SOURCE: Ericsson
DESCRIPTION:
Ericsson engages as an active local partner in the communities where it operates. Volunteering is one way Ericsson employees help the Company realize its vision to improve lives, redefine business and pioneer a sustainable future. During 2021 Ericsson strengthened its corporate citizenship efforts, including the launch of a new volunteering strategy focused on encouraging employee and community engagement. The Company also re-established global governance of this program with a new Volunteer Program Board. Ericsson also strengthened its donation strategy to focus on proactive efforts, efficiency improvements and long-term partnerships.
Making a difference across the globe
In 2021 the Company’s largest donation was related to the COVID-19 response in India. The donation of almost USD 1 million was a combination of direct company contribution and company-matched employee donations. The donation went to UNICEF India and helped with the acquisition of oxygen generation plants, RT-PCR testing machines and other medical equipment. Due to the pandemic, Ericsson pivoted its volunteering efforts to virtual engagements. In 2021 Ericsson initiated multiple virtual volunteering pilots inviting more than 24,000 employees in 39 countries to participate. Lessons from these pilots will be incorporated into the launch of the global volunteer program in 2022.
One example of a global virtual volunteer initiative is Missing Maps, an open and collaborative project in which volunteers can virtually map buildings in areas at risk of disasters. As a result of this global opportunity, Ericsson volunteers mapped more than 4,500 buildings.
Climate action
During 2021, Ericsson continued to support management of mangrove trees in Malaysia and renewed its partnerships with local stakeholders in the Philippines to protect more than 405 hectares of mangrove wetlands. This project in the Philippines utilizes Ericsson’s technology and its employee expertise, and the project in Malaysia includes a company donation of mangrove saplings for reforestation purposes.
Building on its six-year commitment to mangrove preservation projects, Ericsson has made a pledge to contribute to the organization 1t.org, which aims to conserve, restore, and grow one trillion trees by 2030. 1t.org is part of the World Economic Forum’s work to accelerate nature-based solutions in support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030).
Humanitarian response
Ericsson Response is the Company’s flagship volunteer program and has been in operation since the year 2000. Together with partners, Ericsson uses its core competencies to provide communication and other support to help humanitarian workers save lives and to support communities in need of humanitarian relief, for example, after a natural disaster. The work is a continuous journey to prepare and improve the humanitarian response for future emergencies.
In 2021, the Company extended its partnership with the United Nations and established a partnership with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency to support its important work in the area of emergency response to refugee situations.
As a first deployment in support of UNHCR, Ericsson Response deployed in Colombia to support the Venezuelan refugee response. Ericsson Response supported other deployments after a devastating earthquake in Haiti and in response to severe flooding in Germany.
KEYWORDS: NASDAQ: ERIC, Ericsson, COVID-19
