UPM_Biofore_Magazine2016_ENG_160623_e-magazine_72dpi

TEXT VESA PUOSKARI

PHOTOGRAPHY UPM; COURTESY OF THE INTERVIEWEES

Sustainability leaders unite!

UPM is the first forest industry company invited to join the United Nations' Global Compact LEAD, a platform dedicated to advancing sustainability leadership through innovation and action.

Global Compact LEAD is a unique United Nations leadership platform designed for companies with leading sustainability standards. “Participating in LEAD offers UPMan excellent opportunity to show its sustainability leadership on a global stage. Companies in LEAD can uniquely demonstrate how good business practices can advance global Sustainability Development Goals,” says Lise Kingo , Executive Director of Global Compact.

companies that LEAD is an

geographical regions and industry sectors that participate

Another important emphasis is on designing future business models, including those that are emerging from the digital revolution. For example, LEAD has a new Young Innovators Programme that will engage young professionals fromLEAD companies. “The target is to understand and benefit the potential of organisations emerging from Silicon Valley and elsewhere. The programme gives the industries a chance to explore and transform these developments into new sustainable business models and opportunities,” continues Hansen. Currently, with UPM the only forest industry company in LEAD, Hansen expects an important contribution, especially in the field of bioeconomy and all 11 UN goals that are considered to be important targets for UPM. “We hope that UPMwill benefit from the collaboration and find inspiration when working together with other industry leaders, exploring the potential for radical new andmore sustainable business models within the sector,” Hansen concludes.

integral part of the UNGlobal Compact and thus the driving force in the creation of a large global movement.”

in LEAD. The total number of member

companies in the UNGlobal Compact is

Pirkko Harrela

approximately 8,500.

Top 50 sustainability leaders Pirkko Harrela , Executive Vice President, Stakeholder Relations, UPM, sees the invitation as recognition of UPM’s long-term commitment to sustainability work. “For us, joining LEADwill be a great opportunity to stay abreast of developments within the industry and to generate and implement advanced corporate sustainability practices together with other sustainability leaders and committed stakeholders,” she says. UPM is the first forest industry company and the very first Finnish company to receive an invitation to join this group. “LEAD is a well-managed operation with clear targets and good planning. With this inmind, we look forward to good cooperation both with the LEAD management and the peer companies,” Harrela says. There are currently 50 sustainably advanced companies across

Designing for the future LEAD’s work is about developing tools for companies to apply in integrating sustainability into all aspects of their work. In 2016, the focus of

When inviting new companies to join LEAD, the UNGlobal Compact scans a variety of global and local

Global Compact and LEAD is on integrating global goals and local business. “The

sustainability rankings and indices, including the Global Compact 100 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Kingo sees membership as a relevant tool for publicly listed companies like UPM. “LEAD is uniquely positioned

Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) are a

useful source of inspiration and a tremendous opportunity for businesses

Lise Kingo

Ole Lund Hansen

to foster better communication and collaboration with different types of investors. This is something we are going to prioritise evenmore in the years to come,” says Kingo. “Finally, I also believe it is a big advantage for the participating

to innovate, invest and collaborate to create a more sustainable future for all of us,” notes Ole Lund Hansen , Chief, Business of Tomorrow, at the UN Global Compact.

>>

18 | BIOFORE

2/2016  | 19