`Report on activities supporting the UN “Global Compact” initiative carried out within the framework of the “Approved Partner” Programme
(2001 – 2004) Introduction
The Mission of the "Approved Partner" Programme is to promote reliability and responsibility in business as significant principles in the creation and functioning of civic society as well as related education, in particular through the dissemination of "good examples" of reliable operation of companies involved in social environment initiatives and caring for the natural environment (www.solidnypartner.pl).
The main objectives of the Programme also include dissemination of economic, legal and other knowledge about the economic market and modern methods of corporate management, paying special attention to the standards observed and followed in the European Union.
The “Approved Partner” Programme is the initiative of the Reliable Business Association and the European Education and Consulting Centre (until end of 2004 – Business Promotion Centre) introduced in 1995 in Wielkopolska. At the time it was the only programme of this type in Poland.
A multi-step company verification system combined with ongoing monitoring of company reliability are among the main values of the new version of the Programme implemented in 1999, which makes it distinct among other similar initiatives. The verification procedures are systematic, followed every six months, based on verification requests submitted by companies and the documents, which are assessed in line with the principles stipulated in the Programme regulations.
The assessment checks how reliably a company conducts its business, whether it pays its liabilities on time, whether it is solvent, whether it observes legal and administrative regulations and the principles of fair competition, whether the methods used internally and externally are friendly, what the quality of its goods and services is, how involved it is in the issues of the social environment and how it cares for the natural environment and last, but not least, how prepared it is to function in the European Union.
Company reliability and responsibility is supervised by competent structures and bodies: the Licence Bureau of the "Approved Partner" logo, Verification Committee, the Management Board of the Reliable Business Association and the Programme Governing Council (a multi-step monitoring and verification system).
Verification Bodies
Governing Council of the “Approved Partner” Programme Chairman:
Adam St. Szejnfeld - Member of Parliament, Republic of Poland, Chairman of the Economic Committee
Vice Chairman:
Michał Wieczorek - Author of the "Approved Partner" Programme and its initiator, owner of the Centre for European Education and Consultancy
Members:
Jerzy Bartnik – President, Management Board, Polish Craft Association
Włodzimierz Dzierżanowski – Vice President of the Public Procurement Office (2002-2005), partner of “Grupa Doradcza Sienna” Company, public procurement expert Andrzej Wolski – General Director, Polish Banking Association
Verification Committee of the “Approved Partner” Programme Reliable Business Association in Poznań
Tomasz Naganowski - Chairman, Verification Committee
President, Management Board, Reliable Business Association
Zbigniew Różycki - Vice Director, Customs Chamber, Poznań Michał Chojara - Chairman, Wielkopolska Counties and Districts
Association, Poznań
Edward Stawicki - Office for Competition and Consumer Protection, Director, Branch Office in Poznań
Michał Wieczorek - Secretary, Verification Committee,
Licence Bureau of the “Approved Partner” logo Activities supporting the “Global Compact” initiative
Systematic support (media coverage, Internet, e-mail campaigns and dissemination of information at conferences and meetings) started in 2001. It aimed to popularize knowledge and help in the implementation of the UN “Global Impact” initiative and the European Business Campaign for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) announced by the European Commission. The following problems were included in the scope of ongoing monitoring of companies, which participate in the “Approved Partner” Programme (companies with achievements in this field are awarded extra points):
- observance of human rights by the company (in particular those of the employees), - no discrimination in employment (particularly as regards women),
- preventive approach to the environment,
- preparation for operation in the European Union.
On 13 June 2001 a nation wide meeting of the Reliable Business Association and the Approved Partner Business Club was organized at the World Trade Center in Poznań. The meeting was attended by members of the Association and the Club, as well as representatives of the offices, institutions, companies and the media, which cooperate with the “Approved Partner” Programme: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Poland, Office for Competition and Consumer Protection, Customs Office in Poznań (authorized by the Main Customs Office, the Marshall Office of the Province of Wielkopolska, the City Office of Poznań and the Poznań International Fair. The participants learned about the main assumptions of the “Global Impact” initiative (presented by Karolina Mzyk from UNDP) and the Corporate Social Responsibility Europe. All the participants received information materials.
