The Group is committed to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
At the end of March 2023, the JPS Marselis Group joined the UN’s Global Compact Network. This is official confirmation of the Group’s dedication to complying with internationally agreed principles for responsible business management and making a contribution to the global community meeting the UN’s global targets. “We are very proud that JPS Marselis is now part of this extensive international network of companies and organisations that makes targeted efforts to run their businesses in a sustainable manner, both in regard to employees and partners, but also the world around us,” Søren Chr. says, continuing: “Right from the start, an important part of our business DNA has been for our companies to be run in a sustainable and ethical manner, with respect for everything and everyone around us.”
By no means is it a new thing for JPS Marselis and the companies to make targeted efforts to manage their business in a responsible way, and with a social conscience. “Joining the UN’s Global Compact Network is our way of concretising, on a greater level, what we are already doing – things that have been an important part of the foundation of our business since the start,” says Jan, to which Peter adds: “We already publish annual social responsibility reports and have been observing all aspects of the Ten Principles of the UN’s Global Compact for a long time. As such, our participation in Global Compact, although voluntary, tops up the measures we already implement and the approach taken to business management.” Peter continues: “JPS Marselis’ values statement also makes it clear why the Group is such a good match for the UN’s Global Compact:
“We aim to treat the individual with respect, whether it is an employee, supplier or customer. We aim to ‘behave’ responsibly in relation to our environment.
Besides the group, Tropica, Hornbaek, and Vahle have also joined the Global Compact: “It makes good sense to include the individual production companies. Their significant efforts and focus on, among other things, sustainable production deserve all the recognition and support they can get,” says Søren Chr., while Jan continues: “Furthermore, as mentioned, it is also a network.” It gives us a unique opportunity to learn from other companies’ experiences and get the inspiration that will make us even better, and what to do when.”
What is the UN’s Global Compact?
The UN’s Global Compact is an international network of companies and organisations established in 2000 by Kofi Annan, the UN General Secretary at the time. Its goal was, and remains, to create an international association of companies and organisations who are dedicated to gearing their work towards the future through responsible business management. Responsible business management is, however, quite a broad term, which is why the UN’s Global Compact has drawn up ten specific principles which the companies must observe. The Ten Principles fall into four main areas: human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
Today the network consists of more than 21,000 companies and organisations across 162 countries.
You can see our status and latest Communication on Progress (COP) here.
Human rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
The UN’s Global Compact and Global Goals (SDGs)
The UN’s Global Compact also requires the Group to contribute to the global community achieving the UN’s 17 Global Goals (SDGs). In that regard, the Group’s involvement is also a natural extension of our existing work on four of these Goals.
- Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
- Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 15: Life on land
“By training our employees for the Global Goals and their significance for our companies, we have managed to interweave them into the day-to-day work of the production operations and the offices. This has resulted in a number of strong new employee-led initiatives, which have helped to move their workplaces in a more sustainable direction,” Søren Chr. tells us, to which Jan adds: “The Global Goals are not enough on their own, however. The Ten Principles of the UN’s Global Compact are the cornerstones of our work on the Global Goals. The focus of this work is ensuring that our business management is sustainable and responsible both now and in the future.
To prove that the Group is meeting the obligations that are the prerequisite for being part of the UN’s Global Compact, JPS Marselis has to publish a ‘Communication on Progress’ (COP) report every year. The reports, and a status update, can be found on the Global Compact website.