws and regulations that impact needs to be published quickly while still common values and a collective desire our business to be an essential part of commanding the highest level of trust to have a positive impact on society. acting responsibly. This means that: • our responsibility in safeguarding Springer Nature’s Code of Conduct • we will adhere to all applicable the scientific accuracy of the and our Code of Conduct for Business laws, even if this involves a business published record Partners are essential frameworks. They disadvantage set out the guidelines and boundaries of • our understanding of the changing how we treat each other as colleagues, • where national laws are more needs of the academic community. suppliers and customers. restrictive than our internal policies We are working with our partners, and and guidelines, national laws take particularly our external editors, to The codes of conduct build on the clear precedence. Equally, where local make sure that these standards are well vision that describes how we operate: laws are less restrictive, we expect our understood by everyone who contributes employees and other representatives • As proactive partners, we build strong to our publications. to follow our own codes and relationships with our suppliers and global policies. customers based on mutual respect Respect for human rights and trust. This ensures that we can all We follow the UN Global Compact, Publishing and editorial policies benefit from collaboration. the OECD Guidelines for Multinational We believe that scholarly communication Enterprises and the standards issued by • As quality champions, we work harder is aided by making our operating the International Labour Organization to ensure the job is done in the best processes more transparent. (ILO), and expect our business partners possible way. This means always acting Demonstrating our joined-up approach to do the same. Our annually updated with honesty and integrity, applying to being the most progressive research Modern Slavery Statement sets out more the same high standards to how we publisher, in 2017 we created a new fully how we monitor and address these do things as to what we do. home for our publishing and editorial areas in our supply chain. policies on our website. • As industry pioneers, we have a We recognise the important role that responsibility to set an example for Developed in consultation with the international business plays in the the rest of the publishing world. research communities we serve, fight against corruption. In addition to We should always strive to use our including our authors, peer reviewers, our internal policies, our chief risk and influence for good. external editors and library customers, compliance officer represents Springer our policies underpin: Nature in the International Chamber of • our respect for academic independence Commerce UK Committee on Corporate Responsibility and Anti-Corruption • our commitment to giving authors a Policy, and contributed to the OECD/G20 real choice in the mode of publication Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance for their research Handbook for Business.

We monitor and audit our supply chain EMPLOYEE WELLBEING for issues including labour standards, data protection/information security and In September 2018, colleagues in colleagues to available resources anti-corruption. In 2018 this programme New York held a Health and Wellness and support, shape our wellbeing covered 172 suppliers, with active Fair. At the event, staff could speak agenda in the UK and play a key role monitoring of 50 of those in 2018. The to a variety of health specialists, in fostering a positive culture. The majority of higher risk observations were including acupuncturists, nutritionists, group provides a vital forum, giving in the area of health and safety and action representatives from sports clubs and colleagues access to the support they plans are implemented with oversight by financial advisors, receive podiatry need to thrive at work. the Springer Nature employee responsible assessments and BMI screenings, for the supplier relationship. and use massage chairs. The fair In offices in a number of countries we demonstrates our willingness to support have rooms dedicated to employee every aspect of employee health. wellbeing, including quiet rooms. In New Zealand, the relaxation room We have a dedicated Wellbeing Group provides space for reading or yoga and in the UK, with volunteer Wellbeing the team hold regular discussions on Champions who embed this role the theme of health and wellbeing. into their working day. They direct

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The main areas of risk in our supply chain and how we audit them

Risk assessment Contractual clauses  On-site audits Pre-contract due Ongoing monitoring  We reassess our We are starting to We review our highest- diligence All relevant suppliers supply-chain risks include ethical conduct risk suppliers every All significant potential are required to every year, looking at clauses, including audit year. Suppliers with suppliers that are complete and update the types of goods and rights, in the contracts whom we spend at in scope for active our labour standards services provided, the of relevant suppliers. least €100,000 per management are questionnaire every locations of suppliers year, and who work required to complete three years (unless and the estimated for us in higher-risk a due diligence they have been audited annual level of spend. territories, are also questionnaire. within the required independently audited timeframe). at least once every three years.

