UN Global Compact Annual Review 2008: Implementation gaps exist

jeanne2007 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:20:00 GMT

At the beginning of this month the UN Global Compact launched its Annual Review 2008. Let me give you a short summary of the key findings – both positive and negative.

Let me start with positive ones: Corporations worldwide are adopting increasingly responsible business practices. The number of participating companies has risen to more than 5,000. I was happy to hear that companies from China and India have also taken an increased interest in the Global Compact and have decided to join it. This is definitely a step in the right direction to tackle human rights issues.

Let’s turn to the more unpleasant findings: There are considerable implementation shortcomings, most notably in supply chain management and subsidiary engagement. Less than ten per cent of participating corporations require their suppliers to become members of the Global Compact. It is, however, essential that responsible business practices are adopted through the complete supply chain. Finally, the increase in new participants is clouded by the delisting of 400 corporations, which failed to communicate their progress. We recently launched our 2008 Global Citizenship Report where we summarise our progress in our CSR approach.

This annual review reveals a great deal. It underlines the growing commitment of corporations adopting responsible business practices. It also reveals the challenges of effective implementation. All in all, I think we are on a good CSR path. What do you think?

Jeannette Weisschuh, Director of Global Citizenship, HP EMEA

UN Global Compact: no free riders, please

jeanne2007 — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:27:00 GMT

As you might know the United Nations Global Compact is built on ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. It encourages corporations to adopt sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

The Global Compact is sometimes criticized as simply being a window dressing tool: Critics claim that corporations sign the compact without really following the principles. This is of course not acceptable.

We signed the Global Compact in 2002 as the first Information Technology corporation and we consider its fundamental principles in our daily business operations. I was glad to read that Global Compact has taken action and actually delisted over 600 companies from the Global Compact. Those companies have not provided the needed feedback or indicated any progress since they signed up.

I think this is an important action by the Global Compact to signal that it is actually not a window-dressing tool and that those corporations who sign the compact actually need to engage with its processes and act upon the principles.

Jeannette Weisschuh, Head of Corporate Affairs EMEA, HP

CSR in Europe, Middle East and Africa : Global Compact

UN Global Compact Annual Review 2008: Implementation gaps exist

UN Global Compact: no free riders, please