Company / Corporate Responsibility

 

SAS 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

An enduring commitment to employees, environment and communities

2011 CSR Report - PDF Version
Download the PDF version of the 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

The SAS 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report is based on the calendar year Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011. All data and information pertains to SAS Institute Inc., the US-based parent company for SAS, except for environmental data or unless otherwise stated. There have been no significant changes during the reporting period.

The report was developed using Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 sustainability reporting guidelines and is self-declared at application level C.

SAS’ CSR efforts focus on four core areas: governance, employees, environment, and education and philanthropy. Content relating to the company’s values, structure and employee benefits sits in the CSR overview site, while content specifically relating to 2011 is contained here.

As in previous reports, SAS® for Sustainability Management was used to provide the facts and figures regarding SAS’ environmental footprint. Executive leaders and other relevant internal stakeholders have reviewed all content.

SAS received numerous awards and recognition, which can be found on the website.

SAS welcomes your comments and questions regarding this report and our corporate responsibility efforts. For questions about this report or its contents, please email globalreporting@sas.com.

SAS CEO Dr. Jim Goodnight

From the CEO

Now in our 36th year of operations, SAS remains focused not only on providing innovative, high-quality products but on a deep commitment to corporate social responsibility. At SAS, we want to be the company others call first to solve complex business problems. SAS produces software that is second to none because people are our No. 1 priority. Employee and customer satisfaction are at the heart of SAS’ success and sustainability. SAS’ structure allows us to use the risk and volatility of a challenging economy as opportunities, not constraints. This applies to sustainability practices as well. By embedding sustainable principles into our business decisions – particularly those that involve employees and capital investments – organizations can emerge from uncertain times on a foundation of stability and prosperity.

A key factor for SAS has always been and will remain our employees. SAS retained its No. 1 position on the Fortune Best Companies to Work For list in the US and secured the No. 2 spot on the first-ever Top 25 World's Best Multinational Workplaces list from Great Place to Work. In line with these achievements, in 2011 we grew our workforce by more than 9 percent while maintaining a low turnover rate of 3 percent.

This year we continued our efforts as a leader in sustainability by further investing in innovative technologies that help minimize the environmental impacts of our business. 2011 saw the completion of a new LEED®-certified building. The building is expected to use 50 percent less water and 40 percent less energy compared to industry standards and incorporates solar-generated hot water and electricity, a building cooling system and a one-acre green roof that filters and slows the rate of stormwater run-off.

We will continue to implement LEED guidelines and best practices in the pursuit of formal certification for new and existing buildings, as well as leased and owned office renovations.

At SAS, we believe in improving lives through learning and, by focusing on one particular area of concern – education – we believe we can be more effective in making a difference in our community. Our education initiatives inspire more students to study science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – knowledge required to solve global concerns about limited natural resources. We continue to provide 21st century technology, expertise, professional development and instructional materials to prepare students for college and their careers; collaborate with Change the Equation national initiative to define metrics for evaluating and sustaining viable STEM initiatives; and engage the global corporate community in prioritizing efforts that strengthen education and increase the numbers entering careers in STEM. This year we donated nearly $20 million in grants, software, equipment and training for students and educators.

Furthering our commitment to international efforts on corporate responsibility, SAS joined the UN Global Compact, an initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

This CSR report, our fifth, reflects our commitments and performance as well as future goals to ensure that our business incorporates operating both responsibly and sustainably while contributing to the communities where we work.

Sincerely,

Jim
Jim Goodnight
Chief Executive Officer, SAS

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Index 2011 Report

2011 Highlights
Indicator Description Reference
Strategy and Analysis
1.1 Statement from the most senior decision maker of the organization From the CEO
Organizational Profile
2.1 Name of the organization Governance
2.2 Primary brands, products and services Products & Solutions
2.3 Operational structure Governance
2.4 Location of headquarters Governance
2.5 Number of countries where organization operates Governance
2.6 Nature of ownership and legal form Governance
2.7 Markets served About SAS
2.8 Scale of organization Governance
2.9 Significant changes during reporting period About This Report
2.10 Awards received during reporting period Awards
Report Parameters
3.1 Reporting period About This Report
3.2 Date of most recent previous report About This Report
3.3 Reporting cycle About This Report
3.4 Contact person About This Report
3.5 Process for defining content About This Report
3.6 Boundary of the report About This Report
3.7 Limitations on scope or boundary About This Report
3.8 Basis for reporting on entities that can significantly affect comparability About This Report
3.9 Data measurement techniques and bases of calculations About This Report
3.10 Re-statements of information provided in earlier reports About This Report
3.11 Significant changes from previous reporting periods About This Report
GRI Content Index
3.12 Standard disclosure tables GRI Index
Governance, Commitments and Engagement
4.1 Governance structure Governance > Structure
4.14 Executive officer Governance > Structure
4.15 Basis for identification and selection of stakeholders with whom to engage Governance
Economic Performance Indicators
EC1 Direct economic value generated and distributed Company > About SAS > Statistics
Environmental and Performance Indicators
EN3 Direct energy consumption by primary energy source Environment > Energy
EN4 Indirect energy consumption by primary source Environment > Energy
EN5 Energy saved due to conservation and efficiency improvements Environment > Energy
EN6 Initiatives to provide energy-efficient or renewable energy-based products and services Environment
EN7 Initiatives to reduce indirect energy consumption and reductions achieved Environment > Energy
Environment > Green buildings
EN8 Total water withdrawal by source Environment > Water
EN10 Percentage and volume of water recycled and reused Environment > Water
EN16 Total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight Environment > Energy
EN18 Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reductions achieved Environment
EN22 Total weight of waste by type and disposal method Environment > Waste
EN26 Initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts of products and services Environment > Waste
EN28 Fines and sanctions for noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations Environment
Labor Practices and Decent Work Performance Indicators
LA1 Workforce by employee type, employee contract and region Employees
LA2 Number and rate of employee turnover by age group, gender and region Employee > Hiring & Retaining staff (Partially)
LA3 Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time employees SAS Family > Benefits
LA7 Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days and absenteeism, work-related fatalities by region Employees > Health and Safety
LA8 Education, training, counseling, prevention and risk-control programs regarding serious diseases Employees > Health and Safety
LA11 Programs for skills management Employees > Skills Development
Society Performance Indicators
SO4 Actions taken for incidents of corruption Governance > Ethics and Compliance
SO7 Total number of legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust and monopoly practices and their outcomes. Governance > Ethics and Compliance
SO8 Fines or sanctions for non-compliance with laws Governance