Tax strategy IF YOU SEE SOMETHING – We commit to contribute a fair share SAY SOMETHING of tax. We structure our tax affairs efficiently, in line with legislation and We encourage our employees and customary practice in the jurisdictions business partners to raise any where we operate, and do not tolerate questions or concerns they have tax planning that might give rise to a about the way we operate as soon tax result contrary to the letter and as possible. Our message is, “If you see something – say something”. clear intentions of the regulation and In 2018, around 800 staff received GDPR training. legislation. We subscribe to initiatives Any authors, suppliers, editors and customers who don’t wish to contact that increase tax transparency. The General Data Protection Regulation us directly can use Speak-Up, a effective tax rate (i.e. adjusted weighted Springer Nature has always taken confidential whistleblowing system. average rate) of the Springer Nature a responsible approach to data Group for 2018 is approximately 30%. protection compliance. Our data All reports received – via Speak- Our tax strategy for the year ended protection programme is based on, and Up or directly to our compliance 31 December 2018 is published on compliant with, the European General officers – are reviewed, redirected our website: www.springernature.com/ Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if appropriate, escalated where responsiblebusiness. and is applicable globally throughout necessary and actions reported to our business. senior leaders. Summaries of the Digital security and data protection most significant reports are provided We aim to be a data-driven and customer- In February 2018, we established a to Springer Nature’s supervisory centric organisation, offering valuable central data protection office, led by the board twice a year. services and insights. We recognise group data protection officer. This team In 2018, a total of 233 reports were the potential risks to customers, staff works closely with business stakeholders received, 173 via the Speak-Up and company reputation if we don’t to ensure that we handle both staff and system. There were 132 reports ensure the security and resiliency of our customer data in a secure and compliant related to areas covered by our data and our systems. manner. It is responsible for giving Code of Conduct. This reflects advice, training staff, conducting privacy a significant increase in volume We have therefore established several impact assessments of new systems, and of reports received on previous technical and organisational measures reviewing our existing processes to ensure years, which is a positive reflection designed to protect our systems, they remain compliant. In 2018, around of the effectiveness and growing commercially sensitive information, 800 staff received either department- awareness of our system. and other customer and staff data. specific or general GDPR training. In line with our long-term These include embedding ‘security commitment to support employees first’ principles into our application We also adopted a new Global Privacy and others in raising their concerns, development process, and rolling out and Information Technology Policy, we appointed Dr Thomas Thiekoetter security initiatives at infrastructure covering the collection, use and security as our ombudsman in 2018. and server level. of information. This provides a framework Dr Thiekoetter can be contacted for implementing and maintaining directly or through Speak-Up. group standards whenever personal or confidential information is handled.

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RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Managing environmental impacts

Our environmental footprint shows that the impact of our operations, although not insignificant, is modest for a company of our size. We are office-based, with no manufacturing operations, although the dispersed locations of the markets we serve means many of our people travel regularly, often by air.

In 2018, we reduced our carbon emissions by

18% (net)

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With respect to the environment, Disseminating trusted science we believe we can make the biggest With much public concern over contribution to the UN’s SDGs by: misinformation on environmental issues 80+ such as climate change, we recognise • enhancing international access to members in Springer Nature’s that our role as a trusted publisher of robust and policy-relevant science global Green Office Network credible research is to present evidence (relevant to several goals but in an impartial and accessible way. especially SDG 17: Partnerships Trusted and policy-relevant research, for the goals) disseminated responsibly, is crucial to • looking carefully at how we can enable individuals, governments and reduce our own carbon footprint companies to make informed choices. (SDG 13: Climate action)

• working with our supply chain to reduce the potential negative impacts of paper production (especially relevant to SDG 15: Life on land).