When the Delegation of the European Commission in Poland decided to assume patronage of the “Approved Partner” Programme (next to the patronage of the NBP President), a ceremony was held at premises of the National Bank of Poland in Warsaw on 17 December 2001, combined with the award of certificates to the laureates of the “Approved Partner” Programme. The ceremony was attended by Leszek Balcerowicz, NBP President, Ambassadors - UN: Marc Destanne de Bernis, EU: Bruno Dethomas, representatives of UOKiK, UKIE, GUC, PARP, World Bank, Polish Banking Association, Main Board of the Trade and Service Association, BCC, Danish-Polish Chamber of Commerce and members of the Programme Governing Council, Reliable Business Association, “Approved Partner” Reliable Business Club. The meeting was also attended by representatives of several major banks operating in Poland and many other important institutions, organizations, companies and the media.
During the meeting Ambassador Bruno Dethomas informed the participants about the assumptions of the Corporate Social Responsibility Europe in the context of the EU development strategy (the Lisbon strategy) and Ambassador Marc Destanne de Bernis presented the principles of the UN “Global Compact” Initiative. All the participants received a package of information materials.
During 2001-2003 five national conferences were organized in Warsaw related to the “Approved Partner” Programme. They focused on problems of reliability and responsibility in business and the principles of “Global Compact” and CSR.
Representatives of the Programme took part in fifteen national and international conferences during which information about the “Approved Partner” Programme, “Global Compact” and CSR was provided.
In 2001-2003 a few information campaigns were organized to popularize knowledge about the “Approved Partner” Programme, “Global Compact” and CSR:
- an article published in the “ERA BIZNES” quarterly (over 100,000 copies sold), which was sent to all the companies – customers of ERA BIZNES at the beginning of September 2001,
- a special edition of “Welcome to Poznań & Wielkopolska” (in February 2002) devoted to the “Approved Partner” Programme, which carried information about the Programme, “Global Compact” and CSR and statements by Marc Destanne de Bernis, UN Ambassador in Poland, Bruno Dethomas, UE Ambassador in Poland, Leszek Balcerowicz, NBP President, Jacek Wojciechowicz, World Bank (Warsaw Office) representative, and Andrzej Topiński, President of the Polish Banking Association. Information was also published in “Welcome to Warsaw”, and in news bulletins of the Polish Banking Association and the Association of Municipalities and Counties of Wielkopolska,
- promotional campaign (March-April 2002) in cooperation with specialized agencies, including mail shots with information about the “Approved Partner” Programme, “Global Compact” and CSR sent to over 50,000 Polish companies, accompanied by a telemarketing campaigns.
A similar campaign was conducted in February-March 2003.
Some statistics on the involvement in the “Approved Partner” Programme in the period commenced in 2001 and ended in 2003:
2001 – 19 companies (of which 3 large, 5 medium, 10 small and 1 micro), 2002 – 50 companies (of which 15 large, 18 medium, 18 small and 14 micro), 2003 – 63 companies (of which 9 large, 22 medium, 18 small and 14 micro).
In the years 2001-2003 there were approx, 124,000 visits to the Programme’s website (www.solidnypartner.pl).
2004
In 2004 activities started in the previous years were continued. About 1200 companies, to which information about the “Approved Partner” Programme, “Global Compact” and CSR was mailed, responded positively and confirmed their interest in the problems.
Programme representatives took part in six conferences, during which information about the “Approved Partner” Programme, “Global Compact” and CSR was presented.
In 2004 the “Approved Partner” Programme attracted 45 companies with the total turnover approx. 1.357 billion zloty (an increase by approx. 4.4% compared to 2003), with total employment of about 3490 people.
Out of these 45 companies 5 are large, 16 medium, 14 small and 10 micro. The percentage of women managers in these companies was as follows:
- large companies – 9%-50%, on average 31% (an increase by 4% compared to 2003),
- medium companies – 11%-65%, on average 23% (no change compared to 2003), - small companies – 0%-50%, on average 22% (no change compared to 2003), - micro companies – 0%-60%, on average 19% (no change compared to 2003). There is no information on discriminatory practices regarding remuneration of women. Involvement in activities protecting the natural and social environment
Natural environment
In 2004 the companies participating in the „Approved Partner” Programme were involved in the following ecological activities:
- participation in local programmes carried out in schools, aimed to make the children aware why it is important to protect the natural environment
- collection of used packaging, waste paper, etc. (assistance in organization and transport),
- promotion of the collection of secondary materials and hazardous wastes among company customers; publication of ecology awareness raising articles in company bulletins, etc.
