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 through engagement with the Reed Elsevier Management Committee chaired by CEO, Erik Engstrom.
We focus on areas where we make unique contributions including: universal, sustainable access to information; advancement of science and health; promotion of the rule of law and justice; and anti-crime.
Governance
Governance is material to Reed Elsevier because it is the framework for all that we do.
The RE Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, updated in 2009 to improve the clarity of its provisions and to ensure it reflects best practice, is disseminated to every employee as a guide to our corporate and individual conduct. Encompassing topics such as fair competition, anti-bribery and human rights, it encourages open and principled behaviour.
Good corporate governance is fundamental to our success as a business and we take it extremely seriously.
People and community
People are material to Reed Elsevier because they are the driving force of our business; community is a material issue because local and global communities provide our ‘licence to operate'. Because we impact them, we must be accountable and give something back.
Health & Safety
Health and safety is material to Reed Elsevier because we can only perform well if our workplaces and employees are healthy and safe.
The essence of Valuing our People means going beyond legal obligations to ensure staff well-being.
Customers
Customers are material to Reed Elsevier because without their satisfaction, our business is not viable.
We depend on customers buying our products, so it is essential we provide them with extremely good value. We constantly strive to improve our existing products and to come up with new solutions that make our customers’ work and lives easier. By doing so, we believe we can create sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships with them.
Supply chain
Supply chain is material to Reed Elsevier because unless we can be assured our suppliers are meeting the same high standards we set for our own activities, we risk damaging our business, reputation, and relations with key stakeholders.
Environment
Environment is material to Reed Elsevier because environmental disruptions could negatively affect the conduct of our business. Moreover, we have an environmental footprint and, as a leading publisher of environmental science, it is incumbent on us to pursue good internal environmental practice.