Responsible sourcing of paper to monitor compliance. We received a Increasingly, our content is distributed good response to our first data request OPEN AND TIMELY ACCESS TO digitally. Our research publications have from these largest suppliers and we ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH led the move to online content, and there are now working with those that found We mark global awareness days has also been a significant growth in it harder to answer all the questions, to by creating, promoting and print-on-demand for books and journals. understand their data systems and how offering free access to relevant This means that products are only printed they can demonstrate compliance with content. During 2018, our Earth when they are ordered, reducing waste. our requirements. Day and World Environment Day Our textbooks, journals and other learning campaigns featured blog posts materials, however, are still typically For the surveyed printers, we were able and curated content on key printed, and we used 32,178 metric to confirm that more than 80% of the themes such as plastic pollution, tonnes of production paper in 2018. paper used by them for our products, the urban environment, water This represents a 3% increase against was in compliance with our responsible issues and the 1.5˚C Paris Climate 2017, which is is largely due to improved paper sourcing policy. Around 10% was Agreement target. Visitors to data gathering, allowing us to collect ungraded, and we are working with our pages were particularly information on a wider range of products. suppliers and PREPS to grade these interested in content related papers to confirm compliance. A further to ocean plastics and to water Because all our books and journals are 10% was graded 1 star in PREPS, which resources in urban environments. printed by third-party suppliers, they is not compliant with our policy. The source most of the paper used on our majority of this related to one paper behalf. Our group-wide paper policy type, and we have already taken steps to states that we will only use paper graded source alternative papers that meet the 3 or 5 stars in the Publisher’s Database paper policy. for Responsible Environmental Paper Sourcing (PREPS). This means that In 2019, we will work with PREPS and our it must come from known, legal and largest suppliers to ensure we are using responsible sources. paper graded 3 star or 5 star wherever Springer Environmental Sciences possible, or considering alternative paper has compiled a collection of open Our environment committee, comprised stock where this is not possible. We aim access books covering a wide range of senior executives from across to phase out paper stock that does not of environmental topics. the business, has worked with the comply with our policy, unless a strict procurement and purchasing teams to exceptions process has been followed In a year that has seen the gather data on the paper sourced for and the paper use approved by a senior devastating effects of forest fires, our products, to ensure compliance with manager. We will continue to audit our it is also timely that we have our policy. Beginning with our largest most significant suppliers to ensure their added the journal Fire Ecology to print suppliers, representing around ongoing compliance with our responsible the SpringerOpen portfolio. It 74% of our overall paper supply, we sourcing of paper policy. features articles on the ecological shared the updated paper policy and and management aspects of introduced a new reporting process wildland fires.

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Understanding the impacts of our operations