- programmes on environmental protection aired over company broadcasting systems,
- collection of waste from customers, e.g. packaging of lubricants, - collection of post-production waste,
- ion exchange treatment of electroplating wastes,
- waste reduction, reduction of gas and dust emission programmes prepared by companies (and approved by the county government),
- use of ecological raw materials in production, - Freon recovery
- reduction of detrimental effects of production to the environment: upgrading and reconstruction of production assets, i.e. liquidation of coal fuelled heat generating plants and building network pumping station, exchange of insulation on heat networks, assembly of condensation neutralizers in boiler houses,
- “Dalkia Poznań” S.A. was the first Polish heat generating company to meet the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and PN-N 18001 standards. These standards form an Integrated Quality, Environment, Health and Safety Management System; at the end of 2003 the system was expanded to include the NATO AQAP 2110 standardization document (updated in 2004),
- HACCP external audit on the wholesale market in Poznań (“Wielkopolska Gildia Rolno-Ogrodnicza” S.A., April 2004),
- introduction of the quality management system ISO 9001-2000 (“EuRolPol” Sp. z o.o., Wiskitki, “X-comp” Sp. z o.o., Szczecin),
- certificate of the Polish Recycling System “Caring for Nature” awarded to “KREISEL – Technika Budowlana” Sp. z o.o. in Poznań.
Social environment
In 2004 the companies participating in the „Approved Partner” Programme were involved in the following social activities:
- tangible donations (products) to schools, kindergartens, social care centres; also financial help to natural persons (e.g. to help treat chronic diseases) and legal persons (foundations, associations, etc.),
- assistance in repairs of public buildings,
- sponsoring of different events for children, including cultural and sports events (e.g. regular school marathons) and charity campaigns (e.g. “Give Help While You Can”),
- management of youth sports teams,
- providing hardware for school computer suites,
- help to flood victims, support to day care centres, social welfare centres, - employment of graduates and offering work placements to students, - creation of new jobs (including in regions with high unemployment rate), - secondment of company employees to work for the social environment,
- management of the “Armatura” Honorary Blood Donor Club (“KFA” S.A. – Cracow – a few dozen members),
- cooperation with the Jacek Kuroń SOS Foundation – ongoing service of hardware, providing servers, websites and mail accounts and anti-virus software (“NETIX” – Warsaw),
- cooperation with the County Labour Office and Family Support Centre – employment of disabled persons and creation of jobs for them (“ANDRE ABRASIVE ARTICLES” – Koło),
- participation in the “Entrepreneurship Development Programme” under the auspices of the Szczecin University of Technology and the Mayor of Szczecin (“X-comp” Sp. z o.o.),
- continual support to the “Dalkia Foundation”, co-founded by “Dalkia Poznań” S.A. Main aims: supporting entrepreneurship in order to create new jobs, offering jobs to the unemployed and employees from restructured companies, contributing to greater dynamism of the labour market in the region, in which companies of the Dalkia Group run their business (“Dalkia Poznań” S.A.),
- support to the Ciechanowski Collections Foundation at the Royal Castle in Warsaw to permit accomplishment of public tasks in the field of culture, art, protection of
cultural goods and traditions – purchase of 17th c. and 18th c. silverware
(“Stabilator” Sp. z o.o. – Gdynia),
- financial contribution to the organization of various events, e.g. “7th Poznań Festival of Science and Art 2004”; “15th French Culture Days”; symposium on
traffic safety (“Dalkia Poznań” S.A.),
- support in the organization of the “Christmas Nativity Play” for the inhabitants of Chełm, refurbishment of the “Caritas Support Thy Neighbour Centre”, repair of a historical church (“Antro” – Chełm),
- participation in the organization of “The Sweetest Days of the Year” and the “Sugar Beet Day” (“Wielkopolski Cukier” S.A. – Opalenica).
