Responsible Business Practice
Customer satisfaction and rights
For us, it is important to satisfy the customers of the companies that are part of the Group, match the offered services with the customer's expectations and needs, and exactly fulfil the promises made to the customer. Ekspress Grupp's periodicals map and design customer satisfaction and experience, as this ensures the development of new products/services that meet consumer expectations and needs. Creating convenient solutions for the customer, being committed to it and listening to the customer is an opportunity to stand out from the competition.
Data protection
Accessibility
Our promise
We ensure the security and privacy of our clients
Our promise
We work to make our media content and services accessible to all stakeholders.
Targets
0 violations of personal data protection
Accessibility
Our promise
We work to make our media content and services accessible to all stakeholders.
Targets
All our media content is accessible, taking into account the requirements of people with special needs.
We ensure the best customer experience with the following strategic activities:
* We ensure the protection and privacy of subscribers' and customers' data, and use data in accordance with the law.
* We ensure the protection of the rights and well-being of readers/subscribers.
* We develop the availability of media content on all platforms
View for 2023
0
Violations of personal data protection
Target for 2025
0
80-100%
Percentage of content covered by accessibility measures from the whole media content (data of Delfi Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)
Target for 2025
100%
Data protection
In the global advertising market, compliance with data protection rules has become very important. We have compiled the principles and processes for the secure collection, storage and processing of customer data and protection against malicious attacks, which are implemented by all group companies. All aspects related to data protection are important and the Group makes sure that it complies with all related laws and regulations. We conduct data protection audits of our subsidiaries and thereby support the implementation of principles and procedures at the company level. In September 2023, we also adopted a group-wide security policy, with which we established uniform principles of conduct to ensure comprehensive protection of people, hardware and software, important infrastructure and information, and processed data.
Accessibility of services
We ensures access to services in three ways:
- We facilitate the availability of services by creating innovative digital solutions.
- We ensure that critically important content is available to everyone, including non-subscribers.
- We increase the proportion of content covered by various accessibility measures on our media platforms in order to involve as large part of the society as possible in the information space.
In 2023, our media companies increased their share of audio content as an alternative to written articles, and this functionality is planned to be improved and expanded in 2024.
Responsible and attractive employer
Our strategic focus is to ensure in our companies:
Personal and professional development of employees
Our promise
We are a leading employer in the media sector in all three Baltic countries. We create conditions and actively offer opportunities for personal and professional development. We support employees in adapting to the changing media landscape, especially in developing digital competence.
Targets
Personal learning and development plans are drawn up for all employees.
Employee health and wellbeing
Our promise
We ensure a working environment that supports the health and well-being of employees, where employees can fulfil themselves.
Targets
• We maintain a high score for employee satisfaction (eNPS).
• Zero occupational health damage cases.
• Zero occupational health damage cases.
Equal treatment, diversity and engagement
Our promise
Equal treatment, diversity and engagement characterise all Ekspress Grupp companies and organisational culture.
Targets
• No gender wage gap.
• To achieve compliance with the European Union directive on gender balance in business leadership.
• To achieve compliance with the European Union directive on gender balance in business leadership.
We ensure the wellbeing of our employees with the following strategic activities:
- We create a group-wide leadership development programme and employee talent academies in all subsidiaries.
- We ensure a healthy and safe working environment, taking into account both physical and mental health and well-being.
- We enable and promote work-life balance.
- We recruit and retain diverse talent.
- We engage employees and ensure an open organisational culture.
- We guarantee everyone equal opportunities for career development within the company.
- We pay employees equal, competitive and decent wages.
- We ensure a healthy and safe working environment, taking into account both physical and mental health and well-being.
- We enable and promote work-life balance.
- We recruit and retain diverse talent.
- We engage employees and ensure an open organisational culture.
- We guarantee everyone equal opportunities for career development within the company.
- We pay employees equal, competitive and decent wages.
View for 2023
6.8
average number of training hours per employee in 2023
54
employees were awarded Hans H. Luik scholarship to complete additional training
0
working days lost due to work accidents, work-related health disorders and other health disorders
Target for 2025
0
0
occupational accidents
Target for 2025
0
80.64%
gap between the average gross hourly wages of men and women (% of the wages of male salaried employees) (unadjusted wage gap)
Target for 2025
100%
(0% wage gap)
35.85%
percentage of female managers
Target for 2025
Compliance with the EU directive on gender balance in business leadership
Group-wide personnel issues are mainly concern digitalisation, creation of synergy with new activity areas (sales portal for real estate and tickets, event management) and ongoing increase of efficiency of internal processes.
With over 1,100 employees, we are the largest media employers in the Baltic States
Labour costs and number of employees (joint ventures 50% consolidated)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1,300
1,200
1,100
1,000
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
mEUR
Labour costs
Average number of employees
We already decided years ago that when hiring new people, we must be willing to spend more time and energy for finding the right professional. 
The war in Ukraine affected the collectives of our companies
In 2022, some media companies of the Group hired journalists from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia who had fled their homeland due to the war in Ukraine. Many journalists employed at that time became permanent employees in 2023.