In 2018, we gathered environmental been extrapolated from financial of more complete data reporting by travel data from 46 core sites, representing data, erring on the side of providers serving our Indian business and approximately 77% of our total building overestimation. We align our carbon changes to official conversion factors. This area, 80% of our energy consumption calculation methodology for business was compensated for by a small decrease and 88% of our headcount.10 Data is flights to that of our largest travel in energy consumption, including a 40% extrapolated for the remainder of our sites. management company, BCD. decrease in diesel generator usage in India thanks to fewer power cuts. Our energy and carbon footprints Energy efficiency at our sites Electricity consumption at some of our Our net carbon emissions fell by 18% Net greenhouse gas emissions * largest sites has reduced compared compared with 2017, as we tripled our (tonnes CO2e) 2018 with 2017. While weather conditions in purchases of renewable electricity 2018 were a factor, we are also seeing backed by energy-attribute certificates. savings from energy-efficiency measures: for example, in our large Argentinian As our sites are mostly leased, we have Total warehouse, the installation of LED lighting limited scope for generating renewable 32,439 reduced annual electricity consumption by electricity on our buildings. For Germany, 13%. We also expect to see savings next we have committed to purchasing year by implementing LED lighting in our guarantees of origin certificates, largest Australian office. equivalent to 3.5GWh of electricity per year for 2018 and 2019; this Scope 1: 5,111 (2017: 4,945) Meanwhile, in India, six of our larger represents 90% of our German electricity Scope 2: 3,166 (2017: 10,127) offices worked to revitalise the usage in 2018. We also purchased Scope 3: ‘switch off at night’ policy for lighting I-RECs (international renewable energy Flights 21,449 (2017: 20,751) and equipment, engaging staff through certificates) equivalent to our entire Leased building services 639 (2017: 1,617) an awareness campaign and training 2018 electricity use in India. At some Transmission and distribution of for new starters. These efforts are European sites, we purchase renewable energy 2,074 (2017: 2,167) supported by the use of environmental energy under green tariffs, again backed sensors, timers and other controls where by certificates. * See footnotes 6, 7 and 8 on page 32 appropriate. The introduction of better air-conditioning controls at one of our In total, in 2018 we sourced energy Our approach to carbon reporting large Indian offices has also seen a attribute certificates equivalent to is aligned with the Greenhouse Gas 14% reduction in electricity use 71% of our total usage, compared with Protocol Corporate Accounting and compared with 2017, echoing earlier 17% in 2017. Reporting Standard: successes at four other sites. • Scope 1 includes emissions associated Total energy (MWh)* with the use of natural gas, diesel One of our larger Indian offices, in (for back-up generators), fuel for Chennai, has introduced temperature 40,000 fleet vehicles and estimated sensors and software to manage air fugitive emissions of F-gases from conditioning levels. This has created a 31,360 31,779 air-conditioning systems. more comfortable work environment as 30,000 well as saving energy. We have introduced • Scope 2 includes emissions LED lighting, which has reduced 20,000 associated with the use of electricity maintenance requirements, improved and district heating. illumination levels and overall we have 10,000 Energy usage (MWh) usage Energy • Scope 3 includes emissions associated already reduced electricity consumption 15,392 with business flights, leased building by 4% compared with last year. 4,748 0 services (where service charges 2018 2017 are included within a flat fee) and Purchasing renewable electricity Year outsourced data centres. Data from Our gross carbon emissions (excluding our travel suppliers covers an the influence of renewable electricity Renewable energy (MWh)

estimated 78% of emissions associated purchasing) are level with 2017, with a * See footnotes 4 and 5 on page 32 with flights and the remainder has 3% increase in flight emissions because

10 Two ‘core’ sites, in the Netherlands and Japan, closed in 2017, while two new sites above the ‘core’ threshold (>100 employees) opened in Germany and India. Data for the new German site will not be available until 2019.

