Global Compact / Global Compact in Poland / Firmy i Korporacje

Firmy i Korporacje

The UN Global Compact presents a unique platform for participants to advance their commitments to sustainability and corporate citizenship. With more than 5, 000 company participants and stakeholders from more than 120 countries, over 60 networks in developed and emerging economies, and a spectrum of learning, dialogue and partnership modalities, companies have an unprecedented opportunity to further their business and corporate responsibility objectives, while also contributing to the momentum and strength of the Global Compact.

While the purposes of the United Nations and business differ widely - the UN focuses on peace, poverty reduction and the protection of human rights, and business on profit and growth - their objectives increasingly overlap. Building sustainable markets, combatting corruption, safeguarding the environment and ensuring social inclusion is increasingly important for the long-term value for business. It makes business sense for companies to invest in creating a sound environment in which to do business, to minimize risks and to harness new business opportunities by supporting emerging markets.

The Corporate Commitment

Joining the Global Compact is a widely visible commitment to the ten principles. A company that signs-on to the Global Compact specifically commits itself to:

1) set in motion changes to business operations so that the Global Compact and its principles become part of management, strategy, culture, and day-to-day operations;
2) publish in its annual report or similar public corporate report (e.g. sustainability report) a description of the ways in which it is supporting the Global Compact and its principles (Communication on Progress), and
3) publicly advocate the Global Compact and its principles via communications vehicles such as press releases, speeches, etc.

Further Engagement

The Global Compact offeres numerous ways for companies to engage, besides the implementation of the ten principles within the company's business strategy and operations.

  • Partnerships for Development: The Global Compact encourages companies to participate in partnership projects with their stakeholders in support of broad UN goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
  • Local Networks: supporting companies in the implementation of the Global Compact at the local level. Currently, more than 70 local networks exist around the world.
  • Policy Dialogues: action-oriented multi-stakeholder meetings on specific issues related to and corporate citizenship.
  • Learning: participants are encouraged to share examples of corporate practices on this website as well as to develop in-depth case studies and analyses for publications or presentation at learning events.
  • Collective Action: a way of creating a level playing field on which to compete which increases the impact on local business practices beyond the capacity of any one company.
  • Training: the Global Compact organizes several workshops and training for participants around the world every year.

Implementing the Principles

Companies that have signed on to the Global Compact are required to work towards implementation of the ten principles. However, small and large companies alike are sometimes uncertain about the right approach. Implementation of the principles should be understood as a long-term process of continuous performance improvement.

Key success factors in implementing the Global Compact principles are among others:

  • treating the principles not as an add-on, but as an integral part of business strategy and operations;
  • clear commitments from the company leadership;
  • communication of the commitment throughout the organisation to senior management and employees to ensure a broad support for the principles;
  • a business environment favourable to new ideas and business innovation;
  • measurable targets and a transparent system of communicating progress;
  • willingness and ability to learn and adapt;
  • a dedication to practical actions;
  • openness to engage and dialogue with the company?s stakeholders.

The Global Compact has accumulated a substantial inventory of resources and tools that provide guidance to companies on addressing the issue areas covered by the principles. See the issue pages for more detailed information about the issues and principles:

  • Human Rights
  • Labour Standards
  • Environment
  • Anti-Corruption

The Global Compact Performance Model

Implementation of the principles is a long-term process, requiring commitment to organizational change. There is no "correct" way of implementing the principles within a company. In fact, several management approaches and models can assist in the process. One way to approach implementation is to draw inspiration from the Global Compact Performance Model - an optional model guiding companies from the leadership vision to the measurement and reporting of outcomes. The Performance Model evovled from analysis of and dialogue about companies' actual experiences in trying to internalize the principles. It was designed to:

  • address the needs of the broadest possible group of businesses: from multinational corporations to small enterprises, both in developed and developing economies;
  • present a low entry barrier for implementation; and
  • facilitate incremental improvement.

The model is composed of ten elements of business practice, embracing the following elements: vision, leadership, empowerment, resources, policies and strategies, processes and innovation, impact on society, environment and value chain, and reporting. It is intended that stakeholder dialogue be an integrated part of each element of this model, and that inputs from stakeholders be infused into all actions. It is a company-driven process of coninuous improvement that begins with the organization's vision and proceeds through each element represented in the diagram.

To download the Global Compact Performance Model click here.

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