Privacy Policy

Openjournals Privacy Policy

Openjournals operates a professional open access publishing platform catering to scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. In accordance with EU definitions, Openjournals holds roles as both the data controller and the service provider and data processor. Openjournals offers technical infrastructure and selected publishing services to journals participating in its platform. The guiding principle is data minimization, whereby the collection of personal data is limited to the minimum necessary for task execution. Detailed information regarding the required data types can be accessed in the subsequent section of Openjournals' privacy policy.

We take seriously our duty to process your personal data in a fair and transparent way. We collect and manage user data according to the following Privacy Policy. By using the journal and platform websites (the “Websites”), you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

What type of personal data do we handle?

Within our journal platform, four primary categories of personal data are retained: Website User data, Author data, Reviewer data, and Editor data. The minimum personal data stored encompass:

  • full name
  • email address
  • affiliation (department, and institution)
  • country of residence

Optionally, the user can provide:

  • salutation
  • gender
  • associated URL
  • phone number
  • fax number
  • reviewing interests
  • mailing address
  • ORCiD
  • a short biography
  • interests
  • Twitter profile
  • LinkedIn profile
  • ImpactStory profile
  • profile picture

The data subjects have complete control of this data through their profile, and can request for it to be removed by contacting info@openjournals.nl.

What do we do to keep that data secure?

We systematically back up our databases and rely on reputable cloud service providers to ensure secure storage. Backup data is regularly rotated, with old data being permanently deleted. We maintain a stringent internal data handling policy, restricting access to authorized employees only. In the event of a data breach, affected users will be promptly informed.

How do we use the data?

Personal information is exclusively utilized to facilitate the services offered by the publisher. Personal data is not shared externally, except for specific details such as author names, affiliations, emails, and links to ORCiD and social media accounts (if provided), which are included in published articles. Such information is displayed as part of the article and shared externally with indexes and databases. In the case of open peer review journals, reviewer details are published alongside the reviews.

How we collect and use your data

  1. When using the website

1.1 what data we collect

  • When you browse our website, we collect anonymized data about your use of the website. This encompasses amongst other things details about visited pages, downloaded files, browser type, and timestamps.

1.2 why we collect the data

  • We use anonymized website usage data to monitor traffic, help fix bugs, and see overall patterns that inform future redesigns of the website, and generating reports on publication access within specific IP ranges.

1.3 what we do (and don’t do) with the data

  • We do not collect personal information that can be used to identify you when you browse the website.
  • We may use Google Analytics for publication reports, and to improve the website and services through traffic analysis, but no personal identifying data is shared with Google (for example your computer’s IP is anonymized before transmission).

1.4 what to do if you want to get a copy of your data, or want your data to be removed

  • Please contact info@openjournals.nl to request a copy of your data, or for your data to be removed/anonymized.
  1. When registering as an author, and submitting an article

2.1 what data we collect

  • When registering an account we ask you to log in and provide certain personal information (such as your name and email address), and there is the option to register using an ORCiD which will pre-fill the registration form.
  • As part of submitting an article for publication, you will need to provide personally identifying information which will be used for the peer review process, and will be published. This can include ‘Affiliation’, ‘Competing interests’, ‘Acknowledgements’

2.2 why we collect the data

  • Registering an account allows you to log in, manage your profile, and participate as an author/reviewer/editor. We use cookies and session information to streamline your use of the website (for example in order for you to remain logged-in when you return to a journal). You can block or delete cookies and still be able to use the websites, although if you do you will then need to enter your username and password to login. In order to take advantage of certain features of the websites, you may also choose to provide us with other personal information, such as your ORCiD, but your decision to utilize these features and provide such data will always be voluntary.
  • Personal data submitted with the article is collected to allow follow good publication ethics during the review process, and will form part of the official published record in order for the provenance of the work to be established, and for the work to be correctly attributed.

2.3 what we do (and don’t do) with the data

  • We do not share your personal information with third parties, other than as part of providing the publishing service
  • As a registered author in the system you may be contacted by the journal editor to submit another article
  • Any personal data accompanying an article (that will have been added by the submitting author) is published alongside it. The published data includes the names, affiliations and email addresses of all authors.
  • Any articles published on the platform are freely available to download from the publisher website in various formats (e.g. PDF, XML)

2.4 why we store the data

  • We store the account data so that you may choose to become a reviewer and be able to perform those tasks, or to become an author and submit an article and then track progress of that article.
  • Published personal data that accompanies an article forms part of the official published record in order for the provenance of the work to be established, and for the work to be correctly attributed.