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We acknowledge that purchasing green campaigns in several large offices. Breaking our dependency on renewable electricity certificates is Paper usage has also reduced due to disposable plastic an interim measure in addressing greater digitisation. Water consumption for In 2018, we decided to stop wrapping the causes of climate change. Given drinking and sanitation has remained level. our new and re-printed books in plastic the urgency expressed in the UN before they are distributed for sale Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Green Office Network around the world. We have since reduced Change (IPCC) report in October 2018, In 2018, we launched a group-wide the tonnage of plastic we use in wrapping however, we feel it is right to complement Green Office Network to generate ideas Macmillan Education materials by more our energy efficiency savings by on how we can reduce the environmental than 75% since 2017. In other words, signalling our commitment to a green footprint of our offices. More than 80 5.6 million books were not wrapped in energy future. In 2019, we will continue colleagues from more than 20 locations plastic due to the change. to explore opportunities for greater are now involved and we hope that the energy efficiency, including conducting network will build over time, enabling best “A review in the catering facilities at our energy audits at some larger sites and practice sharing between sites. London campus found that 42% of the investigate the potential to include ‘off- waste produced was single-use plastic. grid’ renewable energy installations on “The Green Office Network helps us We set ourselves a target to reduce this our own buildings. pull together the different initiatives to 8% by the end of 2019. and harness employee enthusiasm to “Ceramic mugs for hot drinks were Resource use and waste generation do more. In January 2018, Macmillan already available in kitchens with Iberia created a CSR committee with Total paper use (t) dishwashing facilities. We encouraged representatives from across the 2018 2017 everyone to bring in their own reusable business. We started by publishing a Office paper 106 118 bottle for cold drinks. Paper straws are blog with a short checklist to find out now offered, although we emphasise that Production paper 32,178 31,203 how our central and regional offices were it is better to not use a straw altogether. dealing with green issues and to ask all Total site waste (t)* staff for ideas. Following an enthusiastic “As part of our recycling system for the 1,599 1,645 response, we prioritised a series of London campus, we work with Simply 2,000 environmental awareness campaigns. Cups to recycle single-use coffee cups. Wanting to do more, we offered a £2 “In April, we launched a campaign to contribution towards the purchase of one reduce single-use plastic. With the 1,000 reusable cup for every employee at the help of the procurement team, we have Tonnes site; more than 600 took up this offer. greatly reduced the use of disposable We encourage employees to bring their plastic in catering and stationery, and own cup by charging 50p extra for every 0 eliminated plastic coffee stirrers. We 2018 2017 hot drink that requires a disposable cup Year partner with the Seur Foundation in purchased in our café. its ‘bottle tops for a new life’ project, * See footnote 9 on page 32 collecting bottle and container tops in “As a result, between introducing the all our offices. The money obtained measures in September and the end of In 2018, we worked to improve data from recycling them goes to children the year, we saved more than 40,000 collection on our resource use and who need special medical treatment single-use cups and stopped 24,000 waste generation. We have improved and orthopaedic aids. single-use plastic glasses entering the the methodology we use to calculate waste stream. We will continue these “We have also launched a campaign to water use from bore wells in India, initiatives in 2019, including examining turn off unnecessary lighting, working although the high consumption of food packaging and processes to identify with cleaning contractors in our Madrid unmetered ‘corporation water’ in the opportunities for more reductions.” office to ensure all lights are turned state of Tamil Nadu continues to pose off in the evening. Going forward, we challenges for data accuracy. Mark Talbot, Head of Facilities Operations, are looking at a range of other options, Group Property including the potential to increase We now collect data on the use of office the proportion of hybrid and electric paper for all our 46 core sites: 33 provide vehicles in our vehicle fleet, and options waste generation data (four more than for upgrading the energy and water 62% 2017) and 31 provide water consumption consumption of fixtures.” data (one more than 2017). On a like-for-like office waste recycled basis, office paper usage has reduced and Paz Borroso, Chair, Spain Green Office Network recycling rates have increased following

Responsible Business Report 2018 28 Our business SDGs Diversity Research People and partners Environment Communities Key data

RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY

Enabling access to education and science

Springer Nature is built on the foundations of companies that have, for almost two centuries, been committed to advancing learning and discovery. We do this by publishing content that helps young minds to love learning, students to achieve better results, academic researchers to build on past discoveries and disseminate their own findings widely, and professionals to continue developing throughout their careers. We aim to enable access to equitable, quality education and science.

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The responsibility we have to the In 2018, we gave more than €870,000 in We support a large number of individual community extends beyond our own donations and sponsorship to charities projects, all around the world through activity as a publisher. We want to advance and organisations to support projects financial donations and time volunteered discovery by enabling access to equitable, and programmes that align with our by our staff. In these pages we highlight quality education and science – to help aims. This includes education projects, a small selection. curious minds to develop and grow. travel and childcare support for early- Around the world, we invest time and career researchers, and mentoring in We gave more than money in projects that share our aims and academia. Our employees also gave time have a positive impact on society. towards a variety of projects that align with our framework and support our €870k We use a framework for our contributions local communities. to the community that draws together, in donations and sponsorship under a common approach, the In addition, we distributed resources such to charities and organisations programmes we support through as books and equipment, and provided that align with our aims. financial or in-kind donations, or by free and low-cost access to some of our encouraging our employees to volunteer subscription journal content in developing their time. The framework explains how countries, through membership of we will help people and communities to programmes such as Research4Life Discover, Learn and Achieve. and the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications.

