Adding value for clients, and the world

People

Our most important non-financial risks are related to staff. These risks include:

• Key personnel, managers, specialists or employees who work closely with key customers deciding to leave the company.
• Challenges in recruiting competent employees, particularly specialists in various fields of communication and managers who can develop the business.
• Failure to ensure that key personnel have a sense of commitment to the Group.
• Occupational risks related to printing, such as accidents, chemical leaks or fires at production plants.

We manage staff-related risks by implementing good HR policies and by focusing on employee and management development. We pay attention to improving the employees’ sense of commitment and developing recruitment practices. We maintain good lines of communication, communicating as openly as possible, and enhance employees’ involvement in developing our business.

Environment

A fire or a chemical leak at a production plant could damage the environment. We consider our other environmental risks to be minor.

Environmental risks are mainly managed through various environmental management systems, such as compliance with the ISO14001 standard; our production companies follow procedures established in environmental management systems to identify and prevent potential emergency situations and accidents that could harm the environment. These procedures are audited annually by accredited third parties. The companies regularly review and test their emergency preparedness and response procedures.

Climate change

Climate change is not a substantial risk for our business in the near future as its effects have been less extensive in our main markets, the Nordic countries, than in other regions of the world. Nevertheless, combating climate change plays an important role in our CR program because it is the greatest threat to sustainable development globally.

We have managed to reduce our climate impact significantly since 2008 when we began assessing the ways in which our business contributes to climate change and working to achieve climate neutrality. In 2009, we started taking measures to reduce our carbon-dioxide emissions and began compensating for a proportion of these emissions. Further infomation can be found on the environmental responsibility section.

Assessing risks

The Group management team is responsible for managing risks related to corporate responsibility and reacting accordingly. Nordic Morning's board of directors has approved the risk management methods applied by the management team.  Management team assesses the likelihood and significance of each risk. The board of directors also monitors and assesses risks that have been categorized as significant.

Corporate responsibility at Nordic Morning is led by the CEO. The Group Communications Director is responsible for the development of corporate responsibility, related communications and reporting, together with a CRI (Corporate Responsibility Initiative) core team of representatives from Finance, HR, and the Nordic environmental responsibility working group. The Communications Director reports to the CEO and the Group management team regarding the activities of the core team.

Our CR agenda is set according to acknowledged policies and guidelines. We comply with the principles of internationally-recognized standards, such as the UN Global Compact and the ISO 14001 environmental management standard. Our reporting complies with the CR reporting recommendations established in 2011 for companies owned by the Finnish state and the instructions given for the tax footprint in 2014.

Values

Our values – renewal, respect and responsibility – guide our operations in relation to our operating environment and stakeholders at all levels of the Group.

Continuous renewal of business operations and operating procedures is crucial for us as we operate in the rapidly changing communication sector.

First and foremost, respect refers to respect for the dignity, work and competence of our colleagues, customers, partners and other people we encounter.

The ultimate goal of Nordic Morning’s Board of Directors, the Board Committees and the Group Management Team is to operate our business in a responsible way.

We comply with legal requirements and are open and transparent when communicating about our business.

Transparency

In group governance and reporting, Nordic Morning pursues integrity, transparency and accountability. For instance, we are open about the bases of compensation for the CEO and corporate executives.

Audits and controls carried out by external parties help to create openness. Nordic Morning’s production companies publish environmental reports annually and prepare reports for authorities.

We voluntarily participate in several environmental programs involving reporting to third parties. This includes the ISO 14001 environmental management system, the Nordic Ecolabel and the WWF’s Green Office program. These third parties also review our environmental calculations.

Our goal is for integrity, transparency and accountability to be reflected in cooperation with our stakeholders. We expect our partners to operate their businesses responsibly.

Reporting of violations

Each employee is able to report any suspected violations, such as dishonest or unethical activities or legal violations in their work community, without fear of discrimination or retaliation. In the group companies, violations can also be discussed in cooperation forums where each staff group is presented by representatives selected by the group in question or in other regular meetings between employer and employee representatives. Anyone can report to the Group’s CEO about a violation.

Corporate Responsibility Report covers the activities of the parent company, Nordic Morning Plc, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the financial year from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.

Nordic Morning's associate companies are included in the consolidated financial statements, but Nordic Morning does not manage their corporate responsibility issues.

We report on our corporate responsibility in our Annual Report each year. The previous Corporate Responsibility Report was published in February, 2015 as part of our Annual Report. 

Our reporting is based on the CR program, established originally in 2010, which takes the financial, social and environmental impact of our business into account, as well as bearing in mind all stakeholders interested in the report. We update the program annually if required.

Our corporate responsibility reporting complies with the CR reporting model for non-listed companies owned by the Finnish State (Government Resolution on Ownership Policy, November 3, 2011, Appendix 3) as well as with the G4 Core guidelines issued by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

The information pertaining to financial responsibility is based on the consolidated financial statements and accounting. The indicators for social responsibility are from personnel information systems, payroll systems and accounting. In the calculation of staff-related figures, we have followed the general annual reporting guidelines issued by the Finnish Accountancy Board. The figures for environmental responsibility are from the Group’s own systems.

The report has not been verified. According to our own assessment, our reporting corresponds to the Core level of the GRI’s G4 guidelines.

The Strategy, Business and Financials sections of this Annual Report provide information on the Group’s financial performance, organization, ownership, governance and companies, as well as changes that occurred in 2015.

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Further information

Annika Linna
Vice President, Communications and CR
annika.linna@nordicmorning.com
Tel. +358 20 450 2600