Performance and Assurance: UN Global Compact

The ten principles of the UN Global Compact provide a universal framework for business conduct which Ericsson strongly endorses.

Ericsson’s commitment to the ten principles of the UN Global Compact guides us in the development of Group practices throughout our sphere of influence. Moreover, through initiatives like Ericsson Response™ and Millennium Villages, we mobilize our core business to support the UN in its efforts to alleviate poverty, improve the environment and bridge the digital divide.

Respect for human rights and intolerance of corruption are embodied in the Ericsson values of professionalism, respect and perseverance and our Code of Business Ethics. The Code of Conduct is also designed to protect human rights, promote fair employment and safe working conditions and high ethical standards. The Environmental Policy details our commitment to the precautionary approach; to promoting greater responsibility and to developing environmentally-sound technologies. We insist upon these same high standards of labor practices and environmental performance among all suppliers.

Ericsson sees access to communication as a basic human right and we actively support the fulfillment of human rights within our sphere of influence. Our first obligation is to avoid complicity in human rights abuse, notably in sensitive countries where regulations and ethical standards are not enforced. Ericsson’s core technologies can also help improve lives, promote democratic societies and generate economic opportunity.

• CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg spoke at a UN General Assembly special session on how business can contribute towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (p. 2) and at the Seminar on Business and Human Rights at the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights in Paris.
• Membership in the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights helps us generate telecom applications in support of human rights (p. 10).
• Our partnership in the Millennium Villages initiative (p. 24) is aimed to support the right to health, education and equality.
• We leverage participation in The Volvo Ocean Race to raise awareness for the MDGs (p. 28).
  Ericsson Response™ cooperates with organizations in disaster and humanitarian relief (p. 30).

Human resources procedures ban discrimination and ensure equality and diversity in our operations. We encourage union membership and, in countries where workers cannot freely choose membership, work conditions are discussed with local management in a structured format.

• A 2008 focus is to create a business that reflects the diversity of our markets and the employees that work for us (p. 34).
• The Supplier Code of Conduct program is being rolled out to all Market and Business Units Group-wide (p. 13).

Our Environmental Management System is in accordance with ISO 14001, and operations are certified globally. This ensures that our operations are consistently managed with the least possible impact on the environment. We actively promote technologies that help create carbon-lean societies.

• Telecommunications enables efficient use of resources (p. 17).
• Environmental impacts are measured with Life Cycle Assessments, and we advise customers to help them reduce their footprint during use and disposal (p. 21).
• We take environmental aspects such as hazardous substances, producer responsibility and efficient use of resources into account in product design, procurement, production and operation (p. 21).
• We continuously improve energy efficiency throughout our entire product portfolio (p. 20).
• We fund independent research on health and safety issues relating to radio waves and electromagnetic fields (p. 21).
• As a global company, we maintain stringent environmental standards to satisfy our customers’ high expectations (p. 9).

The Ericsson Group Management System, implemented and monitored wherever we do business, ensures integrity and high standards of conduct. A whistle blower procedure is in place for employees to report violations relating to accounting, internal controls and procedures or fraudulent practices.

• In 2008, all Market Unit employees have taken the anticorruption e-learning course. Moreover, workshops and training courses educate employees on the Code of Business Ethics and anti-corruption. (p. 9).