The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, launched by the UN in 2000. It calls on companies and organizations to align their strategies and operations with ten universally accepted principles covering human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participation is voluntary and spans all sectors, including chemicals, materials, and related supply chains.
The UNGC provides a principles-based framework, practical guidance, training, and peer learning through global programs and country-level Local Networks. Participants are expected to report annually via a Communication on Progress (CoP) and may be delisted for non-reporting. While not a certification or regulatory body, the initiative helps companies structure and disclose their approach to issues such as climate action, water stewardship, responsible production, workplace rights, and ethical business conduct. For the chemical industry, the UNGC offers a widely recognized reference point for embedding ESG practices across operations and supply chains and for communicating progress to investors, customers, and other stakeholders.