Digital sustainability is not only our primary sustainability focus – it is the very core of our business.

Bisnode has released its 2019 Sustainability Report, demonstrating another year of continued business focus on contributing to sustainable future in the ecosystem of data and analytics.

“Looking back on 2019, we can see that it is not only digitalization but also digital sustainability that has become increasingly important for customers’ trust in companies and their view of corporate brands. While a growing number of executives see significant potential in the use of digitalization, data, and analytics, we are also seeing that many individuals are concerned about where this is heading. This is a concern that we must take seriously,” said Bisnode CEO Magnus Silfverberg. “With Bisnode being one of Europe’s leading suppliers of data and analytics, we have an obvious responsibility. Digital sustainability is not only our primary sustainability focus – it is the very core of our business. Today, privacy is integral to our product development. Bisnode’s powerful, new One Data Platform has been designed not only with an ontologized cross-border European data-set but also with metadata on GDPR compliance built in, making it one of its kind in the world.’’

The report demonstrates the initiatives undertaken in the year across five areas: Digital Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental footprint, Sustainable value chain and Community Initiatives.

2019 sustainability performance highlights include:

  • The Bisnode Code of Conduct has been updated and implemented across all Regions and Functions.
  • Various Group Policies like Anti-Corruption, Whistleblowing, Data Ethics, Corporate Governance, Anti-sexual harassment policy have been reviewed during the year, and made available to all employees through our common people platform.
  • The Bisnode Group Security has continued their efforts on safeguarding company assets and maintaining a high level of personal and customer privacy and integrity. Our Security Handbook and Code of Conduct constitute our framework for data security and provide important guidelines to our employees on how to ensure optimal information security.

Introduced the standard for IT security in the control sets called “CIS 20”

  • After GDPR coming into effect in 2018, Bisnode has increased efforts regarding the Information Obligation, updating policies and guidelines, working with legitimate interest, privacy-by-design and cookie handling, continuing measures for information classification by confidentiality, data integrity, and availability (C.I.A classifications) and continued work with retentions and data subject rights; all to ensure compliance. We have over 850 Assessments divided into both Article 30 documentation and Data Protection Impact Assessments.
  • Our eNPS has gone up significantly from -6 in 2017 to +16 in 2018 and further to +20 in 2019 indicating that our employees are engaged in their work and would recommend us as a place to work.
  • A diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to the encouragement of different perspectives and ideas that drive innovation at Bisnode which is reflected by 44,9% of our employees being women.
  • 30% of the leaders at Bisnode are women.
  • Bisnode Slovenia was the proud recipient of the GEMA certification for gender equality. GEMA (Gender Equality Management Assessment) certificate was established in 2018.
  • Bisnode urges all markets to procure energy from renewable sources, provided that it is accessible in their local market. All our markets of operation are further encouraged to oversee their routines and implement initiatives to reduce their environmental impact.
  • Implementing a stricter travel policy that outlines how all employees should consider the environment when planning a business trip. Employees are further encouraged to conduct online meetings if possible.
  • Environmentally friendly initiatives are encouraged at Bisnode. In several of Bisnode’s markets initiatives include reducing plastic use in our offices, using eco-friendly taxis, switching to electronic invoicing and an increased focus on the recycling of paper, plastic and IT hardware.
  • On a scale of 1 to 10, 50% of our customers gave a score of 9 or 10, compared to 36% in 2018
  • Bisnode’s Supplier Code of Conduct was updated in 2019 and is applicable to all partners delivering goods and services to Bisnode, including their sub-contractors. It outlines what we expect from our suppliers; respecting human rights, offering a safe and healthy workplace with good working conditions.
  • Bisnode launched a new function in its product Smart Search which enables customers to find sustainable suppliers, customers, and cooperation partners. Artificial intelligence combined with an enormous database enables Bisnode to give a sustainability score to a website and includes these results in Smart Search. The service is also able to identify companies that have certificates related to sustainability – for example, Fair Trade.
  • Awarded “Sweden’s best managed companies” 2019

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Over the past year, Bisnode has actively benchmarked its operations against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to achieve its strategic goals in sustainability. The report by Bisnode was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Since 2015, Bisnode has been a signatory member to the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest sustainability initiative.

Source: Bisnode Press Release