With the UN Global Compact, the United Nations has created the world's largest initiative for responsible corporate governance. Participants commit to contributing to a sustainable, equitable global economy in the way they act. GP JOULE shares the values and goals of this initiative – and has now joined the UN Global Compact Network Germany.
Ove Petersen, co-founder and CEO of GP JOULE:
"The UN Global Compact aims to shape a sustainable, future-proof global economy. This includes safeguarding our natural livelihoods for future generations. GP JOULE has been dedicated to this task since it was founded. We are now underlining this by joining the UN Global Compact Network Germany."
With this step, GP JOULE pledges to align its actions with the UN Global Compact's "Ten Principles" in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environment and corruption prevention, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participating companies must demonstrate their commitment to these principles by providing an annual progress report.
Among other things, membership obliges companies to follow the precautionary principle in environmental protection, to accelerate the development and dissemination of environmentally friendly technologies, to support the protection of human rights and to stand up against discrimination. In addition, the participating companies pledge to contribute to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. This includes, for example, combating climate change, ensuring access to sustainable, affordable energy for all or creating gender equality.
The UN Global Compact Network Germany currently comprises around 940 companies and around 60 actors from academia, politics and associations.
GP JOULE develops overarching sustainability strategy
Even before joining the UN Global Compact Network Germany, GP JOULE defined six values that serve as guiding principles for how the company acts. In addition to fair play and diversity, this also includes sustainability.
Ove Petersen:
"The roots of our company lie in agriculture. That’s why we know very well that sustainability means acting in such a way that you can hand over your farm to the next generation with a clear conscience. This principle has always guided us."
GP JOULE is already striving to keep the CO2 footprint of the individual construction projects as well as in everyday office life as small as possible. These include, for example, paperless administration, video conferencing instead of business trips, a fleet of electric and hydrogen vehicles, and office buildings that are supplied with self-generated local heat from renewable energies where possible. And GP JOULE EPC, responsible for building PV and hydrogen plants, was recently certified by TÜV Rheinland according to ISO 14001 for its environmental management.
Ove Petersen, CEO of GP JOULE:
"Joining the UN Global Compact offers us the opportunity to bundle the many different approaches we are already pursuing and systematise them in an overarching sustainability strategy."
To this end, GP JOULE is now first preparing a detailed sustainability report with the support of external experts that records the status quo. In the second step, the company defines environmental, social and governance targets against which future progress can be measured.
At the same time, GP JOULE staff will take advantage of the network's training and dialogue opportunities to be inspired and put their own approach to the test. The contents of the trainings and workshops are integrated into the company's trainings and processes.
Securing the basis of life is a global task
The United Nations is not the only institution that has defined goals for sustainable business and links up responsible companies in a network. However, GP JOULE has joined this initiative precisely because it has two dimensions: the local orientation with the UN Global Compact Network Germany, which enables learning and exchange, and the global perspective of the United Nations.
Ove Petersen:
"Securing the earth for future generations is a global task. That’s why we are very happy that, with the UN Global Compact, there is an initiative that stands up for the values worldwide, which is also what we base our activities on."