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At Northern.tech, we believe that responsible business starts with our people and the way we work.

Our mission is to make the world safer by securing connected devices, and we aim to contribute positively to the communities and environments in which we operate.

Our impact begins internally by fostering a healthy, inclusive, and supportive workplace, grounded in strong ethics, integrity, and compliance with applicable laws and standards. At the same time, we seek to contribute externally by supporting initiatives and organizations working on humanitarian, social, and environmental causes.

These principles form the foundation of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach, which guides how we operate as a company and engage with our employees, partners, and communities.

Commitment to people

In Northern.tech, we are driven by our people-centric beliefs and value-creation model. We believe that by focusing on and investing in establishing a healthy, sustainable, and progressive ecosystem; we aim to provide our people with a place to naturally grow and prosper while achieving meaningful objectives and goals.

We are committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, where everyone is treated with fairness, respect, and equal opportunity. Open communication is an important part of our culture, and we encourage employees to share ideas and speak up in a constructive and respectful environment.

Employee well-being and development are key priorities. We support continuous learning by covering relevant books and courses, and we provide language training for employees who relocate to Norway during their time with us. We also sponsor social activities throughout the year to strengthen connections across our offices and remote teams, reflecting our culture and values.

Northern.tech was founded and is headquartered in Norway, and employees based in Norway are covered by Norwegian labour laws, which provide strong protections related to working conditions, working hours, vacation, and health. We aim to apply the same principles to all employees, contractors, and interns globally, supporting the well-being and fair treatment of our workforce.

Commitment to human rights

We believe businesses have a responsibility to contribute positively to society and support fundamental human rights. Our CSR activities are inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) and are carried out through employee-driven initiatives and support for organizations working on humanitarian and social causes worldwide.

When key company objectives are achieved, we make a donation to a charitable or non-profit organization nominated by our team members. Over time, every employee has the opportunity to propose an organization that they believe deserves support, ensuring our people should play an active role in shaping how the company contributes to society.

Through charitable donations, partnerships with non-profit organizations, and collaboration with businesses addressing global challenges, we contribute directly or indirectly to several of the UN SDGs. At present, our initiatives contribute to 12 of the 17 SDGs, including efforts related to poverty reduction, food security, health and well-being, education, gender equality, sustainable economic growth, innovation, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, climate action, and peaceful and inclusive societies. We aim to gradually expand our contributions as opportunities arise and as our organization grows.

While we do not publicly disclose detailed information about the organizations or projects we support, since our goal is to contribute rather than seek recognition, we are happy to share more information with those interested in learning about our initiatives.

Commitment to the environment

We recognize that climate change is a significant global challenge. While Northern.tech operates in the IT industry and has a relatively limited direct environmental footprint, we believe it is our responsibility, both as a company and as individuals, to contribute to climate action and minimize the environmental impact of our operations wherever possible.

In 2022, we set a company objective to become a net-zero carbon business. To support this initiative, we established a dedicated task force to assess our carbon footprint and identify practical measures to reduce and offset our emissions.

The 2023 calendar year marked the first full year of operating as a net-zero carbon business, with our offset supporting international initiatives focused on renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Over time, we aim to continue improving our environmental practices and further strengthen our contribution to climate action.

Ethics and compliance

Legal compliance

Northern.tech is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where we operate. We expect our employees, partners, and stakeholders to act in accordance with legal requirements and responsible business practices. This commitment forms the basis for our policies on anti-corruption, responsible business engagement, and regulatory compliance.

Anti-corruption

Northern.tech maintains a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption. Corruption refers to the misuse of entrusted power for personal or organizational gain, including bribery, fraud, kickbacks, or other improper influence over business decisions. We comply with applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and, as a Norwegian company, are committed to prevent corruption and trading in influence.

This commitment applies to all employees as well as to our business partners, vendors, suppliers, and other third parties. We expect our partners to uphold the same standards of integrity and responsible business conduct and may decline or terminate business relationships where corruption or unethical practices are suspected.

We promote transparency in our operations and maintain internal controls for financial activities and expense approvals. Regular company-wide reports provide employees with visibility into our business operations and performance. Operational expenses and financial activities are subject to review and approval by multiple responsible individuals to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper oversight of company funds.

To support these principles, we maintain whistleblowing mechanisms that allow employees to report suspected corruption, misconduct, or other unethical behavior anonymously to the CEO or to the Board of Directors. Reports are handled confidentially and reviewed in accordance with our internal procedures.