Responsible business: contributions to communities DISCOVER

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

ADVANCING LEARN DISCOVERY Enabling access Supporting projects that excite and to equitable, inspire children and young people for quality education a lifetime of learning and to develop and science the curiosity and skills to engage with science, technology and 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 2018 30 Our business SDGs Diversity Research People and partners Environment Communities Key data

Discover Learn

Inspiring young people to pursue Supporting literacy in India science and research careers In 2018, Springer Nature continued We want to make a difference to under- to support Door Step School, a charity represented groups – including women and based in India that seeks to address ethnic minorities – in science, technology, illiteracy among the country’s most engineering and maths (STEM). underprivileged children. We have Primary students of the International Ánfora School in Spain attended a workshop on 3D printing supported its mobile classroom for the In London, we work with Urban Partners, as a prize for winning the EducaInternet Contest. past five years, helping underprivileged a voluntary partnership of organisations groups of children, including those living that use their time, expertise and Enabling safe and responsible on the streets, access a basic education. resources to benefit the local community use of technologies and create a thriving area to live and As a publisher with an ever-increasing work. We have been involved in two amount of online content, we are programmes that support young people dedicated to the safe, responsible from diverse backgrounds from the provision of web-based information. communities close to our offices in the In Spain, we support EducaInternet, a King’s Cross area: training platform for teachers to learn about the safe use of technology. This • Each week, we co-host a homework helps them to adopt safe practices club, where volunteer staff provide and promote the responsible use free tutoring to more than 30 A-level of information and communications students. Many of the 33 employees technology to their pupils in a fast- participating in this project tutor changing digital world. Students and staff of the School on Wheels visited our Pune office to meet, play and learn. science subjects, because a large number of our employees have In collaboration with Orange, Springer The School on Wheels, a bus equipped postgraduate degrees in these areas. Nature runs the annual EducaInternet with classroom supplies, a computer, contest, in which teachers and students • We have also created a new mentoring television and DVD player, reaches create fun, innovative and original scheme for students from a girls’ children in locations where temporary resources to demonstrate the safe and school local to our offices. Each month, classrooms cannot be built and therefore responsible use of technology. around 30 volunteer mentors draw on children have no access to schooling their own experiences and knowledge or formal education. Springer Nature As well as promoting the initiative to to offer guidance and support to a volunteers also made regular visits to schools across Spain, we have also group of 16 year olds. Together, they the community learning centres run by created useful resources and videos discuss plans for future studies, career Door Step School in Pune to interact with for teachers on the subject of safe ambitions and the perceived challenges children, read books, recite stories and technology use. These have also been the students face. run creative workshops. adapted for children with special needs. Through these initiatives, we hope to help We support Project Grow with Books, young people to grow in confidence and The competition has been held twice: in a joint initiative between Door Step be inspired to pursue study and careers 2016–17, and again in 2017–18, when School and municipal schools in Pune. in STEM. more students and teachers took part. Through 90-minute reading classes in For this second contest, newsletters and primary schools, the programme aims flyers sent to schools generated more to encourage reading and enhance the than 19,000 visits to online content and literary capabilities of children. Springer more than 300,000 tweets. In addition, Nature has supported this initiative by 95 teachers registered to participate and printing books for the children to read. 29 resources were uploaded for use in the contest. The three winning schools Alongside our support for children’s were rewarded with a workshop for literacy and education, we also support parents and teachers on safe internet a project designed to train teachers Photo by Russell Davies use, and a workshop on technology and crèche workers. for the students. Volunteer mentors and student mentees gather for the first STEM mentoring session in London.

