Springer Nature - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Springer Nature is Medium Risk.

Springer Nature is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. Springer Nature implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	High Risk
Political Actions	No Data

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Springer Nature integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2025 Annual Report: the company ties Executive performance measures to ESG, stating that “To determine the final target achievement, a
multiplier (factor 0.8–1.2) is also applied, based on the
individual and team performance of the members of the
Management Board and the achievement of predefined
stakeholder targets, e.g. ESG targets” and “The final number of performance shares depends on the
extent to which the performance targets of ROCE (weighted
at 35%), absolute TSR (weighted at 30%), relative TSR
(weighted at 20%) and ESG (weighted at 15%) are achieved
during the performance period” (1). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2025 Selected Sustainability KPIs Report: “We have set climate-related targets, using the process set
out by the SBTi, which includes distinct targets for Scope 1,
2 and 3 emissions. These reduction targets, together with
our total carbon footprint, define our pathway to net zero.
We have committed to both a near-term target for 2032 and a net zero target for 2040” (2). Springer Nature promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Business Partner Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (3). However, the company has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (4).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Springer Nature does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Springer Nature requires its hiring managers to take inclusion training (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring and leadership composition. From its 2025 Annual Report: “As part of our diversity approach, we focus on inclusive
hiring, broadening participation and fair talent development
to continue increasing diverse representation within
our leadership” (2). Springer Nature appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its business structure through the establishment of gender targets for its leadership composition. The company is seeking “to maintain at least 45% women across these top three tiers [of leadership]” and “[to maintain]
25% women in the Supervisory Board for the period
2024–2028” (3). The company operates a supplier diversity program. “We want
to work together with our key suppliers to
create inclusive work environments and
start looking into creating opportunities
to work with more inclusive and diverse
suppliers” (4). Springer Nature does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (5).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Springer Nature is committed to net zero emissions by 2040 (1). The company supports DEI within its business practices, employing a DEI Steering Group (2). Springer Nature supports DEI within its business practices. From its Insights into Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Global Research Community: “we are committed to integrating DEI values into
how we work and what we create and publish – across our content,
products, platforms, and services” (3). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2025 Annual Report: “We have been working on
our sustainable business strategy – also referred to as our
environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy –
for several years, and are constantly striving to improve it” (4). Springer Nature has compiled a collection of Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ Pride literature which is publicized on its website. The collections feature works on systemic racism, social unrest, gender, etc. (5)(6). The company published an article promoting LGBTQ for children titled: “Reflections on Pride: We need to keep fighting for our LGBT+ Youth” (7).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Springer Nature donated $50,000 to The HBCU Foundation for scholarships “as a positive response to the Black Lives Matter movement” (1). The company’s SN [LGBTQ] Pride ERG hosted a Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance, which likely used corporate funds (2). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of Springer Nature using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Springer Nature does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).