SAS Group has undertaken the following actions to address GC issues.
The SAS Group joined UN Global Compact in June 2003 displaying its
commitment and acceptance of a corporate responsibility. The decision was
launched internally in a letter to all heads of business areas and on intranet to
all employees. To the public it was launched on the group's website. The
Annual Report on website and in hardcopy provides many details on activities
and initiatives in line with the principles of the Global Compact.
www.sasgroup.net
In order to promote a common understanding among employees and external
stakeholders, the SAS Group has initiated a comprehensive process of
disseminating knowledge on the Global Compact and other important issues
to all parts of the group. It includes the use of questionnaires, dialogue and
annual reporting, and all SAS companies are involved.
The most recent step in the implementation and development of the Global
Compact is a Code of Conduct issued in the spring of 2005 and sent out to all
employees. The Code contains rules and guidelines for the most important
internal relations and relations to customers, authorities, partners and other
stakeholders. Among the issues covered by the Code of Conduct are:
Diversity, work environment, safety and environment, customer and supplier
integrity, discrimination, the right to freedom of association, corruption and
fraud, openness and dialogue, and social responsibility in general.
From the CEO it's expressed that "continued globalization must involve
sustainable development. Since commercial aviation is a prime enabler for
globalization, airlines have a special responsibility. For the SAS Group this
also applies to our hotel business in Rezidor SAS, which is a natural
complement to our airline operations. That explains why the SAS Group has
joined the Global Compact and agree to adopt and promote a set of core
values in terms of human rights, working standards and environmental
responsibility. These values include prohibiting and encouraging green
technology, and actively defending human rights. Naturally, each member of
the Global Compact has to fulfill them within the context of its specific
industry", Jørgen Lindegaard, President and CEO, Scanorama, June 2004.
SAS AB is the Nordic region's largest listed airline and travel group and the
fourth-largest aviation group in Europe, in terms of number of passengers and
operating revenue. The Group includes Scandinavian Airlines in Denmark,
Sweden, Intercontinental and SAS Braathens in Norway. The Group also
includes the airlines Spanair, Blue 1, Widerøe and the partly owned airlines
airBaltic and Estonian Air. Scandinavian Airlines is a founding member of the
world's largest global airline alliance, Star Alliance TM. The SAS Group also
includes Airline Support Business, Airline Related Business and hotel
operations with Rezidor SAS Hospitality. The number of employees in the
Group is approximately 32.000
Consideration for customers and employees and general social responsibility
is stated among others in the SAS Group's values. Sustainable development
for the SAS Group will be attained through a simultaneous focus on financial
growth, environmental improvements and social responsibility.
The SAS Group also has numerous overarching policies that govern efforts to
reduce the Group's environmental impact, sustain and improve employee
skills and foster social development, e.g. policies about sustainability,
environment, diversity, purchasing, working environment, safety etc.
Dialogue with stakeholders
The SAS Group is engaged in a regular dialogue with customers, competitors
and independent organizations, such as World Wildlife Fund, to listen and
benefit from the experiences of others as well as provide the Group's views on
key issues.
Since joining the Global Compact in June 2003, the SAS Group also
participates in the Global Compact Nordic Network.
The SAS Group's longstanding collaboration with aircraft engine
manufacturers, airports and governments on the development of cleaner
technology is well known. These include the UN's civil aviation body, ICAO,
the airline organizations, IATA and AEA and the Nordic working group for civil
aviation's environmental issues N-ALM. In 2003 N-ALM discussed and drafted
a common Nordic line in advance of CAEP 6, which will discuss issues
involving nitrogen oxides and civil aviation and emission trading.
The Group collaborates with insurance and working environment authorities
on the rehabilitation of people with long-term illnesses and prevention of
alcoholism. The business world's assessment of the Group's activities in
environmental and social responsibility have been noted in the form of the
SAS Group's approval in August 2003 as an investment by Robur's Nordic
environmental and ethical investment funds. The Group was also ranked high
in CoreRatings' Corporate Responsibility ranking and by Ethical Investment
Research Service, EIRIS.
Business relations
Social responsibility also means acting ethically and responsibly towards
customers and business partners. In the airline industry, with its tradition of
forming alliances, the focus is on antitrust issues. Therefore, The SAS Group
has developed a legal policy with a special section on competition law and
adopted a program to ensure compliance, the SAS Competition Law
Compliance Program. The legal policy also contains strict prohibitions against
giving or accepting bribes or improper perquisites.
------------Examples on activities in line with GC
-The SAS Group supports and participates in the research and development
of alternative fuel for aircrafts and in the development of more fuel-efficient
engines.
-SAS Flight Academy and SAS Maintenance Training are sharing expertise
with airlines in developing countries.
-When the SAS Group moves operations from Scandinavia to India or the Far
East, it does so for business reasons. At the same time, it fosters social
progress and a better working environment by requiring that the new service
providers live up to the SAS Group?s quality and social responsibility
standards.
-SAS works together with Swedish Aviation Administration to fit out a
completely unique ambulance aircraft with medical flight deck and cabin staff.
Discussions on extending the project in collaboration with UNDP, are in
progress.
-Many of our hotels hire people with disabilities, varying from autistic people
working in the back of house areas, physically handicapped employees, staff
that have had accidents but still can continue parts of their earlier jobs, to
outsourcing parts of the operation to organisations managed by disabled
people.
-SAS Group is one of the main sponsors of Save the Children and more than
80 hotels in the Group participated in 2003 in a money collection campaign
with Save the Children.
-Rezidor SAS supports UNESCO cultural heritage restoration projects, e.g.
the Altar of the Qasr El Bint Temple in Jordan, the reception of the Bahla Fort
in Oman and the old prison on Robben Island in South Africa.
SAS Cargo included social and ethical issues into the ongoing development of
the ISO 14001-certification process.