Konica Minolta Australia has become the first technology company to join the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA).
“We are delighted to welcome Konica Minolta into the Global Compact Network Australia, our first tech company member,” said Alice Cope, Executive Manager of the Global Compact Network Australia. “Internationally, Konica Minolta Incorporated has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact – the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative – since 2008, and it’s exciting to now have the company involved locally as well.”
The GCNA is a business led platform for companies, universities and civil society to learn, share and collaborate around sustainability issues, with the aim of collectively driving the Australian corporate sustainability agenda forward.
The GCNA works on a range sustainability issues including ethical sourcing, gender equality, anti-corruption and the environment among broader sustainable development issues. For Konica Minolta, finding a network that provides support and information on a broad range of topics was key in our decision to join.
This year the business will focus on key environmental and social governance issues across business operations and supply chains. “We have been working hard on our gender equality strategy to make sure we are leading the way within our industry. In the technology sector, this is not without its challenges” said Tracey Brewer, Konica Minolta’s Legal and Compliance Manager. “Becoming a member of the GNCA is a great next step because it means we can collaborate at a broader level and measure ourselves against global standards.”
It is also shaping up to be a big year for corporate sustainability globally and in Australia. “2015 saw the launch of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and a binding international agreement on climate change at COP21,” continues Ms. Cope. “This year, the GCNA will be running a program of workshops and forums to build companies’ capacity to engage in and drive these agendas forward in their own operations. We’ll also convene the third Australian Dialogue on Business and Human Rights, among a range of other activities across our social, environment and governance themes.”
In addition to reflecting Konica Minolta’s ambitious CSR aims, proactive efforts to address sustainability is a growing requirement from major accounts. “In recent years, CSR has become an increasing area of interest for our customers,” informs David Procter, Konica Minolta’s Sales Director. “We want to ensure we are a company that not only lives by our values, but meets the growing expectations of our clients.”
Konica Minolta looks forward to collaborating with fellow signatories of the GCNA and making a genuine contribution to creating social value by observing its Ten Principles.
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