Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 11-Sep-2012
Time period
  • September 2011  –  September 2012
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer
  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • To our stakeholders:

    I am pleased to confirm that Kopenhagen Fur reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.
    In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.
    The main focus in 2011/12 has been the health of Kopenhagen Fur's employees. A comprehensive program has been carried out entailing all aspects of health: Smoking, abuse (alcohol and other), exercise, nutrition, mental wellbeing etc. The program has been very successful and has amongst other managed to reduce the percentage of smokers and the weight of employees.
    In 2012/13, Kopenhagen Fur will strengthen its environmental profile even more by focusing on energy and waste. A Lean Manager has been hired to ensure the most efficient usage of all resources including the above.

    Sincerely yours,

    Torben Nielsen
    Chief Executive Officer

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • At Kopenhagen Fur we adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, we have established some core values that underline the company's devotion to the Human Rights principles.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • At Kopenhagen Fur we have a full set of policies regarding Human Rights policies. These include e.g. policies regarding stress, pregnancy, illness, consistent repeated work, health etc. We have volunteer groups consisting of both management and employees attending to these policies continuously.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • Kopenhagen Fur is ISO 2000 certified and adheres to all the requirements regarding this certificiation. We have periodical internal and external audits ensuring that the requirements are continously lived up to.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • Kopenhagen Fur has obtained a work environment certification by ISO. There is a strong focus within the company on ensuring the best possible work environment and conditions for our employees.
    On top of the ISO certification, Kopenhagen Fur has also developed an internal code of conduct in which e.g. the right to assemble is not only ensured but also encouraged.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • During the past years, Kopenhagen Fur has had an increasing focus on labour conditions, especially in the production section. Employees are offered the opportunity to change position so consistent repeated work is reduced. A physical therapist has been hired to attend to any problems that might occur for employees.
    Of course, there has also been some changes made in connection with Kopenhagen Fur's work environment certification, so that all requirements are met.

    Kopenhagen Fur has carried out a health program focusing on all aspects of health for its employees.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • Kopenhagen Fur is continuously audited internally and externally on its progress on its work environment certification. So far, there have been very few remarks and those that have been, have been corrected immediately.
    Also, Kopenhagen Fur registers all accidents and 'almost-accidents', ensuring a stronger focus on possible problem areas. This has meant that in the certification period we have seen a slight reduction in these cases.

    Kopenhagen Fur's employees are measurably healthier today than two years ago (measuring smoking, abuse, general health and weight).

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • Kopenhagen Fur is focused on bettering the environment in and around its company. The internal code of conduct specifies that a focus on environmental issues must be present, and policies on the area have been the main focus area within the past years.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • Kopenhagen Fur has in the last years focused on the environmental hazards caused by the logistics of the fur trade. Several minor and larger projects have come from this focus. The project with most impact has been the opening of a cold storage in Hong Kong to reduce environmental damages caused by shipping

    Kopenhagen Fur will focus even more on waste of resources in the coming year and look to minimize them in order to reduce environmental hazards.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • Kopenhagen Fur expects a major decrease in the use of energy and other resources per skin in the coming years.

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • Kopenhagen Fur is an auction house which adheres to the strongest anti-corruption principle of them all: transparency. All elements of the trade are completely transparent to everyone interested in knowing more. The transparency principle means that no customers or suppliers are treated differently than others, reducing the element of corruption greatly.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • The principle of transparency is one of the most important elements of Kopenhagen Fur's core values. To ensure that these values are constantly met, all new employees are educated in the principle - both specifically for their own area of expertise but also for the entire company.
    Furthermore, Kopenhagen Fur hosts courses for hundreds of suppliers/breeders and customers every year, where the fundamentals of this principle are also repeated.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • The transparency principle means that Kopenhagen Fur has not experienced any cases of corruption within the last decades. To ensure that no corruption should take place anyway, the company has ensured a steadfast zero-tolerance policy on bribe.