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Achieve SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Julius Springer Charitable Fund Since 2004, donations from the Academic scholarships in Germany Julius Springer Charitable Fund Springer Nature supports several (JSCF) have eased the financial scholarships for exceptional students burden of many people in need. and early-career researchers across The grants are divided into three the regions in which we operate. target areas: individual people The Deutschlandstipendium in need; a medium-term impact (Germany Scholarship) is just one project selected by the JSCF’s board example of how we support the members; and projects in a chosen development of young scientists. Photo by Jan Buomann region where the company operates. Julius Vernie is awarded his Deutschlandstipendium The scholarship is a public–private (Germany Scholarship) by Renate Bayaz, Communications Director at Springer Nature. This regional focus supports specific funding programme that provides projects or groups of people from targeted support to students expected “Springer Nature is well known to all low socio-economic backgrounds, to achieve outstanding academic results students of physics. Every second determined through the engagement and go on to promising future careers. physics book in the university library of local Springer Nature colleagues. We have supported these scholarships is published by Springer, and they since 2010 and now fund them at three stick out by their striking red spine. In 2018, our regional focus was on German universities, each focused on a The renowned journals of the Springer Italy, where we donated €25,000 to specific discipline: Nature group, above all Nature, but help two non-profit organisations in also the science magazines from Milan that offer therapy and support • at RWTH Aachen, the scholarship is Spektrum or Scientific American, stand for children with autism, severe mental dedicated to medicine and dentistry for sound science and the advancement illnesses and physical disabilities. • at FU Berlin, it is awarded to of technology and society. So I was students studying mathematics and particularly pleased when I learned that computer science Springer Nature – a company whose mission is the global dissemination of • at Heidelberg University, the knowledge and discovery – sponsors my scholarship is for physics and fellowship grant.” astrophysics students. Julius Vernie, scholarship recipient In addition to academic achievement, the criteria for selecting scholarship recipients include social commitment

and personal achievements, such as www.terapiamultisistemica.it overcoming challenges in their past.

In 2018, one of these scholarships was awarded to Julius Vernie, a master’s student of physics at Julius Springer Charitable Fund supports Water Heidelberg University. Multisystem Therapy, a therapy that helps children, teenagers and adults with autism.

Responsible Business Report 2018 32 Our business SDGs Diversity Research People and partners Environment Communities Key data

DISCOVER MORE

Key data 2017 2018

Economic Revenue (€ billion) 1.64 1.66 This is Springer Nature’s second Responsible Business Report. Our research Content published immediate (gold) open access (%)1 30 29 content We have defined key performance Number of fully open access journals 597 604 indicators (KPIs) for our non- Number of fully open access books 137 651 financial reporting and, where these were reported in 2017, have included People Number of full-time employees (headcount)2 12,988 12,927 two years’ worth of data. These Number of full-time employees (FTE)2 12,625 12,596 KPIs are intended to reflect our Number of employees by continent (headcount)2 responsible business strategy and goals, and reflect our impacts Europe 5,037 5,059 as a business. North America 873 1,097 Latin America 864 860

Asia 5,798 5,564

Africa 245 232

Oceania 171 115

Gender split – management board (% men/women)2,3 83/17 83/17

Gender split – tiers one to three (% men/women)2,3 59/41 61/39

Environment Total energy (MWh)4 31,779 31,360

Renewable energy (MWh)5 4,748 15,392

6 Greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes CO2e) Scope 1 4,945 5,111

Scope 2

location-based emissions 12,312 11,845

market-based emissions 10,127 3,166

Scope 3

flights 20,751 21,449

leased building services (location-based emissions)7 1,847 1,648 leased building services (market-based emissions)7,8 1,617 639

