Ericsson Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:58:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Case study: How Ericsson promotes information security and privacy https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-ericsson-promotes-information-security-and-privacy/ Tue, 25 Jun 2019 06:48:41 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9725 Ericsson is a leading global provider of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, with approximately 40% of the world’s mobile traffic carried through its networks. Accordingly, information security and the protection of personal data, focusing primarily on . This case study is based on the 2018 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy […]

The post Case study: How Ericsson promotes information security and privacy appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Ericsson is a leading global provider of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, with approximately 40% of the world’s mobile traffic carried through its networks. Accordingly, information security and the protection of personal data, focusing primarily on maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information while not hindering operations, is a top priority for Ericsson  Tweet This!.

This case study is based on the 2018 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

As both the value of information and the capabilities of threat actors increase, information security and privacy have become issues of national importance globally and a key consideration for operations in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In order to promote information security and privacy Ericsson took action to:

  • implement policies and directives
  • address privacy risks

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2018 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson identified a range of material issues, such as anti-corruption, product energy performance, occupational health and safety, diversity and inclusion. Among these, promoting information security and privacy stands out as a key material issue for Ericsson.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Ericsson engages with:  

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Shareholders
Employees
Suppliers
Governments
Civil society
Non-govern­mental organisations (NGOs)
Industry partners
Media
Academia
Gen­eral public

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Ericsson carried out surveys and dialogue with employees, customers, investors, and other stakeholders.

What actions were taken by Ericsson to promote information security and privacy?

In its 2018 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson reports that it took the following actions for promoting information security and privacy:

  • Implementing policies and directives
  • Ericsson’s Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors receives updates on cybersecurity at least twice a year, and includes security as part of its annual training. Information security and privacy incidents are reported through Ericsson’s Security Incident Management System (SIMS), and routed to the appropriate function for case handling. Ericsson has an established Security and Privacy Framework, to make sure issues are considered throughout the entire product lifecycle, and a set of Policies and Directives to establish the requirements for information security and privacy across the company. Ericsson’s Product Security framework includes a mandatory area of regulation specifically for security and privacy, applicable to all products. Ericsson also enforces a Crisis Management Directive, and has a Group Crisis Management Council, responsible for the handling of major incidents or crises that affect Ericsson.
  • Addressing privacy risks
  • The nature of Ericsson’s business, and of the data that its products transmit, requires the company to be at the forefront of data protection and information security. Ericsson has adopted a risk based approach for investment in cybersecurity and privacy. The potential impact on Ericsson’s brand, in terms of customer trust and market access, is weighed against the cost of implementing tools, processes and technology to make sure that Ericsson can protect its customers and data. Safe and secure telecommunications networks and services provide the foundation for Critical National Infrastructure such as national security and emergency coordination, healthcare, education and finance services. More secure networks require less downtime and unplanned maintenance, which increases trust in the infrastructure. Ericsson’s information security and privacy frameworks are designed to make sure its products and services are more resilient to attacks, and less likely to be impacted by unforeseen consequences. In 2018, Ericsson also launched a certification programme, Ericsson Certified Security Associate, and two training courses for all employees, Data Privacy 2.0 and Be Security Aware, which were completed by more than 83,640 and 82,060 employees, respectively. Ericsson’s Information Security Management System is certified to ISO/IEC 27001.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data

 

Disclosure 418-1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • Business theme: Compliance with laws and regulations, Protection of privacy

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Ericsson, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Ericsson: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Ericsson promotes information security and privacy appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Ericsson respects and promotes human rights https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-ericsson-respects-and-promotes-human-rights/ Wed, 20 Feb 2019 06:33:14 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8825 As one of the world’s leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, with approximately 40% of the world’s mobile traffic carried through its networks, This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract Abstract Over the […]

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As one of the world’s leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, with approximately 40% of the world’s mobile traffic carried through its networks, Ericsson is firmly committed to addressing and integrating human rights across its value chain.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

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Abstract

Over the past several years, Ericsson has worked to develop and strengthen its human rights framework, to fulfil its responsibility to respect human rights according to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). In order to respect and promote human rights Ericsson took action to:

  • adopt and report according to the UNGP
  • define salient human rights issues
  • conduct due diligence
  • raise employee awareness
  • provide remedy

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson identified a range of material issues, such as anti-corruption, the right to privacy, product energy performance, responsible sourcing (including materials sourcing), occupational health and safety. Among these, respecting and promoting human rights stands out as a key material issue for Ericsson.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Ericsson engages with:  

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Shareholders
Employees
Suppliers
Governments
Civil society
Non-govern­mental organisations (NGOs)
Industry partners
Media
Academia
Gen­eral public

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Ericsson carried out a survey among its employees and obtained feedback from customers and investors through surveys and dialogue.