2.5 what to do if you want to get a copy of your data, or want your data to be removed

  • You are able to view, change and remove your data associated with your profile. Should you choose to completely delete your account, please contact us at info@openjournals.nl and we will follow up with your request as soon as possible.
  • To conform to publication ethics and best practice any personal data that is published alongside an article cannot be removed. If you have a query about a publication to which you are attributed please contact info@openjournals.nl
  1. When registering as a reviewer

3.1 what data we collect

  • To become a reviewer you must first register as a user on the website, and set your preference that you would like to be considered as a reviewer. No new personal data is collected when a registered user elects to become a reviewer.
  • When registering an account we ask you to log in and provide certain personal information (such as your name and email address), and there is the option to register using an ORCiD which will pre-fill the registration form.
  • Reviewers can also be registered by editors who invite them to review a specific article. This requires the editor to provide the reviewer’s First Name, Last Name, and Email address. Normally this will be done as part of the process of inviting you to review the article.
  • On submitting a review, the reviewer includes a competing interest statement, they may answer questions about the quality of the article, and they will submit their recommendation.

3.2 why we collect the data

  • The data entered is used to invite the reviewer to peer review the article, and to contact the reviewer during and the review process.
  • If you submit a review then the details of your review, including your recommendation, your responses to any review form, your free-form responses, your competing interests statement, and any cover letter are recorded.

3.3 what we do (and don’t do) with the data

  • This data is not shared publicly and is only accessible by the Editor and system administrators of that journal or press.
  • The data will only be used in connection with that journal or press.
  • Data that is retained post final decision is kept to conform to publication ethics and best practice, to provide evidence of peer review, and to resolve any disputes relating to the peer review of the article.
  • For journals or presses that publish the peer reviews, you will be asked to give consent to your review being published, and a subset of the data you have submitted will become part of the published record.

3.4 what to do if you want to get a copy of your data, or want your data to be removed

  • If you would no longer like to be registered as a reviewer you can edit your profile and  tick the box ‘stop being a reviewer’. This will remove you from the reviewer database, however any existing reviews you may have carried out will remain.
  • If you have been contacted by an editor to peer review an article this means that you have been registered in the system. If you would not like to be contacted for peer review you can reply to the email requesting that your data be deleted.
  1. when being registered as a co-author

4.1 what data we collect

  • Co-author data is entered by the submitting author. The submitting author will already have a user account. According to standard publishing practice, the submitting author is responsible for obtaining the consent of their co-authors to be included (including having their personal data included) in the article being submitted to the journal/press.
  • The requested personal data for co-authors are at the bare minimum; first name, last name, institution, country, email address. This can also include; ORCID ID, Title, Middle Name, Biographical Statement, Department, Twitter Handle, Linkedin Profile Name or ImpactStory ID.

4.2 why we collect the data

  • Assuming that it is accepted for publication, this data forms part of the official published record in order for the provenance of the work to be established, and for the work to be correctly attributed.
  • Author names, affiliations and emails are required for publication and will become part of the permanent cited record.

4.3 what we do (and don’t do) with the data

  • The co-author’s personal data is stored in the author database. This personal data is only used in relation to the publication of the associated article.
  • Any co-author data collected is added to the author database and is only used in association with the article the user is co-author on.

4.5 what to do if you want to get a copy of your data, or want your data to be removed

  • To receive a copy of your data, please contact info@openjournals.nl
  • To conform to publication ethics and best practice any personal data that is published alongside an article cannot be removed. If you have a query about a publication to which you are attributed please contact info@openjournals.nl
  1. when signing-up to receive newsletters

5.1 what data we collect

  • We require you to include your name and email address

5.2 why we collect and store the data, and for how long

  • This data would be collected to keep you updated with any news about the platform or specific journal

5.3 what we do (and don’t do) with the data

  • We use mailchimp to provide our mailing list services. Their privacy policy can be found here

5.4 what to do if you want to get a copy of your data or want your data to be removed

  • All emails sent via our newsletter client will include a link that will allow you to unsubscribe from the mailing list

 

Peer Review Process

At Sustainability Letters, we adhere to a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the highest quality of published research. Each submission is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers, who are experts in the relevant field. In the double-blind review process, both the authors' and reviewers' identities are concealed to maintain impartiality and fairness.

Upon submission, the manuscript is first reviewed by the editor to ensure it fits the journal’s scope and meets basic requirements. Once deemed suitable, it is sent to two or more independent reviewers for evaluation. Reviewers assess the submission based on its originality, methodological rigor, contribution to the field, and relevance to sustainability in management sciences.

For special issues, the same double-blind process is followed. However, guest editors may assist in managing the review process. The final decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of the manuscript lies with the editor, ensuring a balanced and transparent review process.