Report on activities supporting
the UN “Global Compact” initiative
and the European Business Campaign on Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS)
carried out within the framework of the “Approved Partner” Programme
(2005 – 2007)
Introduction
The Mission of the "Approved Partner" Programme is to promote modern management methods and 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 (
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.
In the period under discussion systematic marketing activities connected with the Programme were carried out, including ongoing monitoring and verification (every six months) of the companies participating in the Programme. The documentation defined in the Programme regulations submitted by the company was collated and prepared for analysis by the Licence Bureau of the “Approved Partner” Programme (maintained by the Centre for European Education and Consultancy), the Verification Committee and the Governing Council (composed of representatives of the Association) assessed the companies seeking the award or extension of the right to use the “Approved Partner” logo and honorary title in their marketing activities.
Verification Bodies
Governing Council ofthe“Approved Partner” Programme
Chairman:
Adam St. Szejnfeld – Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy, Member of Parliament, Republic of Poland, Deputy Chairman of the Economic Committee (until November 2007)
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 – VicePresident of the Public Procurement Office (2002-2004), partner of “Grupa Doradcza Sienna” Company, public procurement expert
Andrzej Wolski –General Director, Polish Banking Association
Verification Committee ofthe“Approved Partner” Programme, Reliable Business Association in Poznań
Tomasz Naganowski - Chairman, Verification Committee, President, Management Board, Reliable Business Association
Roman Andrzejewski -Vice Director, Customs Chamber, Poznań
Michał Chojara -Chairman, Association of Wielkopolska Municipalities and Counties, Poznań
Edward Stawicki -Office for Competition and Consumer Protection, Director, Branch Office in Poznań
Michał Wieczorek -Secretary, Verification Committee, Licence Bureau ofthe “Approved Partner” logo
Activities supporting the “Global Compact” initiative and the European Business Campaign on Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS)
Systematic support (media coverage, Internet, e-mail campaigns and dissemination of information at conferences and meetings) was continued in 2005-2007. 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.
Representatives of the organizers of the “Approved Partner” Programme took part in the following activities:
-13 September 2005: „Reliability and safety in business. Funds for SMEs” conference held in Piła, organized by the Reliable Business Association jointly with the Economic Chamber in Piła, under the honorary patronage of Adam Szejnfeld, Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Polish Parliament.
The conference was attended by Adam Szejnfeld,its honorary patron, Zbigniew Kosmatka, Mayor of Piła, representatives of the Union of Polish Banks, Polish Association of Business Ethics EBEN Polska, Reliable Business Association, BPH S.A., Piła Branch, “Bibby Factors Polska” Sp. z o.o., participants of the “Approved Partner” Programme from all over Poland and businessmen from northern Wielkopolska as well as the mass media.
During the conference its participants learned about the main assumptions of the “Global Compact” and CSR initiatives and received information materials.
A report (available on the GC website) on activities supporting the “Global Compact” and CSR activities carried out within the framework of the “Approved Partner” Programme between 2001 and 2004.
During the conference laureates of the ”Approved Partner” Programme were introduced as “good examples” of reliable operation and received recognition diplomas.
Information materials on the conference were published in regional media.
-October 2005 – May 2006, Poznań University of Economics: activities aimed at reduction of unemployment, particularly among school graduates. The Reliable Business Association jointly the Centre for European Education and Consultancy and the Polish Association of Business Ethics EBEN Polska (an international organization grouping scientists, experts in business ethics and managers, founded in 1987) took part in the “Modern Company” project implemented by the Local Committee of “AIESEC Poznań” (affiliated with the Poznań School of Economics), which is part of the association present in 800 universities in 91 countries (in Poland there are 20 local committees in 40 universities).
The main objective of the “Modern Company” project, which is based on the International Traineeship Programme organized in companies all over the world, included enhancement of the opportunities of Polish graduated in qualifying for international traineeships within the framework of international exchange programmes. The project activities included lectures and classes on business ethics and reliability and responsibility in business and presentation of the experience of the “Approved Partner” Programme as well as the main assumptions of the “Global Compact” and CSR initiatives.
A special website of the project was created on the “AIESEC Poznań” portal, with links to the “Approved Partner” Programme and EBEN Polska. The website address was promoted in information materials about the project published in regional media.
