Better Health for All
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RELX's Scientific, Technical & Medical segment delivers significant health benefits. Its ClinicalPath oncology tool is associated with improved patient survival rates
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, with patients half as likely to die within 12 months of treatment initiation
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. The Entellect platform helped discover four drugs for a rare disease now in clinical testing
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. The company provides free access to scientific information to researchers in 125 low- and middle-income countries through Research4Life
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, with over 1.3 million downloads in 2024
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. It also develops solutions like Health Equity and Inclusion Insights (awarded 'Best Healthcare Big Data Solution' in 2024)
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and the Gravitas Network
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to address health disparities and improve care access for underserved populations and rare diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elsevier created a free Information Centre with over 50,000 articles
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, receiving over 2 million visits and 200 million downloads in 2020
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, and released a free clinical trial data capture tool
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. RELX demonstrates strong healthcare data responsibility with robust data privacy policies
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, ISO27001 certification
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, and HIPAA-compliant technology for de-identified healthcare datasets
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. The company has reduced its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 80% since 2010
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and 61% since 2018
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, with a net-zero target by 2040
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, and its products like The Lancet Countdown
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and Cirium EmeraldSky
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contribute to climate change mitigation. Less than 1% of its journals cover hydrocarbon content
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, and Gulf Professional Publishing was discontinued in 2024
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. RELX's products do not have direct safety implications or addiction potential, nor does it hold healthcare-related patents or produce food products.
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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RELX PLC is an information and analytics provider, not a direct financial services institution offering lending or deposit services to consumers. Consequently, most KPIs related to direct financial products, pricing, fees, and customer financial outcomes are not applicable to its core business model. While its LexisNexis Risk Solutions subsidiary offers tools like DecisionTrust to help lenders assess 'credit-invisible' individuals, thereby indirectly supporting financial inclusion, this does not translate into direct customer shares, loan book percentages, or financial product metrics for RELX itself. The company makes legal, scientific, and SDG-related content freely available, but this is distinct from customer financial data portability. Donations and internal investments are reported, but not specifically as profit reinvestment in community finance or profit-sharing with underserved communities as defined by the rubric. No evidence of financial literacy programs for consumers or direct debt products was found.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
30
In 2024, RELX completed living wage assessments for 99% of its employee population, confirming that it pays above the living wage in all assessed locations.
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In the same year, 3.29% of the workforce was on temporary or fixed-term contracts.
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The voluntary employee turnover rate was 7.7% in 2024.
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Employee engagement was measured at 69% in 2024.
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Regarding labor violations, RELX reported no severe human rights incidents connected with its own workforce in 2024
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and no reports related to modern slavery in 2024,
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with no human rights or Modern Slavery Act violations in 2022.
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However, 12% of employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements in 2024,
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and a subsidiary, LexisNexis, intended to terminate long-standing recognition agreements with the National Union of Journalists in 2024,
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which the NUJ condemned as "union-busting".
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
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RELX reported no reports or questions related to modern slavery in 2024, and no severe human rights incidents connected with its own workforce during the reporting period.
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The company has 82% of suppliers on its Socially Responsible Supplier (SRS) tracking list signed to its Supplier Code of Conduct or equivalent standards, with these terms included in contract templates.
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By the end of 2024, 6,056 suppliers had signed the code, an increase of 14% from the previous year.
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In 2024, 3% of total US spend was directed to diverse suppliers, including veteran, minority, and woman-owned businesses.
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Honest & Fair Business
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RELX PLC reported no convictions, fines, or penalties related to anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws in 2024
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, and zero environmental fines in 2023 and 2024
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. The company's Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating places it 2nd out of 265 companies in its sector
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, indicating a very low controversy risk. The Board comprises ten members, 80% of whom are independent
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, and the Board and its Committees undergo an annual review of effectiveness, with an external independent review every three years
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. RELX maintains a robust anti-bribery compliance program
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with a zero-tolerance stance on corruption, fraud, and insider trading
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, supported by multiple internal policies
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, biennial anti-bribery training for all employees
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, and biennial bribery risk assessments
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.
Kind to Animals
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RELX PLC is a global provider of information and analytics. Its business conduct framework explicitly excludes animal welfare as a sub-topic.
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Given this service-oriented business model, the company has no direct involvement in animal testing, making an animal testing policy not applicable to its digital or service offerings. Similarly, RELX PLC has no animal agriculture operations or sourcing, rendering related ethical assessments not applicable.
No War, No Weapons
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RELX was awarded a $10 million contract with the US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) in March 2022 for security clearance and personnel vetting services.
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This follows a 2007 announcement by RELX (then Reed Elsevier) to exit the defense exhibition business.
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The company supports initiatives such as the eyeWitness to Atrocities App, launched in partnership with the International Bar Association, which documents human rights violations and has led to convictions.
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RELX also hosted an SDG Inspiration Day focused on 'Peace, justice and strong institutions'
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and made a $30,000 donation for flood relief in Brazil in 2024.
