We define our corporate responsibility (CR) agenda by reviewing the material issues that affect our company and by talking to the people and organisations that have a stake in our business, including employees, customers, shareholders, governments and civil society groups.
We manage this activity through our CR Forum which meets twice a year and is chaired by our CEO, Sir Crispin Davis. We focus on five key areas to prioritise the actions we need to take to make sure we are a responsible company. They are:
Governance – good corporate governance is fundamental to the success of our business. It means we ensure we operate in a way which is both legal and ethical. We abide by the relevant codes of corporate governance, maintain our own Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and train our employees in applying the Code, and we operate to a clear set of values which are at the heart of how we act as a company.
Marketplace – we recognise that our “license to operate” – and the growth and strength of our company – is based on our ability to deliver sustainable, must-have products and services. This area of CR activity covers our products, how they are made, our customers and how we meet their needs, and our relationships with our partners and suppliers.
Workplace – we want to be sure that Reed Elsevier is “a great place to work”. Our people – all 32,000 of us – are our strength. We know if we fail to attract and retain the most talented people our business will suffer and we will not be able to meet our customers’ needs. We place huge importance on the personal development of everyone who works for Reed Elsevier.
– contributing to the communities we work in around the world is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Being deeply involved with communities inspires employees, offers us the chance to make a difference and improve our reputation, and helps us meet our obligations to society as one of the world’s biggest media companies. RE Cares is our global community programme and its main aim is to play a positive role in society, primarily through the involvement of our employees.
Environment – we have a direct impact on the environment through our use of energy and water, through generating waste, through business travel, and, in our supply chain, through using paper and print and publishing technologies. We also have a positive impact on the environment through our leading-edge environmental products and services which help to spread understanding and best practice in environmental science and management.