Information is assured by independent assurors (e.g., accounting or consulting firm) against recognized assurance standard (e.g., ISAE3000, AA1000AS, other national or industry-specific standard)

Is 'in accordance - core' with GRI Standards

Place responsibility for execution of sustainability strategy in relevant corporate functions (procurement, government affairs, human resources, legal, etc) ensuring that no function is conflicting with company sustainability commitments and objectives

Align strategies, goals and incentive structures of all business units and subsidiaries with corporate sustainability strategy

Assign responsibility for corporate sustainability implementation to an individual or group within each business unit and subsidiary

Design corporate sustainability strategy to leverage synergies between and among issue areas and to deal adequately with trade-offs

Ensure that different corporate functions coordinate closely to maximize performance and avoid unintended negative impacts

Other established or emerging best practices

We have adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals as the framework for measuring our impact on society.

Any relevant policies, procedures, and activities that the company plans to undertake by its next COP to fulfill this criterion, including goals, timelines, metrics, and responsible staff

Analyze each segment of the value chain carefully, both upstream and downstream, when mapping risks, opportunities and impacts

Communicate policies and expectations to suppliers and other relevant business partners

Implement monitoring and assurance mechanisms (e.g. audits/screenings) for compliance within the company’s sphere of influence

Undertake awareness-raising, training and other types of capacity building with suppliers and other business partners

Other established or emerging best practices

Through transparency and engaegment, Ericsson works to build trust across the value chain. Ericsson's "Beyond Monitoring" program focuses on increased preventative and joint development initiatives for service suppliers.

Process to ensure that internationally recognized human rights are respected

On-going due diligence process that includes an assessment of actual and potential human rights impacts (BRE 2 + BRE 3 + ARE 2 + ARE 3)

Internal awareness-raising and training on human rights for management and employees

Operational-level grievance mechanisms for those potentially impacted by the company’s activities (BRE 4 + ARE 4)

Allocation of responsibilities and accountability for addressing human rights impacts

Internal decision-making, budget and oversight for effective responses to human rights impacts

Processes to provide for or cooperate in the remediation of adverse human rights impacts that the company has caused or contributed to (BRE 3+ BRE 4 + ARE3 + ARE 4)

Process and programs in place to support human rights through: core business; strategic philanthropic/social investment; public policy engagement/advocacy; partnerships and/or other forms of collective action (BRE 6 + ARE 6)

Other established or emerging best practices

During 2015, we strengthened integration of human rights considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions, focused on options and innovations for using leverage to reduce risks to human rights within our value chain.

System to monitor the effectiveness of human rights policies and implementation with quantitative and qualitative metrics, including in the supply chain (BRE3 + ARE3)

Monitoring draws from internal and external feedback, including affected stakeholders

Leadership review of monitoring and improvement results

Process to deal with incidents the company has caused or contributed to for internal and external stakeholders (BRE 4 + ARE 4)

Grievance mechanisms that are legitimate, accessible, predictable, equitable, transparent, rights-compatible, a source of continuous learning, and based on engagement and dialogue (BRE4 + ARE4)

Outcomes of integration of the human rights principles

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson conducted Human Rights Impact Assessments as part of the Sales Compliance process and according to UNGP in Myanmar and Iran, and initiated an assessment in Ethiopia.

Commitment to comply with all applicable laws and respect internationally recognized human rights, wherever the company operates (e.g., the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Guiding Principles on Human Rights) (BRE1 + ARE1)

Integrated or stand-alone statement of policy expressing commitment to respect and support human rights approved at the most senior level of the company (BRE 1 + BRE5 + ARE 1 + ARE 5)

Statement of policy stipulating human rights expectations of personnel, business partners and other parties directly linked to operations, products or services (BRE 1)

Statement of policy publicly available and communicated internally and externally to all personnel, business partners and other relevant parties (BRE 1 + BRE 5 + ARE 1 + ARE 5)

Other established or emerging best practices

For the second year Ericsson is reporting according the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights Reporting Framework and this year have added a UNGP Reporting Framework index in our Sustainability and CR report.

System to track and measure performance based on standardized performance metrics

Dialogues with the representative organization of workers to regularly review progress made and jointly identify priorities for the future

Audits or other steps to monitor and improve the working conditions of companies in the supply chain, in line with principles of international labour standards

Process to positively engage with the suppliers to address the challenges (i.e., partnership approach instead of corrective approach) through schemes to improve workplace practices

Outcomes of integration of the Labour principles

Reference to principles of relevant international labour standards (ILO Conventions) and other normative international instruments in company policies

Reflection on the relevance of the labour principles for the company

Written company policy to obey national labour law, respect principles of relevant international labour standards in worldwide company operations and engage in dialogue with representative organization of the workers (international, sectoral, national).

Inclusion of reference to the principles contained in the relevant international labour standards in contracts with suppliers and other relevant business partners

Specific commitments and Human Resources policies, in line with national development priorities or decent work priorities in the country of operation

Participation and leadership by employers’ organizations (international and national) to jointly address challenges related to labour standards in the countries of operation, possibly in a tripartite approach (business – trade union – government).

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson takes an inclusive and transparent approach to Occupational Health and Safety, including our supply chain. By being transparent, we encourage others in our sector to follow suit.

Risk and impact assessments in the area of labour

Dialogue mechanism with trade unions to regularly discuss and review company progress in addressing labour standards

Allocation of responsibilities and accountability within the organization

Internal awareness-raising and training on the labour principles for management and employees

Active engagement with suppliers to address labour-related challenges

Grievance mechanisms, communication channels and other procedures (e.g., whistleblower mechanisms) available for workers to report concerns, make suggestions or seek advice, designed and operated in line with the representative organization of workers

Other established or emerging best practices

In 2015, Ericsson established Zero Tolerance Safety Rules regarding workplace safety, and rolled out a global toolkit for assessing and managing and managing social work environment risks and stress.

