Food companies kicked out of UN Global Compact

By Francesca Montorsi | 2 February 2011, 17:39

Cadbury, Chupa Chups S.A, Fromagerie de Livarot, Madrange Groupe and many more food and beverages companies were recently booted out of the United Nations Global Compact. About a decade ago the United Nations started this initiative for businesses committed to fulfill ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

No progress

Over the years thousands of companies and other stakeholders have joined the Global Compact. This year, for the first time over 2000 companies were kicked out of the programme. The official news reports that those companies failed for two consecutive years to communicate on progress in integrating the ten principles in their strategies and operations.

Frontrunners and greenwashers

“This is a significant move forward for the Global Compact,” says Georg Kell, Executive Director of the Global Compact. “It will provide deeper incentives at both ends of the performance spectrum”, meaning frontrunners will be rewarded for making real progress in sustainability and greenwashers will no longer get away with carrying the Global Compact logo on their website.

Critical assessment

In addition, Kell says the UN’s move will “help stakeholders critically assess the performance and progress of our companies.” As a member of the Global Compact, Fairfood International will definitely follow the advise of Mr Kell and ‘critically assess’ the food companies that were booted out of the programme.