Renault joins the Global Compact in 2001.

What is the Global Compact ?

"We must ensure that all the world’s people share the benefits of globalization." This remark led UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to launch the Global Compact in July 2000. Bringing together companies, civil society and the UN, the Global Compact is based on a set of core values, expressed as 10 universal principles.

Some 5,000 participants including 3,700 member companies have committed to "embracing, supporting and enacting” the 10 principles. Signatory members commit to respecting responsible and sustainable development in their business activities.

The ten principles of the Global Compact cover four areas:

• Human rights. Member companies agree to :  
        - support and respect the protection of human rights in their sphere of influence, 
        - make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.          
• Labour standards. Companies are asked to uphold:  
        - the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, 
        - the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour, 
        - the effective abolition of child labour, 
        - elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.           
• Environment. Companies should:  
        - support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges,  
        - undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility, 
        - encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.          
• Anti-corruption. Companies should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.  

Annual communication

Like the other signatory members, Renault agrees to publish “annual communication on progress” on the Global Compact website, setting out the advances made in its policy and initiatives to promote sustainable development.

Since 2003, Renault has also encouraged its suppliers to joint the Global Compact and to promote – or at least to respect – its principles.

The Forum of Friends of the Global Compact

Renault is also an active member of the Forum of Friends of the Global Compact. The Forum, which acts as the representative in France of the UN Global Compact Office in New York, was launched on January 27, 2004 by Kofi Annan and French President Jacques Chirac. The Forum of Friends of the Global Compact has three main objectives:

• promote the application of the ten principles of the Global Compact,
• expand the network of member companies,
• encourage member companies to learn from one another and to exchange information, notably between small and medium-sized businesses and large groups, in all countries.

ERT

The European Roundtable of Industrialists (ERT) is a forum bringing together 45 European companies. Its objective is to promote the competitiveness and growth of Europe's economy. Set up in 1983, the ERT is contributing to an improved dialogue between industry and governments.

EPE

• Entreprises pour l'Environnment (EPE) is an association of around forty leading French companies. Its aim is to mobilize companies on the subject of sustainable development  and to suggest efficient approaches to environmental problems.
• Renault is making an active contribution to the working groups set up by this association in the areas of health, climate change and transport.
  

ORSE

• Renault is an active member of the ORSE (French study centre for corporate social responsibility). The ORSE brings together leading companies, trade unions, investors and audit companies. Its aim is to collect, analyze and compare information on the practices implemented by companies in the area of corporate social responsibility.    
  
  Renault has taken part in many working groups on diversity and employee rights, and is a particularly active  member of the ORSE purchasing club, which seeks to share good practices in the social and environmental aspects of the purchasing function.

 IMS – Entreprendre pour la Cité

In 2008 Renault joined the Institut de Mécénat de Solidarité - Entreprendre pour la Cité (IMS), an association set up to encourage member companies to adapt an approach based on social commitment. Companies are encouraged to develop new ways to work with local communities by integrating innovative social practices in their policy of corporate social responsibility.

Transparency International

Renault is a member of the association Transparency International, France, which aims to lead the fight against corruption.