OREANDA-NEWS. February 03, 2011. United Nations Global Compact (GC) has started a new project. On 28 January UN General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon, launched a new major UN initiative, Global Compact LEAD, to international business leaders in at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The world leaders in corporate social responsibility, including SCM, committed to implement the UN’s Blueprint for Corporate Sustainability Leadership.

The new platform brings together the leading businesses in a programme which will encourage new levels of corporate sustainability performance. The list of first signatories to Global Compact LEAD includes 54 businesses that are at the forefront of the social responsibility in the world, particularly – Daimler AG (Germany), Deutsche Telecom AG (Germany), Siemens AG (Germany), Fuji Xerox Company (Japan), Heineken (the Netherlands), Intel Corporation (USA), KPMG International (USA), PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited - Global Network (USA), Nestle S.A. (Switzerland), The Coca-Cola Company (USA) and others.

The need for a new UN GC project focusing on CSR leaders comes from two factors: only the leaders can raise the corporate responsibility standards to a new level and only they are strong enough to encourage and inspire those on the lower stages of the "responsibility pyramid". This is how Global Compact LEAR emerged.

At the first meeting the project members signed the Blueprint for Corporate Sustainability Leadership. The document is underpinned by two corporate obligations connected with the UN Global Compact: implementing the compact’s ten principles and taking action in support of broader UN goals and issues. The blueprint is a step forward in the United Nations Global Compact evolution as it will continue to improve these two commitments, raising the standards and promoting corporate social responsibility principles.

SCM Director of International and Investor Relations, Jock Mendoza-Wilson, who is also the Chair of UNGC Local Network Steering Committee in Ukraine, signed the document on behalf of SCM.

"Being invited to be amongst the first signatories of the Global Compact LEAD in the world is a great honour for us. Our involvement in such a big UN initiative recognises that in the area of introducing CSR principles to business in our region we have developed from newcomers into trend setters, who contribute to development of CSR globally", Jock Mendoza-Wilson commented on the event.

"I can say confidently that Davos saw the opening of a new chapter in corporate responsibility. Responsibility of the next generation will be much more focused on what are now core business performance issues and on using responsibility to managing risk and ensure the long term sustainability of business", added Mr Mendoza-Wilson.