Corporate Responsibility

EY's purpose is building a better working world. The insights and services we provide help to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Contact us

Do you have any questions?
Reach out to Marita Hagerup Vogt.

Human Rights Due Diligence

EY Norway’s commitment to Universal Human Rights

As we make long-term commitments – achieving net zero carbon emissions, increasing diversity, equity and inclusiveness in the workforce, and contributing to prosperity in the communities we operate in – measuring improvement and action plan results to achieve these commitments is critical. Only by measuring can we benchmark progress, improve decision-making and accountability, and increase trust.

Our approach to sustainability is organized around four pillars:

High-level ambition

Become the most trusted professional services firm

FY 2025
Target and focus areas

  • Code of Conduct and anti-corruption training - 100%
  • Signed CoC & Independence - 100%
  • Suppliers agreed to Supplier Code of Conduct - 100%

Action

  • Require Code of Conduct training and annual Independence confirmation from EY people
  • Independence confirmation from EY people
  • Implement ESG due diligence in supply chain

Progress FY 2022

  • 94% completed CoC-training
  • 99% of EY people signed annual CoC confirmation 
  • 100%  signed annual independence confirmation
  • Issued EY’s first Global Human Rights statement**
  • Developed EY’s structure to monitor supplier compliance**
  • Initiated local Human Rights DD

*Nordic-wide targets
**Initiatives driven by EY Global

The insights and quality services EY delivers help build trust and confidence in businesses and the capital markets. We serve the public interest by delivering high-quality, analytics-driven audits based on independence, integrity, objectivity and professional skepticism.

The EY approach to business ethics and integrity is contained in the EY Global Code of Conduct and other policies. Our Code of Conduct provides a clear set of standards that guide our actions and business conduct.

EY strives to adhere to the highest ethical standards, including in relation to protecting human rights, upholding international labor standards, protecting the environment, and opposing bribery and corruption in all its forms.

We anchor anti-corruption measures across EY, and partners and employees are obliged to complete yearly training, we help clients strengthen their integrity and compliance frameworks and cooperate with external networks and groups in the fight against corruption.

We are committed to integrating the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Ten Principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into EY strategy, culture and operations.

Our expectations concerning environment, human rights and social conditions extends to our suppliers who need to verify their adherence and standards according to our Supplier Code of Conduct.

EYs Transparency Report (Åpenhetsrapporten) disclose our internal control sstems, ethical values, how we execute our audits, quality routines and independnece. It is written in compliance with requirements of the Norwegian Audit Act.

High-level ambition

Protect the planet to support the needs of current and future generations

FY 2025
Target and focus areas

  • Reach Net Zero in FY25 (SBTi)
  • Absolute GHG emissions all scopes*, -40% vs. FY19
  • Limit EY Nordics’ air travel emissions to 6,000 tCO2e per year*
  • Decrease share of non-recyclable waste

Action

  • Implement the EY seven-point action plan to reach Net Zero in FY25**
  • Implement ISO 14001:15 EMS-system
  • Implement EY Nordics travel guidelines
  • Improve waste sorting and ensure energy efficiency in all offices.

Results FY 2022

  • EY is carbon negative**
  • Scope 2 (location-based) - 29% 
  • Scope 3 - 79% (vs. FY19)
  • Limited air travel emissions (due to Covid-19 induced restrictions) – total emitted
  • Waste generated in Oslo, Begen and Stavanger, -3% (vs.2021)
  • Share of recyclable waste 55%

*Nordic-wide targets
**Initiatives driven by EY Global

EY has set targets to significantly reduce absolute emissions, and to remove or offset more carbon than we emit each year, making EY reach net zero by 2025.

We will reduce our absolute emissions by 40% across scopes 1, 2 and 3 against an FY19 baseline, consistent with a 1.5°c science-based target, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

To reach our reduction targets, EY has defined seven actions that apply to all of EY including, reduction in business travel, reducing overall office electricity usage, and procuring 100% renewable energy for remaining needs, using nature-based solutions and carbon reduction technologies to remove from the atmosphere or offset more carbon than emitted, every year, providing EY teams with tools to calculate, then work to reduce, the amount of carbon emitted in carrying out client work, requiring that our largest suppliers have set science based targets, investing in EY services and solutions that help clients create value from decarbonizing their businesses and provide solutions to other sustainability challenges and opportunities.

