Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

I am writing to express Rubicon Global’s continued support of the ten principles of the Global Compact with respect to human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. In 2011, we committed to making the Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture, and day-to-day operations of our company, and I am proud to report that we have and will continue to do so.

Our fifth Communication on Progress describes our efforts to support the ten principles this year and our goals for the coming year.

We will continue to support the efforts of the United Nations in these areas and look to the UN for guidance and thought leadership.

Sincerely,
David Rachelson
Rubicon Global, Head of Sustainability

Throughout 2016 and early 2017, Rubicon’s Human Resources team updated our company policies to enhance our employee orientation, recognition program and performance review processes. Efforts in these areas include expanding training for all employees, creating the “Rubiculture” employee handbook and implementing a web-based recognition and rewards program and performance review program.

In April 2016, Rubicon Global completed its B Impact Assessment and was recertified as a Certified B Corporation. Rubicon Global joins a league of corporations that believe business is the most powerful way to create positive change. As a Certified B Corporation, Rubicon Global must publicly report on its social and environmental performance using established third-party standards. The B Impact Assessment measures across governance, workers, community and the environment. Rubicon Global’s B Impact score is reviewed periodically with the next assessment to be completed in 2018.

To view Rubicon’s 2016 B Impact Assessment, please visit www.BCorporation.net/RubiconGlobal.

Current human resource policies and policies with Rubicon Global’s vendors will be under review during the remainder of 2017 and beginning of 2018. On Rubicon Global’s next United Nation’s Communication on Progress, the company will report back on policies established, companywide training developed and consultation held with stakeholders.

Rubicon Global uses third-party assessments like the B Impact Assessment to measure its performance and identify gaps. Rubicon implemented paid healthcare premiums for all full-time Rubicon Global employees. In addition, Rubicon Global has implemented multiple measurement tools to ensure the proper policies are in place, such as a recognition and rewards program and performance review program.

Rubicon Global adheres to the laws set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Georgia Department of Labor. During the remainder of 2017 and early 2018, the Human Resources team will be reviewing current policies, assessing risks and setting goals in this area. Rubicon Global has an employee led team, the RuBicontributors, who drive additional benefits and opportunities such as telecommuting, volunteer activities and cross-departmental collaboration. The team will present their finding to the Executive Team for review and implementation.

Rubicon Global has introduced and implemented new policies and benefits for employees throughout 2016 and early 2017. The Rubiculture book is used to educate the company on these newly implemented policies. Some of these new benefits and policies include unlimited paid-time-off that is now offered to all exempt Rubicon Global employees, paid-time-off for volunteer hours for all full-time employees based on length of time they’ve worked at Rubicon, paid-time-off for employees’ work anniversaries for non-exempt employees, every two years an associate can qualify for one week of personal development and sponsored fitness classes to support employee health and wellness.

Rubicon Global is consulting with key stakeholders during the remainder of 2017 to review current policies, assess risks and set additional goals related to labor rights.

Rubicon Global uses third-party assessments like the B Impact Assessment to measure its performance and identify gaps. In the area of workers (which includes job creation, compensation, benefits/training, worker ownership and work environment), Rubicon Global scored a passing score of 22. In the area of community (which includes community products/services, suppliers/distributors, local involvement, diversity, civic engagements/giving), Rubicon Global received a passing score of 22. Before the end of 2017, Rubicon Global will work to improve both areas on the B Impact Assessment.

Rubicon Global has a clear vision for helping top brands in North America and around the globe to reduce their impact and protect our communities. The company’s business model is built on sustainability, efficiency, transparency and responsibility. Rubicon Global utilizes innovative solutions in order to help companies improve the way they do business and turn waste into a resource.

Rubicon’s mission is to keep as much material as possible out of landfills and find new or existing recycling and repurposing solutions for waste materials. Rubicon partners with its clients to create innovative alternatives for their waste streams, with minimizing costs and achieving the goal of zero waste as primary objectives.

