RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
From 2020 to 2024, the total number of activities proposed by the Foundation during each year increased from 17 total events to 59.
The number of individuals involved in the program as “recipients/participants” rose from 900 total people to 3,075.
In a five-year period, therefore, there has been a sharp increase in programmatic offerings and, consequently, also in the risk of environmental impact associated with its implementation. Therefore, consistent with its mission and founding principles, UNGCN Italy is increasingly aligning its action and operations with the criteria of reducing indirect emissions and consumption, as well as efficiency and circularity in the use of resources.
Starting with the internal dimension, in April 2024, the Foundation adopted-with a favorable resolution of its Board of Directors-its first “Travel Policy,” which responds to precise ambitions to contain the organizational carbon footprint. The Policy applies to each Staff member in the performance of their respective duties and revolves around the principles of responsibility and efficiency, from which flow practical guidelines for the sustainable management of certain work situations: limit work trips to those that are actually indispensable and for which it is not possible to use substitute means; consider as a preferred option travel by train, since it is the most environmentally friendly solution; provide travel by car only in the case of a “car sharing” between several employees or in the event that it is not possible to reach the destination by train; travel by air only where no alternative solutions are available; on short distances, use cabs only if necessary for the performance of the work activity or as the most suitable solution to the subjective characteristics of the Staff person concerned (night and gender schedules, disabilities, etc.).
To further reinforce its sustainability profile, in July 2024, the Foundation adopted-again by favorable resolution of its Board of Directors-its first “Policy for Ethical and Sustainable Events Management,” which applies to all initiatives carried out under the Network's annual program. A “sustainable event” is a concrete response to the current global challenges and, for the Foundation, it also represents an opportunity to decline in its daily work sensitivity, awareness and commitment to the issues and, therefore, to support - starting from its own internal dimension - the “just transition” towards a world in full harmony with the environment, as well as more equitable and inclusive.
The work of drafting the Policy, initiated and coordinated by the Communications and Events Area, actively involved the Program and Engagement Areas, following a “participatory” logic. The production of the document took into account the two policies on travel and relocation and, to a lesser extent, the policy on grievance, previously integrated at the organizational level. The Policy identifies a set of sustainable practices considering the following areas of action:
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Organizational office
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Working mode (sustainability for people)
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Event location
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Mobility
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Suppliers and collaborators
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Food Catering & Banqueting
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Gadgets and materials
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Communication and awareness-raising activities
Added to these are some guidelines for managing sponsorships.
» The full version of the Policy can be found here.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
Employees and collaborators
The Foundation - since its establishment in 2013 - has always anchored the selection and recruitment processes of its People to criteria related to the possession of adequate thematic knowledge and technical and transversal skills (soft or hard skills), as well as the substantial sharing of organizational values and mission, avoiding any form of discrimination (starting with gender discrimination). With respect to the Staff in the workforce, the Foundation is careful to ensure fairness of treatment in contractual and remuneration policies, equal career opportunities, as well as work-life balance, through the adoption of the smart working program and the recognition of additional flexibility in case of extraordinary needs of the employee(s).
With regard to women's participation in the reality of the Foundation:
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The UNGCN Italy Staff, as of December 31, 2024, consisted of eight women and one man (employees and internal collaborators).
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At the Governance level, out of thirteen members of the Foundation's Board of Directors, seven are women (2022-2025 term).
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The current Executive Director, as the second highest-ranking function, is female.
Suppliers and other external synergies
Looking at the external dimension, with the adoption of the “Policy for Ethical and Sustainable Events Management” (July 2024) the Foundation has bound the selection of its suppliers for the implementation of its program activities not only to criteria of economic efficiency. In fact, suppliers, in order to be validated, must have passed the Integrity audit on human rights, labor rights, anti-corruption, health and safety. As preference criteria for selection purposes, the following apply: being located and operating in close proximity to the event venue; having a sustainability profile and/or holding certifications traceable to sustainable business management (e.g., ISO 14001, ISO 20400, SA 8000, etc.); and being engaged on projects with social and/or environmental purposes.
Exploring then the broader sphere of influence, the Foundation's program of activities includes initiatives and projects aimed at accompanying member companies and nonprofit organizations on the path toward environmental protection, promotion of gender equality and respect for human rights. In addition, the Foundation promotes partnerships with actors from civil society and the associative world, UN Institutions and Agencies, and participates in in-depth study and training activities initiated by Universities, to build, consolidate and spread an all-round culture of sustainability.
Compliance Procedure
In April 2024, the Foundation adopted for the first time - by a resolution of its Board of Directors - a “Grievance and Response Mechanism,” thus recognizing the right of its internal (employees) and external (e.g., suppliers, territorial entities, etc.) stakeholders to submit reports and complaints to UNGCN Italy, in the face of an alleged negative impact suffered. The document therefore establishes a procedure for receiving, evaluating and handling any reports or complaints, strongly anchored in the principles of fairness and correctness, transparency, and confidentiality. The Grievance Body, consisting of the Controlling Body, Executive Director, President and Vice President of the Foundation, is called upon to execute the procedure, ensuring the principle of independence and the preservation of records and, therefore, traceability.
In addition to its own “Good Governance Guidelines” and the UNGC Ten Principles, the Foundation has been guided in its grievance policy by the following reference standards: the ILO's “Grievance Handling” and the OECD's “Duty of Care for Responsible Business Conduct” Guide.