High-level ambition

Empower EY people to build their own exceptions EY experience

FY 2025
Target and focus areas

  • Even gender distribution, 40%-60% either way
  • Exceptional experience at EY, 80% of EY people

Action

  • Ensure a fair representation in promotion and recruitment rate
  • Support competence development
  • Implement programs to build resilience and monitor working hours to support wellbeing

Results FY21

  • All employees: Women 45% - Men 55%
  • Leadership: Women 43% - Men 57%
  • Partners: Women 22% - Men 78%
  • Board of Dierctors: Women 50% - Men 50%
  • 83% of EY people agree that they have an expectional experience at EY - an increase of 14pp.compared to FY21.
  • Nmb of EY Badges awareded: 280 in FY22, accumulated 920.
  • Avg. 43 training hours/employee

At EY, our people are instrumental when it comes to realizing our purpose of building a better working world. Our exceptional people address the opportunities and the challenges our clients face, and for them to perform at their best, we need to provide them with exceptional experiences by:

  • Having a culture where treating everyone with dignity and equality is the clear norm
  • Developing their skills for the future demands in our profession and in accordance with their individual development aspirations
  • Looking after their health and wellbeing without compromising the integrity of the individual.

In EY, we are deeply committed to creating an environment where differences are not only accepted but are truly valued. With a diverse workforce, we are better equipped to utilize the power of different opinions, perspectives and cultural references, which will help us set the highest performing teams. We see diversity and inclusiveness as vital to our business success and continued growth.

Our overall priority is to ensure gender equality at all levels in the organization, and we aim to ensure that our activities promote our talent pool to become even more diverse and better balanced.

High-level ambition

Building a better working world in the communities where we live and work

FY 2025
Target and focus areas

  • Exceptional Client Service
  • 1000 volunteers in EY Ripples*
  • Positively impact over 900 000 lives by 2025 through EY Ripples skill-based volunteering program

Action

  • EY Global’s 3-year commitment of US$10b investment in audit quality, innovation, tech & people**
  • Encourage and engage employees to participate in EY Ripples volunteering
  • Introduce initiatives to support local communities

Results FY 2022

  • EY Global invested US$8b**
  • 215 participants in EY Ripples
  • Positively impacted more than 15 000 lives through EY Amplifier:
    "Sammen om en jobb" and "Arbeid med Handikapforbundet".

*Nordic-wide targets
**Initiatives driven by EY Global

A company’s value is increasingly reflected in the off-balance sheet intangible assets and value drivers associated with economic and social prosperity.

Through the EY Ripples program, we extend the value of EY knowledge and networks to people and places we might not otherwise reach. It empowers EY people to devote their time to SDG-focused projects that apply their skills in different contexts and help them develop as more inclusive leaders with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing communities across the world. As more and more EY people learn to appreciate the social value of the skills they use every day, so creating long-term value for society becomes more deeply embedded in our culture.

Together with clients and other like-minded organizations, EY people use their distinctive skills to bring positive change across three focus areas: 

Footsteps on the beach. Tropical climate.

Our latest thinking

How digital collaborations can help close the learning poverty gap

Digital tools and capabilities in the hands of teachers in low-income countries help to empower and support future leaders.

How to broaden access to future-focused skills

Programs, such as the EY Future Skills Workshops, can make vital knowledge more accessible to all. Learn more.

How can we empower the next generations to build a more sustainable future?

Corporations, educational institutions, and governments must be prepared to “green skill” tomorrow’s workforce. Learn more.

Five ways changing finance can finance sustainable change

Five to close vital gaps tin service of a diverse and thriving network of entrepreneurial climate innovators. Find out more.

How business and education can help Gen Z reframe the future

Gen Z participants in JA Worldwide programs expect business and education to work more closely together to better prepare them for the future. Learn more.

How to inspire the next generation of women in STEM

Using gamified learning and content from world-renowned providers, the EY STEM App opens up a world of possibilities for girls. Learn more.

How business and Gen Z can work together to tackle climate change

EY teams are facilitating life-long learning on climate change and connecting the voices of Gen Z with business. Discover more.