Adhering to the 10 principles of UN Global Compact helps us align strategy and operations

Sioen formalises its commitment to sustainability in many ways. One is its adherence to the United Nations Global Compact and it's 10 Principles. By incorporating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into our strategy, policies and procedures, we're upholding our basic responsibilities towards people and the planet.

UN Global Compact

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact (UNGC) is a call to companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption (UN Global Compact Principles), and take actions to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With more than 12 000 signatories over 170 countries, it is the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative. The initiative is both global and local, private and public, voluntary yet accountable.

Belgian branch

The UN Global Compact has a unique constellation of participants, bringing companies together with governments, civil society, labour, the United Nations, and other key stakeholders. Global Compact Local Networks were launched to help make the UN Global Compact relevant across the world’s different economic, political and cultural contexts and to support meaningful engagement with its signatories.

Sioen embraces the UN global Compact Principles

Sioen subscribes wholeheartedly to all the rules set in the 10 principles. We agree that “corporate sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a principles-based approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Responsible businesses enact the same values and principles wherever they have a presence, and know that good practices in one area do not offset harm in another.” As stated on the United Nations Global Compact Principles website.

By incorporating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into our strategy, policies and procedures and by establishing a corporate culture of integrity and values we’re upholding our basic responsibilities towards people and the planet. They are effective because these goals help us hone in on the sustainability risks and considerations, leading to prioritisation and clear actions.

The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

The Ten principles are

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.

These 10 principles are also an integral part of the focal points in one of the 5 P’s, namely Peace . Here we set out how we approach ethical entrepreneurship, we define actions, and we impact the impact they have.

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