United Nations Global Compact

Launched in July 2000 by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The Global Compact is an international initiative bringing companies together with UN agencies, labour and civil society to support ten principles in the areas of human rights, working conditions, the environment, and anti-corruption. Through the power of collective action, the Global Compact seeks to advance responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalisation. In this way, the private sector - in partnership with other social actors - can help realize the Secretary-General's vision: a more stable and inclusive global economy.

The Global Compact is a voluntary corporate citizenship initiative endorsed by companies from all regions of the world. It has two objectives:

1. Mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world
2. Catalyse actions in support of UN goals     

TNT is one of the many companies that have committed themselves to the UN Global Compact.

The Ten Principles
The first two principles are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence; and
2. make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
   The principles 3-6 are derived from the International Labour Organisation's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work:
3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
4. the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
5. the effective abolition of child labour; and
6. eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
   The principles 7-9 are derived from the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:
7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
8. undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
9. encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies;
   The 10th and last principle is derived from the United Nations Convention against Corruption:
10. Businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.     

More information: www.unglobalcompact.org.

TNT’s commitment to the Global Compact

TNT has included the Global Compact principles in its corporate business principles. The principles are also translated in the purchasing requirements and are included in the CAPEX procedures. 
In TNT the focus is laid on compliance to international standards for governance, social entrepreneurship, environmental care and business excellence. 

Also advanced corporate philanthropy is applied with the World Food Programme involving virtually all employees. 

Starting 2002 TNT is celebrating best practices with internal Awards for Corporate Sustainability. 

Peter Bakker is actively involved in the Social Responsibility development and in particularly in the partnership with the UN Food programme. TNT is involved a sector initiative of the World Economic Forum for moving Corporate Sustainability. A stakeholders dialogue facilitated by GRI takes place every year.

In 2003 TNT started to measure Social Responsibility performance with preliminary performance indicators. In 2004 we published our first corporate sustainability report.