CORPORATE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Smiths News takes a positive approach to Corporate Responsibility (CR). We recognise that a responsible approach to business has benefits for all. Our approach is centred on responsible practice in our marketplace, the communities we serve and a wider responsibility for the environment.

Marketplace
Smiths News plays an important social role in bringing news and information to communities across the UK. We operate to strict codes of practice that help ensure the wide availability of newspapers and magazines to all communities, particularly those in rural areas and areas of social need. We do this by ensuring our operation not only serves the requirements of our large customers (such as supermarkets and high street retailers), it also meets the needs of thousands of small retailers and community stores, often in remote and rural locations. Similarly, we distribute titles on behalf of hundreds of small publishers. Many of these small customers (both retailers and publishers) would be uneconomic to serve in isolation, but we recognise they are essential to maintaining the diversity of information available to consumers. In support of these objectives, Smiths News is an active participant in government and industry discussions to ensure the newspaper and magazine supply chain continues to facilitate these important social benefits.

Environment
Our environmental policy commits us to improve energy and fuel efficiency, to reduce waste and increase recycling. At the heart of our approach is efficiency; we believe in continually improving our distribution which helps to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and waste whilst also contributing to improved service. This year we have replaced a large part of our van fleet with new hired vehicles, enabling this resource to be tailored to local needs while using the latest and most fuel efficient vehicles. One area we are particularly proud of is our performance on recycling of unsold newspapers and magazines. We have led the industry in efficient and innovative returns processing, making a very significant contribution to reducing the environmental impacts. Lat year a staggering 99.5% of unsold newspapers and magazines were collected, processed and sent for recycling.

Charity
Smiths News encourages and supports its staff with their work for communities and charities. We are active supporters of the NewstrAid Benevolent Society, a charitable foundation that works across our industry - last year activities from Smiths News' teams helped NewstrAid raise over £300,000. At a local level many of our teams support charities and community activities that matter to them. This year we intend to launch a new scheme designed to allow staff to volunteer a small portion of their working time to support these charities of their choice.