We want to do what is right – our Speak-Up Line!

When can I report wrongdoings?

If you believe that you have witnessed, or have information about, serious wrongdoings within Billerud, you can report to the whistleblowing system. By wrongdoings we mean;

• Acts of corruption;
• Serious irregularities relating to accounting, internal control, auditing or facilitation of tax evasion;
• Financial fraud or other economic crimes;
• Violation of competition laws;
• Collusion with suppliers, subcontractors and/or agents;
• Circumstances that may entail security or safety risks that may hazard the health and safety of employees, customers or the environment;
• Violations of human rights (e.g. use of child or forced labor, violation of freedom of association);
• Abuse of power or authority for any unauthorized or hidden purpose; and
• Other serious irregularities relating to the vital interests of Billerud or the life and health of individuals, such as serious endangerment to environment and serious breaches of the company’s Code of Conduct or Group Policies; or
• Other illegal, unethical or inappropriate behaviors and practices that are of public interest or are in breach of applicable European Union law.

The system shall not be used for reports concerning work-related complaints only affecting the reporting person. The system shall also not be used for general complaints or feedback about how Billerud conducts its operations, without the identification of a wrongdoing.

You do not need to have all the facts about the wrongdoing at the time of reporting. However, you must report in good faith, meaning that you should have reasons to believe that the information is true. Bad faith reporting may in itself constitute a wrongdoing, in particular if someone is falsely accused.

The Speak-Up Line

Billerud’s “Speak-Up Line” is an online whistleblowing tool supplied by an independent third-party service provider, but operated by Billerud. The Speak-Up Line is available in Swedish, English and other languages. Only Speak-Up Line Officers and EVP General Counsel and EVP HR and Communication have access to reports submitted to the Speak-Up Line. Reports submitted through the Speak-Up Line will be treated with strict confidentiality.

The Speak-Up Line allows for anonymous reporting if the whistleblower so wishes. When a report is submitted, the whistleblower is provided with a unique key and password that enables safe and confidential communication with the Speak-Up Line Officer.

The Speak-Up Line is available here: https://report.whistleb.com/en/billerud.

Personal data handled within the whistleblowing process is protected and will be erased when no longer needed according to applicable data protection internal rules. Billerud’s Privacy Notice for whistleblowing can be found HERE.

Whistleblower protection

Persons who report under Billerud’s whistleblowing system are protected from retaliation and any negative consequences. It is a serious violation to punish someone who has reported in good faith.

External reporting

Billerud encourages reporting to the internal Speak-Up Line. However, it is also possible to report through external channels established by competent local authorities or through external channels established by competent institutions, bodies, offices, or agencies of the European Union (a “Union Body”).

When reporting through an external channel established by a competent local authority or a competent Union Body, the relevant authority or Union Body will have procedures for the external channel and for the receipt of and follow up on reports.

Information about external reporting channels is available from each such relevant authority. In Sweden, a list of competent local authorities is available as a schedule to the Regulation on Protection for Persons Reporting on Irregularities (Sw. Förordning (2021:949) om skydd för personer som rapporterar om missförhållanden), available at the Swedish Parliament’s website www.riksdagen.se. Further information on external reporting in Finland and Latvia is available locally in those countries.