More Action Needed in Drive Towards Sustainable Supply Chains
The United Nations Global Compact recently released its Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013. The report provides a snapshot of the actions taken by business to embed responsible practices into their strategies, operations and culture.
Leading firms are moving from good intentions to significant actions, according to the Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013 recently released by the United Nations Global Compact.
Companies see the big picture of how addressing sustainability issues – from human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, to broader societal goals such as education, poverty and health – is good both for business and the societies in which they have a presence. However, there is much work to be done for companies to fully embed responsible practices across their supply chain.
Findings include:
- There is a clear gap between what companies “say” and what they “do”. Companies are making commitments, defining goals and setting policies at high rates, but still have much work to do to on the action steps. For example, 65 percent of respondents develop sustainability policies at the CEO level, while only 35 percent train managers to integrate sustainability into strategies and operations.
- Size is the most significant factor in sustainability performance. While small and large companies are committing to the UN Global Compact in equal numbers, large companies are significantly more likely to move beyond commitment to action across all issue areas. However, the survey has uncovered an encouraging development: smaller companies are increasingly taking steps to catch up to their larger peers.
- Supply chains are a roadblock to improved performance. Supplier sustainability ranks as the top barrier for large companies in their advancement to the next level of sustainability performance. While a majority of companies have established sustainability expectations for their suppliers, they are challenged to track compliance and help suppliers reach goals, for example.
- Everyone benefits from a better world. Seventy percent of Global Compact companies are advancing broad UN goals and issues, by aligning their core business strategy, tying social investment to core competencies, advocating the need for action, and implementing partnership projects.
Click here to download the complete report.
View video clips on key findings, with UN Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell:
- Introducing the Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2013
- From Good Intentions to Action
- Large Companies Leading the Way
- Supply Chains Are a Roadblock to Progress
- The Big Picture of Sustainability
