Provides an assessment of how companies in the UN Global Compact are adopting the Ten Principles and taking action to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. Based on data collected in the UN Global Compact annual survey, the report takes stock of how companies are performing on critical sustainability topics. The report also takes a deep dive into the critical issues of climate and gender equality. A feature on the activities of Global Compact Local Networks over the past year is also included. 

Addresses how businesses can operate responsibly in conflict-affected or fragile countries and weak governance zones to ensure that operations contribute to peace-building. Suggested best practices to help companies mitigate the risks of operating in conflict-affected environments are also explored.

This publication identifies a range of concrete actions that Governments and international organizations can undertake to better assist private-sector efforts to promote effective conflict-sensitive business practices.

Provides practical guidance and examples to in-house counsel in their emerging role as key change agents in advancing corporate sustainability issues within their respective organizations. The Guide seeks to raise the profile of General Counsel regarding the efforts they are making, and to inspire and encourage other General Counsel and Boards, senior executives and management of their respective organizations to take action and deliver long-term value.

The responsibility to comply with all applicable local, national, regional and international laws is a central tenet of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. Yet sometimes local or national laws pose requirements that conflict with internationally recognized human rights, thereby making it difficult or impossible for business enterprises to meet their responsibility to respect human rights. The goal of this Good Practice Note is to provide business enterprises with a non-exhaustive set of good practices for addressing situations in which local or national laws appear to conflict with internationally recognized human rights.

Provides an overview on how sustainable supply chain practices contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By implementing supply chain sustainability programmes, companies engage with both direct and sub-tier suppliers, mainstreaming values and actions and maximizing overall social, environmental and ethical impact.

The Lawyers as Leaders series raises awareness of the legal issues associated with corporate sustainability and responds to the evolving role of business in society and of the lawyers that advise companies. The four separate training modules focus on human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption, and feature prominent legal experts as well as general counsel who are leaders within their companies on sustainability issues.

Strong rule of law is essential as a foundation for economic and social development. The Framework seeks to advance the rule of law by engaging responsible business to support the building and strengthening of legal frameworks and accountable institutions – serving as a complement to, not substitute for, government action.

Provides an overview of the current state of sustainable supply chains globally through interviews of more than 100 supply chain, procurement and sustainability executives from 70 companies.

This guide presents a brief introduction to the relevance of traceability for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) which are looking to adopt traceability in their supply chains and also assists them to link their initiative to the newly launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It illustrates the opportunities, challenges and practical steps for implementing traceability programmes within SMEs and features case examples for driving SME traceability.

Launched at the United Nations in September 2014, the Food & Agriculture Business Principles respond to calls for a common language and framework to achieve food security through more sustainable agriculture. In this video, leaders from business, government, civil society and the UN share their perspectives on the importance of the FAB Principles to help realize the goal of sustainable development.

The CEO Water Mandate is a strategic framework for action with recommendations that include production strategies, water-utilization audits and incentive systems for water recycling, the development of a water-sustainability agenda, and inclusion of the GRI guidelines in corporate reporting.