UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact: “LEAD companies represent the highest level of engagement with the UN Global Compact. More than ever before, the world needs businesses of all sizes — like the ones announced as LEAD today — that continuously work to improve their sustainability performance and take action to build a better world.”
“We have taken a deep look into the strategic connections between our operations and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. The focus of UPM Biofore Beyond Fossils thinking is on promoting actions where we can have the largest impact — either by minimising our negative impacts or by increasing the positive impacts,” highlights Sami Lundgren, Vice President, Responsibilty at UPM.
UPM has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact initiative since 2003. The company has had the LEAD participant status since January 2016. “We are the only forest industry representative in this distinguished network which includes global sustainability leaders such as Danone, Nestle S.A., Novozymes and Unilever. We’ll do our best to meet the expectations set for the LEAD participant and continue our efforts to further improve our performance in all areas of corporate responsibility,” notes Sami Lundgren.
To be eligible for LEAD recognition, companies must be a participant in at least two Global Compact Action Platforms. UPM has participated in two Action Platforms: ‘Reporting on the SDGs’ and ‘Decent work in global supply chains’. Companies also need to demonstrate engagement with the initiative and commitment to defining and fostering leadership practices in line with the Global Compact Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, the companies are to report on their progress on implementing the Ten Principles on annual basis.