Rubicon Global introduced a Small-and-Medium Business (SMB) sales department at the beginning of 2016. The SMB department is working towards the same best practices to small and medium businesses globally. Rubicon has also introduced a Smart Cities program that helps local municipalities measure diversion rates, understand recycling tendencies, and improve recycling adoption.

Rubicon Global’s environmental efforts include:

• Rubicon Global was honored at the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos by receiving The Circulars Award for Digital Disrupter in recognition for implementing circular economy practices in its business operations.
• Rubicon Global works with customers to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and reduce each company’s environmental footprint. Our subject matter experts, including those in the Rubicon Customer Solutions and Sustainability teams, seek out new technology and improved solutions for our customers every day. We use metrics and Big Data analytics to pinpoint opportunities and continuously reduce environmental impact.
• Each Rubicon Global employee participates in a thorough orientation that covers both Sustainability and thought leadership, led by the Vice President of Investor Relations, the Director of Customer Solutions and/or Head of Sustainability.
• Rubicon Global believes in sharing best practices with the public. In 2014, Rubicon Global sponsored a Knowledge@Wharton report entitled “The Sharing Economy: A New Way of Doing Business.” This report featured articles on the impact of sharing economy on the environment. The report was distributed widely to the business community and is available to the public. Read the report here.
• Rubicon Global believes in equipping the next generation with tools to build sustainable businesses. Rubicon Global joined the board of the Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to create an academic partnership focused on market driven approaches to sustainable. Wharton, America’s oldest business school, is known for its cutting-edge approach to sustainability.
• Trucost is a global leader in the sustainability assurance space. Trucost delivered the world’s first public Environmental Profit and Loss, maintains over two million natural capital data points and participates in development of global protocols, including World Resources Institute/Greenhouse Gas Accounting. Trucost has reviewed and verified Rubicon Global’s methodology of calculating waste diversion, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste disposal and GHG savings from waste diversion.
• Rubicon Global is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and developers of the LEED rating system. LEED experts at Rubicon Global work with customers to earn maximum credits and earn green building certifications.
• Rubicon Global is a founding member of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council. USZWBC is the first third-party zero waste business certification program for facilities and professionals. USZWBC developed the Zero Waste Business Associate (ZWBA) certification system, of which we have two employees with the certification, to train professionals interested in helping businesses achieve Zero Waste.
• Rubicon Global is a member of the U.S. Composting Council (USCC) and is committed to advancing innovative and cost-saving solutions that keep valuable materials out of the landfill. USCC’s mission is to “enhance soil and provide economic and environmental benefits” by promoting composting, educating stakeholders about benefits of composting, and encouraging research into composting best practices.
• Rubicon Global joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy 100 (CE100) to work with like-minded organizations to bring to reality the circular economy.
• Rubicon Global is a member of Enactus (formerly Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)), an international non-profit seeking to create a better and more sustainable world through the positive power of business. This organization works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. Participating students form teams on their campus and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for those in need.

Rubicon Global uses third-party assessments like the B Impact Assessment to measure its performance and identify gaps. In the area of the environment (which includes environmental products/services, land/office, planet, inputs, outputs and suppliers/transportation), Rubicon Global scored 43, making this an area of excellence.

To view Rubicon Global’s 2016 B Impact Assessment, please visit www.BCorporation.net/RubiconGlobal.

In addition, Rubicon’s Trucost-verified process measures landfill diversion and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance on behalf of its customers.

During the remainder of 2017, the Executive Leadership Team, led by the Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman, will be reviewing current policies, assessing risks and setting goals in the area of anti-corruption.

Rubicon Global is consulting with key stakeholders during the remainder of 2017 to review current policies, assess risks and set goals related to anti-corruption.

Rubicon Global uses third-party assessments like the B Impact Assessment to measure its performance and identify gaps. In the area of governance (which includes corporate accountability and transparency), Rubicon Global scored 19.

To view Rubicon Global’s 2016 B Impact Assessment, please visit www.BCorporation.net/RubiconGlobal.com.

On Rubicon Global’s next United Nations Communications on Progress, the company will report back on policies established, company-wide training developed and consultation held with stakeholders.