System to track and measure performance based on standardized performance metrics

Leadership review of monitoring and improvement results

Process to deal with incidents

Audits or other steps to monitor and improve the environmental performance of companies in the supply chain

Outcomes of integration of the environmental principles

Other established or emerging best practices

We have over 20-years of Life Cycle Assessment experience and use this methodology to determine significant environmental aspects and to assess the impacts of ICT.

Environmental risk and impact assessments

Assessments of lifecycle impact of products, ensuring environmentally sound management policies

Allocation of responsibilities and accountability within the organisation

Internal awareness-raising and training on environmental stewardship for management and employees

Grievance mechanisms, communication channels and other procedures (e.g. whistleblower mechanisms) for reporting concerns or seeking advice regarding environmental impacts

Other established or emerging best practices

To ensure sound handling of products at the end-of-life, Ericsson's Product Take-back program is made available to all Ericsson's customers globally, not only in markets required by law.

Reference to relevant international conventions and other international instruments (e.g. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development)

Reflection on the relevance of environmental stewardship for the company

Written company policy on environmental stewardship

Inclusion of minimum environmental standards in contracts with suppliers and other relevant business partners

Specific commitments and goals for specified years

Other established or emerging best practices

We continue to focus on providing solutions to help other sectors of the economy to offset carbon emissions. We delivered on a target to reduce twice as much societal CO2 emissions via our product and service offerings as from our own operations.

Support by the organization’s leadership for anti-corruption (B4)

Carrying out risk assessment of potential areas of corruption (D3)

Human Resources procedures supporting the anti-corruption commitment or policy, including communication to and training for all employees (B5 + D8)

Internal checks and balances to ensure consistency with the anti-corruption commitment (B6)

Actions taken to encourage business partners to implement anti-corruption commitments (D6)

Management responsibility and accountability for implementation of the anti-corruption commitment or policy (D7)

Communications (whistleblowing) channels and follow-up mechanisms for reporting concerns or seeking advice (D9)

Internal accounting and auditing procedures related to anticorruption (D10)

Other established or emerging best practices

To foster individual accountability, Ericsson employees periodically acknowledge the Code of Business Ethics. In 2015, 99% of active employees acknowledged Ericsson's Code of Business Ethics.

Leadership review of monitoring and improvement results (D12)

Process to deal with incidents (D13)

Public legal cases regarding corruption (D14)

Use of independent external assurance of anti-corruption programmes (D15)

Outcomes of integration of the anti-corruption principle

Publicly stated formal policy of zero-tolerance of corruption (D1)

Commitment to be in compliance with all relevant anti-corruption laws, including the implementation of procedures to know the law and monitor changes (B2)

Statement of support for international and regional legal frameworks, such as the UN Convention against Corruption (D2)

Detailed policies for high-risk areas of corruption (D4)

Policy on anti-corruption regarding business partners (D5)

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson is a signatory of the Partnership Against Corruption Initiative of the World Economic Forum, which includes a commitment to zero-tolerance for corruption.

Align core business strategy with one or more relevant UN goals/issues

Develop relevant products and services or design business models that contribute to UN goals/issues

Adopt and modify operating procedures to maximize contribution to UN goals/issues

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson's Sustainability and CR strategy embraces the UN SDGs and we have adopted the SDGs as a framework for measuring our impact on society.

Pursue social investments and philanthropic contributions that tie in with the core competencies or operating context of the company as an integrated part of its sustainability strategy

Coordinate efforts with other organizations and initiatives to amplify—and not negate or unnecessarily duplicate—the efforts of other contributors

Other established or emerging best practices

Philanthropy per se is not part of Ericsson's approach, rather working in public-private partnership with UN and other partners to use our technology and expertise to support initiatives to help advance society through sustainable development.

Develop and implement partnership projects with public or private organizations (UN entities, government, NGOs, or other groups) on core business, social investments and/or advocacy

Join industry peers, UN entities and/or other stakeholders in initiatives contributing to solving common challenges and dilemmas at the global and/or local levels with an emphasis on initiatives extending the company’s positive impact on its value chain

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson Response, the company's flagship employee volunteer program, celebrated its 15-year anniversary, as a pioneering public-private partnership to support the World Food Programme-led Emergency Telecom Cluster in humanitarian relief efforts.

Publicly advocate the importance of action in relation to one or more UN goals/issues

Commit company leaders to participate in key summits, conferences, and other important public policy interactions in relation to one or more UN goals/issues

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson's CEO joined the Board of the UN Foundation during 2015, and is also a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

CEO leads executive management team in development of corporate sustainability strategy, defining goals and overseeing implementation

CEO publicly delivers explicit statements and demonstrates personal leadership on sustainability and commitment to the UN Global Compact

CEO promotes initiatives to enhance sustainability of the company’s sector and leads development of industry standards

Other established or emerging best practices

Ericsson's CEO joined the Board of the UN Foundation during 2015, and is also a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

Publicly recognize responsibility for the company’s impacts on internal and external stakeholders

Define sustainability strategies, goals and policies in consultation with key stakeholders

Consult stakeholders in dealing with implementation dilemmas and challenges and invite them to take active part in reviewing performance

Establish channels to engage with employees and other stakeholders to hear their ideas and address their concerns

Board of Directors (or equivalent) assumes responsibility and oversight for long-term corporate sustainability strategy and performance

Other established or emerging best practices

In management of sustainability and CR, the Board of Directors' remit is both governance and strategy.