Springer Nature launches annual report

Last week Springer Nature Group, a global publisher of brands such as Nature and Scientific American, launched its latest annual Sustainable Business Report, Open for Progress.

The report, which includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance data, shows colleagues across the organisation are increasingly engaged in sustainability initiatives, and progress in carbon reduction and diversity initiatives.

Springer Nature Group report that highlights include:

• 24% of colleagues (approximately 2,250 individuals) are part of Springer Nature’s sustainability journey, participating in employee networks dedicated to topics such as diversity, advocacy and improving the carbon emissions of our offices. Colleagues also volunteer across 17 SDG working groups on projects to advance the goals.
• Women now make up 44% of Springer Nature’s global leadership cohort: an increase of +5 percentage points from 2018, when a gender representation goal was first set. The Management Board now also has a 50/50 gender split.
• Achieved validation of science based carbon reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): 54.6% emissions reduction target in scope 1 and 2 emissions, 32.5% emissions reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2032 and a 90% reduction across all scopes to reach net zero by 2040. The report also summarises progress made in 2023; 99% of Springer Nature’s electricity use is now from zero carbon sources.
• Published nearly one million pieces of SDG related research since 2015: 940,000. The majority (54%) of SDG content is open access, meaning it is freely available to those who need it to progress the goals.

Commenting on the report, CEO Frank Vrancken Peeters said: “Our 9000+ Springer Nature colleagues around the world are our best asset. This report shows their dedication to our mission: to use the discovery and dissemination of knowledge to address the world’s greatest challenges. They help authors bring research to life, they work with business partners to make our value chain more sustainable, and they protect the integrity of the scientific record. They are a part of progress and will carry us forward on our sustainability journey.”

Director of Sustainability and Climate Action Officer, Thea Sherer said: “We were delighted to announce the validation of our science based targets last year, an important step forward in our progress to be net zero by 2040. We’re driving forward at pace, thanks to the support we have from our global colleagues and the embeddedness of sustainability to Springer Nature’s core mission. We remain focused on our short-term 2032 targets, and on track to meet them, even with pandemic recovery still noticeable across some numbers. Ongoing carbon related projects across the business and broader market development trends, like less printing, also help us head in the right direction.”