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Other philanthropic efforts include grants for safe water and sanitation, and support for libraries and women scientists in developing countries.
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Planet-Friendly Business
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RELX's near-term science-based emissions reduction targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2024, aligning with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Climate Agreement
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, including a 56% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 from a 2018 baseline
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. In 2024, 100% of RELX's global electricity consumption was sourced from purchased renewable electricity
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. The company's water usage intensity ratio in 2024 was 14.28 m³ per GBPm revenue
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. It achieved a 97% waste diversion rate from landfill at reporting locations in 2024
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. However, 0% of capital expenditure was aligned with the EU Sustainable Taxonomy in 2024
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. For deforestation, 100% of production papers were from known and responsible sources or certified to FSC or PEFC in 2024
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. RELX recorded zero environmental law violation cases in 2023 and 2024
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. The company aims for net zero emissions across all carbon scopes by 2040 at the latest, supported by interim milestones
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. RELX makes disclosures consistent with TCFD recommendations
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and has considered three climate scenarios, including 1.5°C, 2°C, and Business as Usual (RCP 8.5) pathways, linking them to strategic planning
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. The company runs the long-standing Environmental Challenge, a grant-making scheme focused on sustainable access to water and sanitation with local community engagement, and the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge
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.
Respect for Cultures & Communities
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The company provides an Integrity Line, hosted by an independent third-party, which is available 24/7, 365 days a year, to employees, suppliers, and other reporting persons.
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This mechanism is available globally, with the company having offices in 38 countries
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and suppliers in over 150 countries.
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A UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights operational-level grievance mechanism was initiated in November 2023 for those potentially impacted by the company’s activities.
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The Supplier Code of Conduct is available in 16 languages.
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Additionally, a Children’s Corner supported by the company provides access to books in English and local languages.
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Safe & Smart Tech
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The company demonstrates exceptional security training effectiveness, with over 99% of employees included in monthly phishing simulation exercises in 2024
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and a 99+% completion rate for all courses.
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However, its cybersecurity investment in 2024 was approximately $5 million,
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representing less than 0.5% of its £9,434 million revenue.
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RELX has comprehensive AI ethics governance, having established Responsible AI Principles in 2022
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and updated them in 2024 to incorporate generative AI considerations.
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These publicly available principles cover bias prevention, explainability, human oversight, privacy, and data governance,
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supported by feedback channels,
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workshops,
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and a summit.
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The company holds multiple privacy and security certifications, including renewed self-certification for EU-U.S., UK Extension, and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Frameworks for its US entities,
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ISO 27001 for UK Risk products
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and an Australian cloud facility,
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and periodically completes SOC 2 and NIST Cyber Security Framework assessments.
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More than 50% of product revenue from its three largest business areas is covered by a third-party audit.
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There are no documented incidents of unauthorized data use, and users have comprehensive control over their personal data, including rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object, and portability.
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RELX maintains an exemplary regulatory compliance program, adhering to GDPR, DPF principles, and using Standard Contractual Clauses for data transfers, alongside detailed anti-bribery and sanctions policies.
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It advocates for privacy laws in the US
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and works with advocacy groups.
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The company implements infrastructure vulnerability management, application scanning, penetration testing, continuous monitoring, and bug bounty programs.
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Privacy Impact Assessment and Data Protection Impact Assessment processes were enhanced in 2024,
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and personal data is retained for as long as a user has an account plus 24 months.
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Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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RELX achieved a 93% waste diversion rate across all locations in 2024 through recycling, composting, and energy generation from waste.
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The company has already met its target to maintain waste sent to landfill from reporting locations at least 95% below 2018 levels by 2030, achieving this performance in 2024.
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It also achieved its 2025 target to decrease waste sent to landfill to 35% below 2015 levels, with a 96% reduction against the 2015 baseline in 2024.
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RELX implements numerous waste reduction initiatives, particularly within its exhibitions segment, such as eliminating printed materials, using recyclable lanyards and signage, offering reusable stand shells, and implementing food donation and composting programs. Measurable results include a 32% reduction in total waste at MIPIM 2023
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and a 42% reduction in waste volumes at ExCeL London.
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RX France was a finalist in the 2024 UFI Sustainability Awards.
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Hazardous waste is classified, collected, and handled according to national standards.
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The company reported 0 waste disposal violations in 2024.
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Annual waste monitoring is conducted for RX France events, and 89% of events submitted waste data in 2024.
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The company requires suppliers to sign a Code of Conduct that includes environmental responsibility, with 6,056 suppliers having signed.
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RELX aims for 100% supplier compliance with sustainability criteria by 2025, with 70% already meeting these standards, and conducts bi-annual audits.
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Furthermore, RELX provides comprehensive customer waste education through sustainability guides, exhibitor checklists, and direct outreach to educate on waste management and sustainable practices.
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