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Seven global transport and logistics companies are to produce a set of social and environmental performance indicators for their sector by the end of next year.
The multinationals – DHL, Ferrovie dello Stato, Swiss Post, Stena, TPG Transnet, Exel, and Christian Salvesen – hope the indicators, of which there will be at least five, will also be used by other companies in the sector.
The firms, which are all involved in the delivery of goods or packages by various means of transport, are developing the indicators as part of the Logistics and Transportation Corporate Citizenship Initiative, which they set up in 2003.
Stakeholders have been canvassed on what form the indicators should take, and a working group was due to report progress to members at the
World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos late last month. The indicators are likely to focus on community involvement, charitable giving, employee welfare and environmental impacts. Once these are agreed in 2006, the companies will report regularly on how they are measuring up.
The seven firms, which are being advised by Alison Warhurst, director of the Corporate Citizenship Unit at the UK’s Warwick Business School, are also to publish a handbook of detailed statistics on the sector’s contribution to ‘economic wealth and sustainable development’.
They have agreed to abide by eight principles covering bribery, transparency, working conditions, diversity and collective bargaining. Those operating in countries where there is conflict or human rights violations have to ensure employees ‘do not act in any way that could be considered complicit’.
They must also take a precautionary approach to global warming, resource conservation, smog and noise, and seek ‘innovative solutions’ to traffic congestion and alternative methods of transport.
Robert Allen-Turl, director of corporate sustainability and environmental management at TNT, part of TPG Transnet, told EP: ‘We’re developing a common platform that we hope will give the public real confidence that we are genuinely committed to trying to address our social and environmental impacts.
‘Most of the signatories are big companies and have the luxury of being able to put resources into this, but we want to spread this across the sector.’
Allen-Turl expects auditing and training programmes to be developed for companies using the performance indicators.
Uwe Doerken, executive chairman of DHL, said the project was a recognition that more could be achieved by working together than alone. ‘Although we are competitors we’ve recognized that there are areas where we must work as partners if we are to flourish as a sector.’
The companies are also working with the Global Reporting Initiative on guidelines that relate specifically to their sector. A draft for public comment is expected in April and a final version in December.
The multinationals – DHL, Ferrovie dello Stato, Swiss Post, Stena, TPG Transnet, Exel, and Christian Salvesen – hope the indicators, of which there will be at least five, will also be used by other companies in the sector.
The firms, which are all involved in the delivery of goods or packages by various means of transport, are developing the indicators as part of the Logistics and Transportation Corporate Citizenship Initiative, which they set up in 2003.
Stakeholders have been canvassed on what form the indicators should take, and a working group was due to report progress to members at the
World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos late last month. The indicators are likely to focus on community involvement, charitable giving, employee welfare and environmental impacts. Once these are agreed in 2006, the companies will report regularly on how they are measuring up.
The seven firms, which are being advised by Alison Warhurst, director of the Corporate Citizenship Unit at the UK’s Warwick Business School, are also to publish a handbook of detailed statistics on the sector’s contribution to ‘economic wealth and sustainable development’.
They have agreed to abide by eight principles covering bribery, transparency, working conditions, diversity and collective bargaining. Those operating in countries where there is conflict or human rights violations have to ensure employees ‘do not act in any way that could be considered complicit’.
They must also take a precautionary approach to global warming, resource conservation, smog and noise, and seek ‘innovative solutions’ to traffic congestion and alternative methods of transport.
Robert Allen-Turl, director of corporate sustainability and environmental management at TNT, part of TPG Transnet, told EP: ‘We’re developing a common platform that we hope will give the public real confidence that we are genuinely committed to trying to address our social and environmental impacts.
‘Most of the signatories are big companies and have the luxury of being able to put resources into this, but we want to spread this across the sector.’
Allen-Turl expects auditing and training programmes to be developed for companies using the performance indicators.
Uwe Doerken, executive chairman of DHL, said the project was a recognition that more could be achieved by working together than alone. ‘Although we are competitors we’ve recognized that there are areas where we must work as partners if we are to flourish as a sector.’
The companies are also working with the Global Reporting Initiative on guidelines that relate specifically to their sector. A draft for public comment is expected in April and a final version in December.
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