Communication on Progress

2011 Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 27-Mar-2011
Time period
  • April 2010  –  March 2011
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer

  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • 27th March 2001

    To our stakeholders:

    I am pleased to confirm that Österreichische Volksbanken-AG (VBAG)] reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

    In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

    Sincerely yours,

    
[ Gerald Wenzel ]
    
[ CEO ]

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • In the period under review, no projects in which fundamental human rights were compromised, were financed, nor were there any conflicts with non-government organisations in this regard. The measure to adopt a human rights clause in contracts when procuring giveaways has been incorporated in the current sustainability programme.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • No answer provided.
Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • The freedom to negotiate and the right to collective bargaining are guaranteed in every country in which VBAG is represented.In 2010, the works council was represented by two members on the Corporate Responsibility core team (2009: one member).The planned human rights clause in the procurement of giveaways addressed above will outlaw child and forced labour. VBAG signed the Austrian Diversity Charter in the year under review. The monitoring of key indicators of diversity was expanded (e.g. staff turnover and training according to diversity aspects, employees according to nationality). The newly opened building is barrier-free. Registered partners have been entitled to all company benefits (employee conditions, works council gifts, etc.) since 2010 (cf. page 44-46 in our Corporate Responsibility Report 2010).

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • No answer provided.
Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • The proportion of district heating used was increased from 45% to 95%, various activities to save electricity were implemented. A photovoltaic plant went into operation at the new headquarters. A Corporate Carbon Footprint was calculated for the first time (for details, please see page 41 of our Corporate Responsibility Report 2010). Environmental measures were also implemented at Volksbank International AG (cf. page 202). The financing of renewable energy projects was expanded (cf. page 65 f. and, for Volksbank International AG, page 73). The marketing of sustainable investment products was intensified (cf. page 92 f.). A package of measures for products in the field of VB Leasingfinanzierungsges.m.b.H. was compiled (cf. page 74 and 202).

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • No answer provided.
Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • Measures can be found in the chapter on Corporate Governance and ethical practice (cf. page 16 of our Corporate Responsibility Report 2010). The Corporate Governance Officer is a member of the CR core team.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • No answer provided.