Beyond our three focus areas, we have a wider agenda of responsible business practice. This covers areas such as nurturing and developing talent and diversity, environmental responsibility and supporting the work of the Pearson Foundation.
Climate change remains a focus for us as one of the most serious issues facing the planet. Minimising our own environmental impact is not just the right thing to do; it is fundamental to our future as a sustainable business and helps deliver cost savings.
We continue to be climate neutral, a commitment which focuses the company on carbon reduction.
Pearson is preparing for the introduction of mandatory Greenhouse Gas reporting in 2014. We have just been accredited against the Carbon Trust Standard globally – one of only two companies that currently hold that status.
“As only the second organisation ever to achieve global certification to the Carbon Trust Standard – by no means an easy task – Pearson is showing real leadership in how to measure, manage and reducecarbon emissions year on year.” Tom Delay Chief Executive, Carbon Trust
“As only the second organisation ever to achieve global certification to the Carbon Trust Standard – by no means an easy task – Pearson is showing real leadership in how to measure, manage and reducecarbon emissions year on year.”
Our second focus area is forests. As a purchaser of paper and newsprint for our books, magazines and newspapers, security and sustainability of supply are very important to us. We have focused on actively encouraging responsible forest management and being more efficient in how we use paper.
Pearson and the FT committed to a $1m three-year rainforest partnership in Columbia. We also continued to invest in Woodland Carbon offsets offered by the Woodland Trust in the UK and in a Nature Conservancy Council Forest offset project in the United States.
Responsible business practice cuts across all aspects of our company and our focus is to integrate this into the way we manage our businesses. This benefits our customers, suppliers, the people that work at Pearson and the communities in which we operate.
Pearson continued with its programme of Student Advisory Boards, providing an opportunity for students to input and influence our strategy in return for mentoring and company internships.
Pearson in the US has been included in Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies list for its twelfth year.
Pearson, alongside charity partner Booktrust, won a 2012 Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award in the education category for the Booktime programme.