-20 October 2005: Michał Wieczorek, Board Vice Chairman of the Reliable Business Association took part in a panel discussion on the corporate social responsibility organized at “Emaus” Radio in Poznań (discussion materials were published in an insert “Civic Initiatives” to the “Głos Wielkopolski” on 25 October 2005, prepared and published by the Local Democracy Development Foundation, Regional Centre in Poznań, in cooperation with the Regional Development Foundation in Wielkopolska).
-25 March 2006: “Corporate Social Responsibility Day” organized at the Faculty of Computer Science and Management, Poznań University of Technology.
Michał Wieczorek gave a lecture on the “Approved Partner” Programme and companies participating in the UN “Global Compact” and the European Business Campaign on Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) initiatives.
-April 2006: an article by Michał Wieczorek „Reliable and loyal partners” published in the “Merkuriusz” (distributed during major trade fair events organized by the Poznań International Fair) with information (in Polish and English) about the “Approved Partner” Programme and companies participating in the UN “Global Compact” and the European Business Campaign on Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) initiatives.
The article featured address of the Programme’s website with links to websites of companies participating in the Programme, as well as the link to the “Global Compact” initiative featuring a report on the activities carried out within the framework of the “Approved Partner” Programme, which support the two international initiatives.
-18 May 2006: a seminar held at the Poznań University of Economics in Poznań summing up the “Modern Company” project carried out jointly by the Local Committee of “AIESEC Poznań”, Reliable Business Association, Centre for European Education and Consultancy and the Polish Association of Business Ethics EBEN Polska.
The participants learned about the results of the projects and received information materials on the “Approved Partner” Programme and the “Global Compact” and CSR initiatives.
Information about the conference was published in regional media and on the website of “AIESEC Poznań”.
Some statistics on the involvement in the “Approved Partner” Programme in the period commenced in 2005 and ended in 2007:
2005 – 33 companies (of which 4 large, 11 medium, 13 small and 5 micro),
2006 – 21 companies (of which 1 large, 9 medium, 7 small and 4 micro),
2007 – 14 companies (of which 1 large, 6 medium, 4 small and 3 micro).
The percentage of women managers in these companies in the period covered by the report was as follows:
-large companies – 9%-50% (no change compared to 2004),
-medium companies – 11%-65% (no change compared to 2004),
-small companies – 0%-50% (no change compared to 2004),
-micro companies – 0%-60% (no change compared to 2004).
There is no information on discriminatory practices regarding remuneration of women.
Involvement in activities protecting the natural and social environment
Natural environment
In the period commenced in 2005 and ended in 2007 the companies participating in the “Approved Partner” Programme continued or started 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, cells, 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,
-hazardous 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
-use of low emission fuels,
-continued activities to reduce detrimental effects of production to the environment: upgrading and reconstruction of production assets, i.e. exchange of insulation on heat networks and assembly of condensation neutralizers in boiler houses,
The above activities have been carried out for a number of years by: “X-comp” Sp. z o.o., Szczecin, “Petro-Oil” WCS Sp. z o.o., Przeźmierowo n. Poznań, „ANDRE ABRASIVE ARTICLES”, Koło, “Dalkia Poznań” S.A. and others.
Modern management methods compatible with international standards (mainly ISO 9001, in some cases ISO 14001, AQAP 2110 and HACCP) were implemented in over 60% of the companies participating in the Programme in 2005-2007. About 12% of the companies in this group implemented Integrated Management Systems (Quality, Environment, H&S), among them:
- “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; the system was expanded to include the NATO AQAP 2110 standardization document,
- “Stabilator” Sp. z o.o., Gdańsk and „Cetco-Poland” Sp. z o.o., Szczytno,
-Zakład Wytwarzania Artykułów Ściernych ANDRE ABRASIVE ARTICLES, Koło
-operation of the wholesale market in Poznań in line with the ISO 9001 and HACCP management systems (“Wielkopolska Gildia Rolno-Ogrodnicza” S.A., Poznań).