The total value of the financial contribution to these activities in 2004 amounted to over PLN 200,000.00.
Creation of new jobs – in total: 318 in 2004 (mainly by “KREISEL – Technika Budowlana” Sp. z o.o. in Poznań, mostly in the Silesian Province, where the unemployment rate is very high).
Total number of visits to the Programme’s website (www.solidnypartner.pl) in 2004 – approx. 34,000.
It should be emphasized that accomplishment of the different activities connected with the “Approved Partner” Programme and dissemination of information about the principles of the “Global Compact” and “CSR” were financed from very limited funds contributed by the Programme participants.
Companies participating in the “Approved Partner” Programme in 2004
„BIURO PLUS” S.A. - Poznań, „INTER CONSULT” S.A. - Poznań,
„Krakowska Fabryka Armatur” S.A.- Kraków, „Poznańska Energetyka Cieplna” S.A. - Poznań,
„WIELKOPOLSKA GILDIA ROLNO-OGRODNICZA”, S.A. - Poznań, „ABR-PROM” sp. z o.o. - Gdańsk,
Biuro Usługowo-Handlowe „MS-Soft” sp. z o.o. - Warszawa, „BOCIANIE GNIAZDO” sp. z o.o. - Pogorzelica
„CETCO - POLAND” sp. z o.o. - Szczytno, „EMET-IMPEX” sp. z o.o. - Przemyśl „EuRolPol” sp. z o.o. - Wiskitki,
„Kolejowe Zakłady Usługowe” sp. z o.o. - Gdańsk, „KREISEL – Technika Budowlana” sp. z o.o. - Poznań, „MEDAR” sp. z o.o. - Wrocław,
„ODDI Poland” sp. z o.o. - Białobrzegi,
„Petro-Oil” Wielkopolskie Centrum Sprzedaży sp. z o.o. - Suchy Las, „PROFIX” sp. z o.o. - Warszawa,
Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowo-Handlowe „RAdkOM” sp. z o.o. - Radom, „ROMWIT POLSKA” sp. z o.o. - Luboń,
„STABILATOR” sp. z o.o. - Gdynia,
„THOMSEN TEMPCOLD” sp. z o.o. - Warszawa,
„TOI TOI ” Przenośne Systemy Sanitarne sp. z o.o. - Poznań,
„TRANS-LEASING Towarzystwo Leasingowe Banku Pocztowego” sp. z o.o. - Poznań, „X-comp” sp. z o.o. - Szczecin,
Zakład Chemiczno-Farmaceutyczny „FARMAPOL” sp. z o.o. - Poznań, Zakład Usług Informatycznych „NOVUM” sp. z o.o. - Łomża,
Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowe „ZAKŁAD USŁUG TECHNICZNYCH ENERGETYKI” - Radom,
„Dante Antczak” sp. j. - Łódź,
„KUGER M. Śmiechowski S. Fic” sp. j. - Sopot, „LUXIMA2 Braci Godusławskich” sp. j. - Ełk,
„NETIX Skrzypczyński, Krzysztofowicz” sp. j. - Warszawa „AUTO-SZKLARZ Zbigniew Młynarczyk” - Poznań,
„ARAKS” Przedsiębiorstwo Badawczo-Usługowe Andrzej Anders - Warszawa,
„CON SOLATOR” s.c. Marek Łazowski, Ewa Łazowska - Katowice,
Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe „ANTRO” Andrzej Trociński, Chełm,
Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe „ROMTEX Roman Józefiak” – Poznań, Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe „MULTI-PLAST” Ryszard Janiszewski - Tarnów,
Przedsiębiorstwo Wielobranżowe „HORSAN” Stanisław Horodko - Zielona Góra,
„SKLEPIŃSKI” Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe Mariola i Zenon Sklepińscy - Szprotawa,
Techniczno-Handlowa Obsługa Rolnictwa „TORAL” Elżbieta Krupa - Gostyń,
Zakład Wytwarzania Artykułów Ściernych „ANDRE ABRASIVE ARTICLES” - Robert Andre - Koło,
„TABOSS” sp. z o.o. - Mosina, Prepared by