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How Visma supports the Sustainable Development Goals (2/2)

Article

How Visma supports the Sustainable Development Goals (2/2)

Article

How Visma supports the Sustainable Development Goals (2/2)

Sustainability

Article

How Visma supports the Sustainable Development Goals (2/2)

Sustainability

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address global challenges like human rights and climate change. For businesses, especially the tech industry, there’s both a responsibility and unique opportunity to tackle these issues through innovation, resources, and expertise.

In part one of this two-part series, we covered Visma’s activities related to the environment and our employees. We also listed our key focus areas in line with the SDGs, where we can drive the most meaningful impact. In this second and final part, we will dive into Visma’s ethical business practices across the entire organisation.

Company-wide ethical business practices

At Visma, every employee is responsible for understanding and adhering to legal requirements. We are dedicated to ethical conduct, with clear expectations in areas like gifts and hospitality, corruption, data protection, and security, to mention a few.

Our employees are expected to act with integrity at all times, which is supported by continuous internal training, Visma's Code of Conduct, and a strong ethical company culture.

Preventing corruption and bribery

We are committed to maintaining the trust of our customers and society at large. Our Anti-Corruption Policy and Employee Code of Conduct outline the day-to-day principles that guide both personal and business decisions. To ensure our employees are aware of and up-to-date with our anti-corruption policies, we regularly distribute e-learning sessions that must be completed. We also provide an anonymous Whistleblowing Channel for reporting any concerns related to corruption, bribery, or other ethical breaches.

Our goal is zero incidents of corruption or bribery, aligning with SDG targets 16.5: ‘Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms’ and 16.6: ‘Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels’.

Upholding human rights

We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any violations of human rights, as outlined in our Employee Code of Conduct, Supplier Code of Conduct, and Sustainability Policy. This applies to Visma as a whole, as well as among our suppliers, partners, customers, and other stakeholders.

Our goal is to avoid entering into business relationships with subcontractors or partners who violate laws related to human rights, modern slavery, or child labour. This is in line with the following SDG targets:

  • 16.2: ‘End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children’
  • 16.3: ‘Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all’
  • 16.10: ‘Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements’
  • 8.7: ‘Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms’

Strengthening cybersecurity and protecting private data

Ensuring the privacy and security of our customers, partners, and employees is integral to everything we do. We have dedicated teams and individuals responsible for preventing and mitigating security issues, and our security and compliance programmes are designed to monitor, assess, and address any potential risks.

→ Visit our Trust Centre to learn more about cybersecurity at Visma

Our goal is to have zero fines from authorities, as well as zero material claims brought by data subjects or customers due to breaches of data protection or IPR legislation. This aligns with SDG target 16.10: ‘Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements’.

Partnerships and local community engagements

We contribute to the local communities we’re present in, and society at large, with the help of organisations that share our values. Examples of contributions include our shared-value partnership with UNICEF Norway, local community investments, and supporting projects that positively impact the environment. These efforts also support employee pride and engagement, strengthening our collective commitment to the SDGs.

→ Learn more about Visma's social impact

Through community investments, partnerships, and charitable giving, we support SDG targets 17.16: ‘Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilise and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources’ and 17.17: ‘Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships’.

Ensuring ethical and sustainable supply chains

We expect our suppliers to uphold the same ethical standards that guide Visma, as outlined in our Supplier Code of Conduct. By 2028, our goal is for 50% of our suppliers (by spend) to have their own sustainability targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative. This commitment ensures fair and ethical business practices while also complying with our core sustainability principles.

This supports SDG target 12.6: ‘Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle’.

This was the second and final part of our two-part series on Visma’s sustainability efforts in line with the SDGs. Find part one here.

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