9 September 2013
UNGC Releases Corporate Sustainability Report 2013
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The UN Global Compact has released its Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013, providing a snapshot of actions taken by businesses to embed sustainability and other responsible practices into strategies, operations and culture.

United Nations Global Compact5 September 2013: The UN Global Compact has released its Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013, providing a snapshot of actions taken by businesses to embed sustainability and other responsible practices into strategies, operations and culture.

The report is based on surveys of nearly 2,000 companies in 113 countries, and finds that, while many companies are defining goals and setting policies, much remains to be done to fully embed responsible practices across the organizations and supply chains. For example, 65% of the companies surveyed in the report develop sustainability policies at the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) level, while only 35% train managers to integrate sustainability into strategies and operations.

The report stresses that commitment to sustainability principles, such as the protection of human rights, transparency and accountability, environmental stewardship and social inclusion, affects the performance of companies and long-term financial success. According to UN Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell, despite challenges, more companies are recognizing the importance of sustainable practices and are joining the Global Compact to align their core business strategies with UN principles and global development priorities.

The report identifies size as the most significant factor in sustainability performance, and supply chains as a major obstacle to implementing sustainability policies. Despite the majority of companies having established sustainability expectations for their suppliers, tracking compliance and helping suppliers reach their goals is a challenge.

Kell said the report “provides a resource on sustainability for Boards of Directors, business leaders and sustainability officers as they lead their organizations to a sustainable future.”

It will provide the backdrop for the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2013: Architects of a Better World, taking place on 19-20 September 2013, in New York, US. The Summit will bring together 1,000 chief executives and leaders from civil society, government and the UN, and aim to unveil a global architecture to align business action with global priorities. [Publication: Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013] [UN Press Release] [Press Conference with Global Compact Executive Director] [UN Global Compact Website]


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