What actions were taken by Ericsson to respect and promote human rights?

In its 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson reports that it took the following actions for respecting and promoting human rights:

  • Adopting and reporting according to the UNGP
  • Since 2011, Ericsson has been working to integrate the UNGP (UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) into its governance framework. In 2016, for the third year, Ericsson implemented the UNGP Reporting Framework, the first comprehensive guidance for companies to report on how they respect human rights, and became the first ICT company to report according to the Framework.
  • Defining salient human rights issues
  • Ericsson has defined its salient human rights issues to be the right to freedom of expression, the right to privacy, and labour rights. Accordingly, these issues are highlighted in its Code of Business Ethics and Code of Conduct. Ericsson identifies and manages these issues through Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIA) in high-risk countries, stakeholder consultations together with HRIAs, and internal processes such as the Sales Compliance Process. HRIAs cover adverse human rights impacts Ericsson may cause or contribute to through its activities, or which may be directly linked to its operations, products and services. In addition, Ericsson’s Privacy Framework ensures that privacy is considered from the beginning of any product release, and is an integral part of product development.
  • Conducting due diligence
  • Since 2012 Ericsson has been collaborating with Shift, a leading non-profit centre of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles, to systematically embed a human rights framework across the company and to strengthen its due diligence processes. Ericsson’s human rights due diligence covers processes within sales, sourcing, legal affairs, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and operations.  
  • Raising employee awareness
  • In 2015 Ericsson launched a human rights and business e-learning training for employees which, from 2016, became mandatory for certain functions such as Legal and Security. The training describes human rights issues, opportunities and challenges for Ericsson, human rights and international requirements, and key concepts used in the business and human rights framework.
  • Providing remedy
  • Under the third pillar of the UN Guiding Principles, both states and companies have roles to play in ensuring victims of business-related rights abuses have access to effective remedy (putting right any harm to people). One way in which Ericsson provides remedy is through the Ericsson Compliance Line, where alleged violations of the Code of Business Ethics, including in relation to human rights, may be reported through a whistleblower tool.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 412-1 Operations that have been subject to human rights reviews or impact assessments

 

Disclosure 412-1 Operations that have been subject to human rights reviews or impact assessments does not correspond to any SDG.

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Ericsson, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Ericsson: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Ericsson respects and promotes human rights appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Ericsson reduces the carbon footprint of its activities https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-ericsson-reduces-the-carbon-footprint-of-its-activities/ Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:50:09 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8080 As a global ICT (information and communications technology) leader, with customers in 180 countries around the globe, , with a special focus on its carbon footprint. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract Abstract Working continuously to track, effectively manage […]

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As a global ICT (information and communications technology) leader, with customers in 180 countries around the globe, Ericsson seeks to contribute to the global transition towards a low-carbon economy by reducing the environmental impact of its activities  Tweet This!, with a special focus on its carbon footprint.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

Working continuously to track, effectively manage and reduce its environmental footprint is a top priority for Ericsson. In order to reduce the carbon footprint of its activities Ericsson took action to:

  • reduce energy usage in facilities
  • shift from air to surface product transport
  • reduce business travel and vehicle fleet impact

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson identified a range of material issues, such as anti-corruption, the right to privacy, product energy performance, responsible sourcing (including materials sourcing), occupational health and safety. Among these, reducing the carbon footprint of its activities stands out as a key material issue for Ericsson.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Ericsson engages with:   

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Shareholders
Employees
Suppliers
Governments
Civil society
Non-govern­mental organisations (NGOs)
Industry partners
Media
Academia
Gen­eral public

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics, Ericsson conducted a survey among a representative sample of active employees and, also, sought feedback from customers and investors through surveys and dialogue.

What actions were taken by Ericsson to reduce the carbon footprint of its activities?

In its 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson reports that it took the following actions for reducing the carbon footprint of its activities:

  • Reducing energy usage in facilities
  • Ericsson achieves more efficient use of its buildings through better workplace functionality (e.g. teamwork workspaces), a shift to more energy-efficient buildings and by driving building requirements. In addition, Ericsson prioritises the use of renewable energy in its facilities (offices, production sites, data centers and test labs). More than 80% of the electricity purchased in Europe comes from green sources and, at year-end 2016, the use of green certified electricity by Ericsson’s facilities increased by 2.5 per cent compared to 2015. Moreover, in 2016 Ericsson announced an agreement with a district heating company in Stockholm, to deliver recycled waste heat from its Global ICT Center in Rosersberg and one verification center in Kista. This agreement is expected to reduce Ericsson’s CO2 emissions by 7,200 tonnes per year.
  • Shifting from air to surface product transport
  • In 2016, Ericsson continued to shift from air to surface transport, to reduce its CO2e emissions. Although product volumes transported were comparable to 2015, Ericsson achieved a reduction of 26 ktonnes CO2e in absolute terms, and is below 1 tonne CO2e per tonne of goods transported.
  • Reducing business travel and vehicle fleet impact
  • In 2016, Ericsson’s business travel emissions dropped by around 4 per cent per employee compared to 2015 not least as a result of virtual meetings, which have become a standard way of how Ericsson works, as a substitute to travel. As regards fleet vehicles, Ericsson aims to reduce CO2e per kilometer in its vehicle fleet by using vehicles more efficiently, implementing telematics and trialing alternative fuels.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

3) Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity

4) Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Business theme: GHG emissions
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Ocean acidification
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
  • Business theme: Forest degradation

Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions corresponds to:

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Business theme: GHG emissions
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Business theme: Ocean acidification
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
  • Business theme: Forest degradation

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Ericsson, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Ericsson: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Ericsson reduces the carbon footprint of its activities appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Ericsson shows zero tolerance for bribery and corruption https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-ericsson-shows-zero-tolerance-for-bribery-and-corruption/ Tue, 19 Sep 2017 07:12:06 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=4469 Conducting its business in 180 countries across the globe responsibly and transparently is a key priority for Ericsson. Constantly strengthening and improving anti-corruption and compliance policies and procedures, Ericsson tries to be a trusted partner, committed to showing zero tolerance for bribery and corruption. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and […]

The post Case study: How Ericsson shows zero tolerance for bribery and corruption appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Conducting its business in 180 countries across the globe responsibly and transparently is a key priority for Ericsson. Constantly strengthening and improving anti-corruption and compliance policies and procedures, Ericsson tries to be a trusted partner, committed to showing zero tolerance for bribery and corruption.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report by Ericsson published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing. 

Layout 1

Abstract

The commitment to zero tolerance for bribery and corruption, demonstrating integrity and respect for employees and the communities in which it operates, is central to Ericsson’s approach to corporate responsibility. In order to show zero tolerance for bribery and corruption Ericsson took action to:

  • promote top-level commitment
  • monitor compliance among business partners
  • raise employee awareness of corruption risks
  • enable employees and external parties to raise concerns through Ericsson’s whistleblower tool
  • comply with the Partnering Against Corruption Initiative’s (PACI) Principles

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson identified a range of material issues, such as the right to privacy, product energy performance, responsible sourcing (including materials sourcing), occupational health and safety. Among these, showing zero tolerance for bribery and corruption stands out as a key material issue for Ericsson.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Ericsson engages with:   

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Shareholders
Employees
Suppliers
Governments
Civil society
Non-govern­mental organizations (NGOs)
Industry partners
Media
Academia
Gen­eral public

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify material issues and set priorities and goals Ericsson carried out, in 2016, a survey focused on sustainability and corporate responsibility among a representative sample of active employees and, also, sought feedback from customers and investors, through surveys and dialogue.

What actions were taken by Ericsson to show zero tolerance for bribery and corruption?

In its 2016 Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report Ericsson reports that it took the following actions for showing zero tolerance for bribery and corruption:

  • Promoting top-level commitment
  • [tweetthis]Ericsson’s zero tolerance for corruption is solidly supported by top management[/tweetthis] and emphasized during employee and executive-level meetings. In addition, Ericsson tries to make sure that anti-corruption is drawn attention to at every major leadership meeting.
  • Monitoring compliance among business partners       
  • In 2016 Ericsson tested an automated anti-corruption screening tool regarding supplier and third party due diligence, in the company’s operations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Ericsson also planned to set up, in 2017, “Business Partner Review Boards” to ensure business partners met Ericsson’s compliance and ethical standards.
  • Raising employee awareness of corruption risks
  • Over 95,900 active Ericsson employees completed, by the end of 2016, an anti-corruption e-learning course, while additional, specialized training is offered to key sales staff and other related functions, and to regional leadership teams. Moreover, in 2016 a new compliance e-learning course was introduced, concentrating on anti-corruption, competition law and trade compliance.
  • Enabling employees and external parties to raise concerns through Ericsson’s whistleblower tool
  • Ericsson employees and external parties can report suspected violations of the law or of Ericsson’s Code of Business Ethics through Ericsson’s independent whistleblower tool: the Compliance Line, available 24/7, 365 days a year, in 188 countries and in more than 75 languages.
  • Complying with the Partnering Against Corruption Initiative’s (PACI) Principles
  • Ericsson is a signatory, since 2012, to the World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) and the latter’s Princi­ples for Countering Corruption, which commit companies to implementing a zero tolerance policy on bribery and an effective anti-bribery program.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-SO4: Communication and training on anti-corruption policies and procedures and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.



FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Ericsson, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Ericsson: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Ericsson shows zero tolerance for bribery and corruption appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

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