The Global Compact is the main initiative of sustainability corporate world, bringing together countries around important themes, such as human rights, environment and work.
Therefore, see in this guide the concept of the Global Compact, its importance for development, how it emerged, its principles, which countries are part of it and the results for Brazilian companies.
What is the Global Compact?
Global Compact is an initiative of United Nations (UN) for companies around the world to work towards sustainability, inclusion and a better society.
Like this, Launched in 2000, it gives direction to organizations to align their strategies and operations with Ten Principles universal policies in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
Therefore, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world and has 15 thousand members, including companies and organizations and other members, spread across 160 countries.
How did the Global Compact come about?
Firstly, it arose from the need to bring the private sector closer to the UN development agenda so that society as a whole could benefit.
Furthermore, the need to adopt fundamental and internationally accepted values in business practice and management is also at the origin of the treaty.
Finally, the Pact was announced on January 31, 1999 by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at the World Economic Forum and officially launched on January 26, 2000.
What is the objective of the Global Compact?
Its objective, therefore, is to propose a dialogue between companies, non-governmental organizations and the UN for the development of a sustainable and inclusive market.
To meet the goals of the Global Compact, companies must be aligned with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that are part of the Agenda 2030.
Thus, the 17 objectives are:
- Eradication of poverty;
- Zero hunger and sustainable agriculture;
- Health and wellness;
- Education Of Quality;
- Gender equality;
- Clean water and sanitation;
- Affordable and clean energy;
- Decent work and economic growth;
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure;
- Reduction of inequalities;
- Sustainable cities and communities;
- Responsible consumption and production;
- Action against global climate change;
- Life in the water;
- Earthly life;
- Peace, justice and effective institutions;
- Partnerships and means of implementation.
Importance of the Global Compact
The importance of the Global Compact for countries, companies and society is immense in the sense that everyone benefits from adhering to the established principles and objectives.
Stable economies and workers satisfied, qualified and healthy are the ingredients for corporate and organizational success, and, consequently, for a fairer society.
Furthermore, another important point in joining is that more sustainable and responsible companies gain greater trust in their brands and support from investors.
Global Compact Principles
The Global Compact defends 10 universal principles that are aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and also with the International Labor Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Companies and organizations participating in the treaty are committed to following these principles in their operations, work routines and agendas.
Therefore, see below what the 10 principles recommended by the pact are:
Human rights
Support and respect the protection of human rights and not participate in their violation in any way.
Work
Support freedom of association and recognize the right to collective bargaining; eliminate all forced labor; abolish child labor and discrimination in employment.
Environment
Have environmental responsibility initiatives; support prevention of environmental challenges; encourage the development of environmentally correct and friendly technologies.
Anti-corruption
Combat all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.
Who is part of the Global Compact?
12 thousand companies and 3 thousand active members without ties to companies are part of the Global Compact, distributed in around 70 local networks in 160 countries.
The companies come from the most diverse sectors of the economy, such as automobiles and parts, banks, insurance, travel and leisure, food and drink, financial services, technology and public utilities.
Global pact Brazilian companies
More than 1,500 Brazilian companies from different sectors of the economy are part of the Brazil Global Compact Network (RBPG), the third largest in the world.
According to Época Negócios magazine, it is the main corporate sustainability initiative in the country according to the signatory companies.
Among the companies are: iFood, Nestlé Brazil, Future Farm, Camil, Marisa Stores, Unilever safe harbor, Getnet Brasil, Locaweb, With gas, Clear, CVC, Boticário Group, among others.
What does the latest Global Compact report say?
According to the Sustainable Development Report 2020, in general, countries have shown progress in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The three countries that made the most progress towards the SDGs were Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Cambodia. Those that had the least were Venezuela, Congo and Zimbabwe.
Sweden, Finland and Denmark occupy, respectively, the first three positions in the SDG 2020 ranking. Brazil occupies position 53, with 72.7 points.
What are Brazil's results in relation to the Global Compact?
RBPG gained visibility with the #AceitaEstaCaneta movement by mobilizing corporate leaders to sign a commitment against global warming.
In this way, RBPG increasingly contributes to the 17 goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda, according to information from the Rede Brasil Annual Report 2019 of the Pact.
The 2019 campaign helped to increase the volume of followers on social networks, such as Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and Rede Brasil do Pacto Global, by 50%.
Furthermore, 100 representatives from companies participating in the RBPG attended the main sustainability events in the world.
Global Compact and corporate governance: what is the relationship?
Facilitating an environment of innovation, attracting investors, being aligned with a global agenda, increasing transparency and improving communication of impacts are related to the corporate governance of companies that participate in the Global Compact.
In this sense, as a signatory of this treaty, iFood reaffirms its commitment to aligning its strategies and operations in the areas of sustainability, education and social inclusion.
For companies, being part of the Global Compact means:
- Growth of trust in the company through commitment to sustainability;
- Alignment with the universal nature of the recommended principles;
- Promotion of sustainability within the company.
