UNGC (United Nations Global Compact)

The world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
Reach: 20,000+ participants across 160+ countries.

Participants

20,000+

Companies, NGOs, public sector (2025)

Countries

160+

Global coverage

Ten Principles

4 Domains

Human Rights, Labor, Environment, Anti-corruption

Founded

2000

Launched by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

UNGC Ten Principles

Domain	Principle	Description
Human Rights	1	Support and respect internationally proclaimed human rights
Human Rights	2	Ensure not complicit in human rights abuses
Labor	3	Uphold freedom of association and collective bargaining
Labor	4	Eliminate forced and compulsory labor
Labor	5	Abolish child labor
Labor	6	Eliminate discrimination in employment
Environment	7	Support precautionary approach to environmental challenges
Environment	8	Promote greater environmental responsibility
Environment	9	Encourage environmentally friendly technologies
Anti-corruption	10	Work against corruption in all its forms

UNGC Participation Growth (2000-2025)

Number of active UNGC participants, 2000-2025 (est.).

UNGC Implementation Mechanisms

Mechanism	Purpose	Examples
Communication on Progress (COP)	Annual reporting on Ten Principles implementation	Governance, operations, metrics, delisting for non-compliance
Local Networks	Contextualize principles in national/regional settings	Country chapters, peer learning, local SDG action
Action Platforms	Address systemic challenges via working groups	Climate, gender, finance, water, anti-corruption
SDG Alignment Tools	Operationalize SDGs in business strategy	SDG Compass, SDG Action Manager

UNGC Influence and Impact

Normative foundation: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO Conventions, Rio Declaration
SDG alignment: SDG Compass, Action Manager, local SDG platforms
Ethical complement: Bridges materiality-driven frameworks (GRI, TCFD, ISSB) with UN values
Transparency: Annual COP, public delisting for non-compliance
Continuous improvement: New reporting requirements, third-party verification initiatives

About the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

The UNGC is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, providing a voluntary platform for companies to align strategies and operations with Ten Principles spanning human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. With over 20,000 participants in more than 160 countries, the UNGC sets normative expectations for responsible business and links private sector action to global development goals and universal values. Its annual Communication on Progress, local networks, and SDG alignment tools drive transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in corporate sustainability worldwide.

Note: All data reflects official UNGC and industry updates as of May 2025.

UNGC (United Nations Global Compact)

UNGC (United Nations Global Compact)

Countries: Global (over 160 countries)
Function: Voluntary commitment to principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption

Visit UNCG Website

The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, launched in 2000 to advance the integration of human rights, labor standards, environmental stewardship, and anti-corruption principles into business practices. Conceived under the leadership of then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the UNGC serves as a voluntary platform for companies to align strategies and operations with fundamental UN values, embedding sustainability into the private sector's contribution to global development.

Operating across more than 160 countries, the UNGC convenes over 20,000 companies, civil society organizations, and public sector participants.

Its framework is structured around Ten Principles, grouped into four domains:

Human rights: Support and respect internationally proclaimed human rights and avoid complicity in abuses.
Labor: Uphold freedom of association, eliminate forced and child labor, and prohibit workplace discrimination.
Environment: Apply the precautionary principle, promote greater environmental responsibility, and support environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-corruption: Work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Participants are required to submit an annual Communication on Progress (COP), detailing how the Ten Principles are being implemented across governance structures, operational processes, and reporting mechanisms. Non-compliance results in public delisting, reinforcing reputational incentives for continued engagement.

Beyond principle-based commitments, the UNGC catalyzes systemic change through several mechanisms:

Local networks: National and regional chapters that contextualize global principles within local regulatory and cultural environments, enhancing implementation effectiveness.
Action platforms: Thematic working groups addressing systemic challenges such as climate resilience, gender equality, financial innovation, and water stewardship.
SDG alignment tools: Resources such as the SDG Compass and SDG Action Manager help companies operationalize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within business strategy.

The UNGC does not function as a regulatory body and lacks enforcement mechanisms beyond reputational consequences and voluntary compliance expectations. Nevertheless, its influence is substantial. The UNGC establishes normative expectations for corporate behavior, linking private sector conduct to globally recognized human rights and environmental frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Core Conventions, and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

In the broader architecture of sustainability disclosure, the UNGC acts as a moral and ethical complement to materiality-driven frameworks such as GRI, TCFD, and ISSB. It emphasizes that sustainable business is not merely a matter of risk management or financial optimization but an ethical imperative rooted in respect for universal values and collective societal resilience.

While criticisms have emerged regarding the voluntary nature of participation and risks of superficial compliance ("bluewashing"), the UNGC has progressively strengthened its disclosure requirements and introduced structured reporting improvements. Initiatives to improve transparency, accountability, and third-party verification are underway to enhance credibility and maintain alignment with evolving global sustainability expectations.

The United Nations Global Compact remains a foundational pillar in the evolution of corporate sustainability, serving as a bridge between international governance principles and private sector transformation toward inclusive, equitable, and environmentally sustainable economic systems.