Date published 13 January 2014
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Marshalls plc today announced that it has joined a steering group of UN Global Compact signatory sector representatives from the real estate, development, finance, investment, construction, research and training sectors convened by the UN Global Compact and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) that will support a two year project to develop a best practice sustainability tool kit for the land, real estate and construction sector.
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By doing so, business, as a primary driver of globalisation, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
The land, real estate and construction sector represents about 70% of global wealth. Its contribution makes up around one-tenth of the total global GDP and represents 7% of overall employment. Its significant impact within social, environmental, and economic spheres opens to a number of risks and sustainability challenges.
The project has three key objectives:
1. To identify key challenges and opportunities for the land, real estate and construction sector relating to the Global Compact’s issue areas and United Nations’ goals;
2. To actively engage UN Global Compact participants from the land, real estate and construction sector as well as associated users and stakeholders to capture and scale up existing best practice efforts and initiatives in applying and implementing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact;
3. To develop a sector specific best practice tool kit for companies operating in these areas to help them tackle these issues and harness significant sustainability opportunities.
Chris Harrop, Marshalls Group Marketing Director and Chair of the UK’s UNGC Network, said: “Hard Landscaping plays a vital role in the built environment. Marshalls is known across the globe for its leading position in sustainability and see this initiative as a key driver for change and improvement. We are joining a group of exceptionally influential and prestigious businesses and by working together I believe that we can make a real difference.”
Founded in the 1890s, Marshalls is the UK’s leading supplier of hard landscaping materials, has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2009. Marshalls believes in conducting its business in a manner which achieves sustainable growth whilst incorporating and demonstrating a high degree of social responsibility.
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By doing so, business, as a primary driver of globalisation, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
The land, real estate and construction sector represents about 70% of global wealth. Its contribution makes up around one-tenth of the total global GDP and represents 7% of overall employment. Its significant impact within social, environmental, and economic spheres opens to a number of risks and sustainability challenges.
The project has three key objectives:
1. To identify key challenges and opportunities for the land, real estate and construction sector relating to the Global Compact’s issue areas and United Nations’ goals;
2. To actively engage UN Global Compact participants from the land, real estate and construction sector as well as associated users and stakeholders to capture and scale up existing best practice efforts and initiatives in applying and implementing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact;
3. To develop a sector specific best practice tool kit for companies operating in these areas to help them tackle these issues and harness significant sustainability opportunities.
Chris Harrop, Marshalls Group Marketing Director and Chair of the UK’s UNGC Network, said: “Hard Landscaping plays a vital role in the built environment. Marshalls is known across the globe for its leading position in sustainability and see this initiative as a key driver for change and improvement. We are joining a group of exceptionally influential and prestigious businesses and by working together I believe that we can make a real difference.”
Founded in the 1890s, Marshalls is the UK’s leading supplier of hard landscaping materials, has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2009. Marshalls believes in conducting its business in a manner which achieves sustainable growth whilst incorporating and demonstrating a high degree of social responsibility.