Communication on Progress

Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 17-Jan-2022
Time period
  • January 2021  –  January 2022
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer

  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • 2022-01-17

    To our stakeholders:

    I am pleased to confirm that Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

    In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

    Sincerely yours,

    Ilija Batljan
    CEO

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • We have a written and publicly avaialble policy for human rights expressing the support for the universal declaration of human rights.
    Business partners need to agree on following the principles outlined in our code of conduct for suppliers that covers support for human rights.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • Company wide education covering human rights.
    Follow up on suppliers compliance and supplier measures to protect human rights.
    Employees as well as business partners have the right to report breaches to our third party whistleblower system.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • We have an anonymous system for reporting breaches in human rights and other topics covered by our policies. Senior management follow up and investigate reports to this system annually and report all confirmed breaches publicly.

    No detected breaches and no active legal cases as of 2022-01-17.

    Our sustainability reporting is reviewed annually by our auditor. The auditors have the right to inquire about reports to our whistleblower service.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • Reference to ILO Core Conventions as well as freedom of association and collective bargaining and the elimination of forced labour, child labour and employment discrimination in code of conduct and fair employment practices policy, both publicly avaialable on our website.
    More than 80 percent of our employees are connected to collective baraining agreements.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • Management system to ensure repsonibility for each employees health and safety in the workspace.
    Health and Safety audits in all work spaces with employee representatives where potential risks as well as other improvement areas are identified.
    We have a HR-policy that supports the Labour principles.
    Employee evaulations are conducted annually.
    Annual review of salaries led by the CEO in order to ensure fair pay free from discrimination.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • Annual follow up and public reporting on labour KPIs by senior management. KPIs are available in our annual report. Several internal forums as well as a board sustainability committee for monitoring and managing ESG performance.

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • Sustainability policy updated during 2021, publicly available. New report aligned with TCFD-recommendations, publicly available. Updated sustainability vision including a target to become climate positive by 2030. We are in the progress of having our targets verified by Science Based Targets Initiative. Our sustainability indicators reported in our annual report are being reviewed along with the financial reporting. Many initiatives aimed at redicing energy use and climate impact in both property development and management.
    Our main focus in the environmental category is: reduced environmental impact: electricity, water and heat use, waste management, environmentally hazardous substances, energy efficiency improvement, climate impact with CO2 emissions and environmental improvements in property renovations. Goals: -5% energy use per year, - 5% carbon emission per year, -1% water use per year.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • Company wide education covering environmental topics and targets.
    An environmental mangement system is implemented.
    Full assessment on an asset level to identify climate related risks and opportunities in the entire portfolio. Multiple projects aimed at reducing energy use, expected to result in an approximate energy reduction of 6 percent. Strong focus on installing solar panels and infrastructure for EV-charging. Environmental initiatives are coordinated in an internal sustainability council with representatives from the senior management as well as topic-extperts. The sustainability council is responsible for dividing resposibility within the company.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • Quarterly and annual follow up and public reporting on environmental KPIs. Revied by senior management, sustainability council as well as a board sustainability committee for monitoring and managing environmental performance.

    Our sustainability reporting is reviewed annually by our auditor. The auditors have the right to inquire about reports to our whistleblower service.

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • Written company policy of zero-tolerance for corruption, bribery and extortion.
    Business partners need to agree on following the principles outlined in our code of conduct for suppliers that covers anti-corruption.
    Education on anti-corruption and whistleblower service for all employees.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • Company wide education Anti-corruption
    Follow up on suppliers compliance and supplier measures to protect human rights.
    Employees as well as business partners have the right to report breaches to our third party whistleblower system.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • We have an anonymous system for reporting breaches in our Anti-corruption policy and other topics covered by our policies. Senior management follow up and investigate reports to this system annually and report all confirmed breaches publicly.

    No detected breaches and no active legal cases as of 2022-01-17.

    Our sustainability reporting is reviewed annually by our auditor. The auditors have the right to inquire about reports to our whistleblower service.