transmission and distribution of energy 2,167 2,074

Water usage (m3) 117,370 117,852

Total site waste (t)9 1,645 1,599

Waste recycled (%)10 48 62

Office paper (tonnes) 118 106

Production paper (tonnes) 31,203 32,178

Production waste (tonnes) Not reported 1,276

Social impact Cash donations and sponsorship (€ thousands)11 578 875

Compliance Staff undertaken Code of Conduct training12 95% 97%

1 Includes research journal and review article content only, published in 5 In addition, our largest outsourced datacentre uses 100% renewable fully open access journals or within hybrid journals. Excludes editorials electricity, and we purchase energy attribute certificates corresponding to and opinion pieces. the electricity usage at sites we lease to third parties in Germany and India. 2 At 31 December 2018. 6 Additionally, ‘outside of scopes’ (‘biogenic’ part of biofuels) emissions are 3 Reporting line changes, as a result of restructuring in some parts of the estimated at 84 tonnes. company, had an impact on the composition of tiers one to three in 2018. 7 This figure includes services sites and outsourced data centres. It excludes 4 This figure includes energy used by sites where we have operational control, properties leased by Springer Nature to third parties. serviced sites and outsourced data centres. It excludes properties leased by Springer Nature to third parties.

Responsible Business Report 20172018 Our business SDGs Diversity Research People and partners Environment Communities Key data 33

How we report Springer Nature Supervisory Board

Our Responsible Business Report Management Board and Executive Sponsor (CEO) focuses on performance and activities from 1 January to 31 December 2018. It includes case studies and other stories that, in some cases, refer to activity that began before 2018, where these are Culture, Values and Environment Committee Reporting Community Committee ongoing projects or are otherwise still relevant to work we did in 2018 or our Review and respond to Review material issues, Review material issues and most material issues. Previous reports material issues identify owners and set compliance requirements action plans can be found at www.springernature. Create and communicate Launch strategic framework com/responsiblebusiness framework for contributions Embed data collection processes and metrics Articulate policies Advise on reporting content Springer Nature’s responsible business Advise on reporting content Deliver reporting strategy and reporting is governed by Explore opportunities to requirements a steering group and committees that involve staff Explore opportunities oversee activity and communications, to involve staff as outlined here.

We undertook an analysis to determine Summary material issue Section the most material issues to address in Access to research Research – pages 14–19 our report. We sought input and advice from sustainability professionals, Data privacy and security Research – pages 14–19 strategy and market intelligence teams within Springer Nature and others Diversity and inclusion Diversity – pages 10–13 who work closely with our external stakeholders. The report includes those Editorial standards and research integrity Research – pages 14–19 issues deemed to be of high or medium materiality for Springer Nature, when Piracy and copyright Research – pages 14–19 considering stakeholder concern and impact on our business. The list of Research solutions to the SDGs Supporting the sustainable issues was reviewed and adapted at development agenda – various points of the year to ensure that pages 6–7 it remained responsive to emerging stakeholder concerns. Those deemed Workforce engagement People and partners – the most material are outlined in pages 20–23 the table here.

8 Includes renewable electricity used at our largest outsourced datacentres, on the same basis. Data for our largest warehouses show these mainly have and sites covered under our purchases of energy attribute certificates in paper and packaging waste, most of which is reused or recycled. Germany and India. 11 This estimated figure comes from group-wide research and information 9 Figure relates to typical office and warehouse waste streams and taken from financial systems, and includes funds given in donations and excludes recycling of unsold product, damaged production paper and sponsorships to charities and non-profit organisations to support projects construction waste. and programmes that align with our aims. 10 Improved data gathering processes allow us to report this indicator for a 12 Percentage of those staff registered for eLearning. Data is not captured for wider sample (21) of our largest (‘core’) offices; 2017 data has been restated approximately 3,000 typesetting staff with no management responsibility; the Code of Conduct is shared with these staff via other means.

Responsible Business Report 2018 You can read an online version of this report, download a PDF and discover more about responsible business at Springer Nature at www.springernature.com/responsiblebusiness

Enquiries can be sent to the Responsible Business team at [email protected] or to Group Communications, Springer Nature, The Campus, 4 Crinan Street, London WC1X 8HL. Photo credit page 5: Cordula Giese