Principles of reporting on corporate responsibility

Alma Media's business operations are based on the Group's socially responsible mission: acting for individual freedom and well-being. Alma Media's corporate responsibility reporting describes the Group's business operations from the perspective of this mission, each year providing qualitative and quantitative information on what corporate responsibility means for Alma Media. The other contents of the Annual Review and the company website complement the reporting. The next review of corporate responsibility will be published in early 2017.

The reporting period for corporate responsibility corresponds to Alma Media's financial year, i.e. the calendar year, 1 Jan–31 Dec 2015. This report additionally includes certain instances of information pertaining to 2015. The report covers the Group's Finnish operations, except for the economic data in the Communities section, which also includes the Group's international operations. This means that the economic data is consistent with the Group's other financial reporting. Regarding social and environmental responsibility, international operations have been excluded on the basis of the GRI guidelines, as their impacts on sustainable development are minor due to their scope and nature.

The reporting on corporate responsibility is based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 guidelines and the additional media sector guidelines (GRI Media Sector Supplement). The report focuses on the aspects of corporate responsibility that were determined to be of key significance to Alma Media based on the stakeholder study carried out in 2010. A table illustrating the degree to which the report corresponds with the GRI guidelines is presented here.

Calculation and data collection principles for CR reporting

The CR data in the Annual Review was collected from the Group's internal statistical systems, subcontractors and partners. The calculation principles are compliant with the GRI G4 Guidelines where appropriate with regards to the information available. Where significant deviations to the GRI G4 guidelines have been made, this is mentioned in conjunction with the figure in question. The figures pertaining to economic responsibility were taken from the financial statements. The numbers concerning environmental responsibility have primarily been collected from suppliers and the invoicing function. Finnish average values provided by Statistics Finland and the Finnish Energy Industries have been used in the calculations of carbon dioxide emissions. Information pertaining to social responsibility has been collected from HR systems, the Group's insurance company and, with regards to journalism, the website of the Council for Mass Media. Certain figures are not comparable to earlier years due to more accurate reporting methods and a change in the source for average emissions data in use this year. This is mentioned separately where relevant. Reporting is developed and improved continuously to make it more accurate and comprehensive in the future.