Corticeira Amorim is a UN Global Compact participant, as from last week. This UN voluntary initiative brings together organisations whose strategies, activities and operations are aligned with universal principles of human rights, labour practices, environmental protection and anti-corruption. The Portuguese multinational’s new obligations include application of the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles, pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified in the UN’s 2030 Agenda and annual presentation of a COP report (Communication on Progress) that details all progress achieved in each pillar of its sustainability policy. The themes promoted by the UN Global Compact include gender equality, sustainable finance, rule of law, governance and equality. The initiative involves over 15,000 companies across 163 countries.
The values inscribed in the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles include promotion of a fairer society, healthier environment, more competitive economy, more transparent business context and more integral culture. Member organisations are encouraged to increase corporate sustainability based on this system of universal references, in recognition that their long-term success depends on meeting these core responsibilities in terms of achieving continued activity over time, alleviating poverty, creating wealth, fostering collaboration, education and innovation, and actively participating in global transformation.
These values have always formed part of Corticeira Amorim’s DNA. The company is now committed “to ensuring that the UN Global Compact initiative and its principles, form an integral part of our corporate strategy, culture and day-to-day operations”, explains Corticeira Amorim’s chairman and CEO, António Rios de Amorim. “We will become involved as far as possible in all collaborative projects that aim to further the UN’s objectives, in particular to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, underpinned by principles of transparency, public scrutiny and continuous reporting.”
Corticeira Amorim is committed to defining a set of practical actions each year, including policies, activities and procedures that will be carried out to implement the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles. It will thereby reinforce its progress in the field of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). In this context, it is important to recall that Corticeira Amorim was the first cork company in the world to achieve an FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certificate for its chain of custody, and to publish the Sustainability Report on the cork sector. It maintains a pioneering outlook and transparency in these fields, as publicly recognised through the attribution of several national and international sustainability awards.
Corticeira Amorim is the only Portuguese participant of the 50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders campaign, promoted by the TBD Media Group, whose content is distributed by the Bloomberg group. The fifty participating organisations are playing a leading role in the fight against climate change worldwide. Corticeira Amorim is also a member of other national and international movements that foster the adoption of more sustainable practices, such as act4nature Portugal and the Charter of Principles, initiatives organised by BCSD Portugal – Business Council for Sustainable Development.
