Unite participates in the UN Global Compact

The UNGC, a United Nations initiative, encourages companies worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies. Nora Reumschüssel, our Corporate Sustainability Specialist, elaborates on our decision to participate in the UNGC and the proactive measures we are taking to continuously pursue and develop our sustainability goals.

What is the UN Global Compact, and why is it important for companies to participate?

The UN Global Compact (UNGC) is not just a sustainability initiative; it’s the world’s largest one, with over 24,000 companies and organisations in 170 countries. It calls upon companies to align their strategies and business processes with ten universally recognised principles of human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption. For Unite, participating is a significant step. It helps us operate more sustainably and sends a clear signal to our stakeholders about our commitment to a more sustainable economy.

What were Unite’s main reasons for participating in the UN Global Compact?

One of the main reasons for us was transparency. The UNGC provides for transparent and public reporting to stakeholders. Completing an annual progress report helps us monitor our development against internationally recognised and consistent criteria and see where we can improve. In addition, this initiative provides a neutral basis for implementing CSR activities in business. Our stakeholders also need guidance to assess whether we are serious about our efforts. We provide them concrete evidence of our efforts through our membership and commitment.

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How does Unite monitor compliance with the UN Global Compact principles?

The UNGC requires participating companies to submit an annual Communication on Progress (COP), which the experts review independently. In the report, we provide information on various topics and show how we integrate the principles into our business activities. In addition, we’ve voluntarily prepared our sustainability report per the German Sustainability Code (DNK). From 2025, we will also be required to report in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This means, among other things, that we’ve to demonstrate how sustainability aspects are integrated into our strategy and risk management.

How does Unite promote and develop sustainable goals?

Like many things at Unite, sustainability is intrinsically motivated and deeply embedded in both our values and our business model. As a platform, we connect the economy for sustainable business and help companies achieve long-term sustainability goals. In addition, we’ve already taken important steps by creating and establishing responsibilities close to the board of directors, who are responsible for internal sustainability, compliance, and sustainability at the product level. This gives the topic of sustainability the strategic importance it deserves. We have also built a compliance system that ensures that we act in accordance with laws, guidelines, and values. This system will help us continuously improve and strengthen our commitment to sustainability.

Our intrinsic motivation and external reporting obligations continue to drive us to set our goals in a structured and consistent manner. We are very happy to be part of the UNGC community and to walk the path to a more sustainable future together with other actors.