The contribution of Ukrainian and Russian journalists hired in 2022 has been significant, contributing to the growth and success of Delfi TV and related platforms. We achieved good synergy between our Lithuanian- and Russian-language editorial offices by translating the texts and videos of our colleagues in the Russian edition. This also led to new subscriptions.
Lower environmental impact and supply chain sustainability
Our strategic focus is to ensure in our companies:
Reduction of environmental impact: resource efficiency and climate impact
Our promise
We consistently reduce the climate impact of both the organisation and services/products. We improve the resource efficiency of our operations and products.
Targets
Ekspress Grupp's digital companies will reduce the climate impact across value chains in accordance with the Paris Agreement by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Supply chain sustainability
Our promise
We require our suppliers to be aligned with our sustainability ambitions and values and follow the same ESG practices. We take into account the environmental impact when purchasing products and services, if it is relevant and possible.
Targets
All our key suppliers comply with ESG requirements.
We can reduce our environmental impact in four main areas of activity:
- We establish a group-wide environmental management and reporting system
- We improve resource efficiency and reduce the direct climate impact of all companies
- We consistently reduce the impact intensity of digital products
- We consistently reduce the environmental impact of printed publications
We can amplify the impact of our activities in the supply chain:
- by engaging high-risk suppliers in meeting our sustainability commitments
- preferring environmentally friendly products and services
Climate impact
In 2023, in cooperation with external experts, we calculated the climate impact of Ekspress Grupp and the following subsidiaries: Delfi Meedia, Geenius Meedia, Linna Ekraanid, D Screens, Lrytas (4th quarter, from which the company has a separate office), Delfi Latvia, Delfi Lithuania and Biļešu Paradīze. On the basis of the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology and based on the principle of operational control, we took into full account the direct impact of our activities, i.e. scopes 1 and 2, and covered the most important part of the emissions of our value chain, i.e. scope 3.
We take into account the results of the climate impact analysis in creating our climate policy and developing strategies, including in shaping of targeted measures to reduce the climate impact across the entire Group, and in the future we plan to assess energy consumption and climate impact across the Group.
We take into account the results of the climate impact analysis in creating our climate policy and developing strategies, including in shaping of targeted measures to reduce the climate impact across the entire Group, and in the future we plan to assess energy consumption and climate impact across the Group.
To save costs in 2023, the print volumes of all print periodicals of Ekspress Grupp as well as the number of newspapers and magazines printed for stock were reduced. Among other things, these activities led to a reduction in the environmental impact of both printing and transportation.
In 2023, our efforts towards sustainable development were characterized primarily by the trend to reduce the environmental impact of printed products. These are our first steps that lay the foundation for broader environmental initiatives, including digital sustainability.
In addition to the efforts of print publications, the Latvian outdoor advertising company D Screens uses energy use per square meter as one of the criteria when choosing suppliers and monitors CO2 emission certificates. In Estonia, Linna Ekraanid has also mainly monitored the energy efficiency of products offered by suppliers and increasingly also the footprint created by production.
Honest and responsible management
Ethical business practices have always been an integral part of Ekspress Grupp's business operations. To maintain credibility, our focus is:
Honest and responsible management
Our promise
Group companies must be managed honestly, in compliance with the law and ethically.
Targets
Zero cases of corruption or violation of business ethics related to Group companies or employees.
We ensure the transparency and integrity of the management structure by implementing Ekspress Grupp's Code of Conduct in all Group companies. The Code of Conduct is a guide for every employee's daily business interactions inside and outside the company, and reflects our accepted standard of behaviour.
View for 2023
0
Corruption cases involving Ekspress Grupp's companies or employees
Target for 2025
0
0
Violations of competition rules involving Ekspress Grupp's companies
Target for 2025
0
Ekspress Grupp has a zero tolerance policy for any kind of corruption.
Corruption or the giving and accepting of bribes in both private and public sector is unacceptable. Therefore, our employees will not give, demand, receive or accept gifts, payments, services or other benefits from a current or potential business partner if the gift, payment, service or other benefit can reasonably be expected to influence the decision and goes beyond the limits of normal hospitality. We also do not tolerate illegal payments, bribes or favours aimed at speeding up decision-making in public authorities.
Incidents that are in conflict with the principles of business ethics or other values of Ekspress Grupp can be reported through the group-wide anonymous notification channel. To ensure confidentiality, the notification channel is managed by an external partner (WhistleB).
Notifications are sent over an encrypted connection and are password-protected. All reports of misconduct are treated in the strictest confidence. In 2023, six notifications were submitted there, but as none of them were relevant, they did not require further investigation.
Ekspress Grupp Annual Report
EN
EE
About Ekspress Grupp
Group's key businesses and brands
Our strategy and business goals
Ekspress Grupp as an investment
2023 Summary
Group’s key figures
Statement of the chairman of the management board
Major business results
Main events
Rewards and recognition
Digital Media Company
Becoming increasingly digital
Digital media facts
Media and Sustainable Development
ESG strategy
Public impact, role and responsibility
- Independent and influential media group
- Responsible advertising platform
Responsible Business Practice
Customer satisfaction and rights
Responsible and attractive employer
Supply chain sustainability and lower environmental impact
Honest and responsible management
Management Commentary
Ekspress Grupp Annual Report