Through these measures, we aim to ensure that our business is conducted with integrity, accountability, and transparency.

Conflicts of interest

At our company, we are committed to maintaining integrity, transparency, and fairness in all our business decisions. A conflict of interest arises when personal, financial, or external interests interfere, or appear to interfere with an individual’s ability to act in the best interests of the company and our customers. Trust is one of our most valuable assets, and we expect all team members to make decisions based on professional judgment and the long-term success of the organization, not personal gain.

We require employees to promptly disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest so they can be properly reviewed and managed. Where necessary, individuals may be asked to recuse themselves from related decisions. Through clear communication, responsible disclosure, and ongoing awareness, we ensure that our work remains ethical, objective, and aligned with the values that guide our company.

Trade compliance

Northern.tech AS, as a Norwegian company, complies with Norway’s export control regulations, including sanctions implemented by the Norwegian government based on binding resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and restrictive measures aligned with the European Union.

We do not engage, directly or indirectly, with individuals, entities, or countries subject to such sanctions or embargoes.

Our global subsidiaries and affiliates are required to comply with applicable national laws while upholding Northern.tech’s commitment to responsible and lawful business practices.

This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure continued compliance with applicable regulations. For official information on Norway’s export control system and current sanctions, please refer to the Norwegian Agency for Export Control and Sanctions (DEKSA), the national authority responsible for export control and sanctions in Norway: https://deksa.no/en/

Health, safety and environmental (HSE)

At Northern.tech, we believe that responsible and sustainable business requires strong ethical standards and a safe and healthy working environment. Following health, safety and environmental (HSE) principles is fundamental to how we operate, and we expect our employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders to uphold standards of integrity and responsible business conduct.

We are committed to complying with applicable laws and regulations, maintaining a workplace where ethical behavior and accountability are expected, and treating everyone with fairness and respect regardless of gender, race, background, age, religion, disability or sexuality. Employees can report suspected irregularities or misconduct through established whistleblowing channels, including an internal service that allows anonymous reporting to the CEO or directly to the Board of Directors.

Northern.tech’s HSE policy is based on Norwegian labour law, including the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven). We aim to apply the same principles to employees, contractors and interns globally, as we believe these standards provide a strong foundation for employee well-being and workplace safety.

A dedicated HSE officer (“verneombud”) monitors working conditions, assessing risks, and proposing improvements. New employees receive an introduction to our HSE policy, employee handbook, and related procedures as part of onboarding, while overall responsibility for implementing the HSE policy rests with the CEO.

As a company with a flat organizational structure, employees are encouraged to support the HSE officer and contribute to maintaining a safe workplace, including participating in the periodic review conducted three times per year. HSE work is an ongoing process, and employees are encouraged to report incidents, risks or improvement opportunities so that issues can be addressed and preventive measures implemented.

When an incident occurs or an improvement opportunity is identified, the HSE officer reviews the matter together with the CEO. Where appropriate, a written action plan is prepared and documented. The implementation of these measures is monitored, and outcomes are reviewed to ensure that the intended improvements have been achieved. Relevant updates and lessons learned are communicated to employees.

Whistleblowing

Northern.tech encourages a culture of openness and accountability. If any irregularity or misconduct is suspected, employees can report concerns through established reporting channels. Examples of reportable wrongdoing include criminal offenses such as fraud, bribery or corruption; failure to comply with legal obligations or company policies; breaches of health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements; or environmental damage.

An internal service allows employees to report concerns anonymously, either directly to the CEO or directly to the Board of Directors without the CEO being notified. Reports are handled confidentially and with respect for those who raise concerns in good faith.

Continuous improvement

Northern.tech regularly reviews its workplace practices, governance processes, and business operations to support the continuous improvement of our CSR efforts. These reviews cover key areas of our CSR framework, including our commitments to people, human rights, the environment, and ethics and compliance, helping us identify risks, evaluate existing policies, and strengthen our standards of responsible business conduct. This process reflects our broader commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable business practices.

On an annual basis, we review areas including:

  • Corruption risk and prevention measures
  • Potential environmental impact
  • Ethical standards and supply chain
  • Workplace conditions and HSE practices
  • Review of ethical guidelines and policies
  • Background checks of new partners and agents

Where improvements are identified, appropriate actions are implemented and monitored to ensure our policies and practices continue to evolve alongside our business operations.