Social environment
In the period commenced in 2005 and ended in 2007 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,
-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,
-sponsoring of different events for children, including cultural and sports events (e.g. regular school marathons – ZUI “NOVUM” Sp. z o.o., Łomża), charity campaigns (e.g. “Give Help While You Can” – “STABILATOR” Sp. z o.o., Gdańsk, ZUI “NOVUM” Sp. z o.o., Łomża, “Deante Antczak” Sp. J., Łódź)) and social campaign (“September meetings with health”, “Klaps” campaign against family violence – “Dalkia Poznań” S.A.).
-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, support extended to the Fire Brigade in Szczecin and a centre for children suffering from cerebral palsy (“X-comp” Sp. z o.o., Szczecin),
-ongoing 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, cooperation with the “Live Safely” Foundation and “Family Poznań” Foundation (“Dalkia Poznań” S.A.),
-ongoing support extended to organizations and institutions: “Gajusz”, “Monar” and “Help while you can” foundations, Polish Mothers’ Memorial Hospital (“Deante Antczak” Sp. J., Łódź),
-financial support to the Castle Museum in Malbork (“Stabilator” Sp. z o.o., Gdańsk),
-financial support to the organization of celebrations to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the NSZZ “Solidarity” and 50th anniversary of the Poznań June 1956, “17th Days of French Culture” and others („Dalkia Poznań” S.A.),
-financial support to local investments (50% of project value): installation of traffic lights on the pedestrian crossing in front of the school in Krosinko, participation in the costs of the construction of a road to the school in Daszewice (“TABOSS” Sp. z o.o., Mosina),
-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 celebrations commemorating the 700th anniversary of Knurów (WMS Sp. z o.o, Knurów),
-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 the period commenced in 2005 and ended in 2007 amounted to over PLN 500,000.00.
Creation of new jobs – between 2005 and 2007 as many as 286 jobs were created in the companies participating in the “Approved Partner” Programme.
Total number of visits to the Programme’s website ( in the period commenced in 2005 and ended in 2007 – approx. 81,000.
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.
Outstanding companies participating in the “Approved Partner” Programme in 2005-2007 and in the previous years
“Krakowska Fabryka Armatur” S.A.- Kraków,
“Dalkia” S.A. - Poznań,
“Wielkopolski Cukier” S.A. – Opalenica
“WIELKOPOLSKA GILDIA ROLNO-OGRODNICZA”, S.A. - Poznań,
Biuro Usługowo-Handlowe “MS-Soft” Sp. z o.o. - Warszawa,
“CETCO - POLAND” Sp. z o.o. - Szczytno,
“EuRolPol” Sp. z o.o. - Wiskitki,
“Kolejowe Zakłady Usługowe” Sp. z o.o. - Gdańsk,
“KREISEL – Technika Budowlana” Sp. z o.o. - Poznań,
“ODDI Poland” Sp. z o.o. - Białobrzegi,
“Petro-Oil” Wielkopolskie Centrum Sprzedaży Sp. z o.o. – Przeźmierowo k. Poznania,
“STABILATOR” Sp. z o.o. - Gdańsk,
“TABOSS” Sp. z o.o. - Mosina,
“THOMSEN TEMPCOLD” Sp. z o.o. - Warszawa,
“SGB-TRANS-LEASING Polskie Towarzystwo Leasingowe” Sp. z o.o. - Poznań,
WMS Sp. z o.o. – Knurów,
“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,
“Deante Antczak” Sp. j. - Łódź,
“KUGER M. Śmiechowski S. Fic” Sp. j. - Sopot,
“NETIX Skrzypczyński, Krzysztofowicz” Sp. j. - Warszawa
“AUTO-SZKLARZ Zbigniew Młynarczyk” - Poznań,
“ARAKS” Przedsiębiorstwo Badawczo-Usługowe Andrzej Anders - Warszawa,
“Laserservice” Michał Bramorski – Warszawa
Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe “ANTRO” Andrzej Trociński,
Chełm,
Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Handlowo-Usługowe “MULTI-PLAST” Ryszard Janiszewski - Tarnów,
Przedsiębiorstwo “ANDA-POL” H. Dembczyńska, J. Dembczyński, A. Kwiatkowska, D.Kwiatkowski Sp.j. - Sławęcinek
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,
Prepared by
Michał Wieczorek
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