UN Global Compact Network UK - September Newsletter
UN Global Compact Network UK
We promote sustainability leadership to create a world we want to live and do business in
Welcome to the September edition of the UN Global Compact Network UK Newsletter – a snapshot overview of our upcoming industry-leading programming and events.
Get in touch if you want to find out more about us - we hope you find our newsletter useful!
Our annual summit returns to the iconic London Guildhall on 1 October 2024. The day will provide the strategic insights needed to bridge the ambition to action gap and transform your business to respond to pressing sustainability challenges. Join 550+ senior executives for panel discussions, fireside chats, hands-on practical workshops, and extensive networking opportunities. Spaces are limited and the deadline for purchasing in-person tickets is fast approaching, so secure your ticket here .
Sustainability reporting is evolving at a fast pace, creating challenges for businesses trying to design coherent and consistent reporting that meets jurisdictional requirements, as well as investors' and stakeholders’ expectations. In the latest briefing introduced by the UN Global Compact Network UK, Preparing for New Sustainability Reporting Regulations in the UK, we explain how companies can take practical steps to prepare for upcoming regulatory changes, engage with their value chain, and realise strategic gains through their sustainability reporting.?Click here to download this important resource.
Interactive Webinar Series: Social Sustainability for SMEs (Members Only)
To support SMEs in navigating the social sustainability landscape, the UN Global Compact Network UK will host seven interactive webinars, focused on equipping SMEs with the knowledge and tools to advance social sustainability within their own operations and supply chains. The webinars will guide SMEs on the topics of human rights, responsible sourcing, living wage, DEI, OSH, social reporting, and governance. Please note: This is a Members Only series. For information on joining the UN Global Compact, click here .
Webinar Series: Addressing Energy-Related Emissions
This series explores the practical steps businesses can take to improve their energy efficiency and productivity, while reducing overall energy use, and how to effectively support the increasing generation and storage capacity of renewable energies. This will support companies to best understand and evaluate how they can meet their renewable electricity targets through various methods such as off-site power purchase agreements; on site self-funded generation; and green tariffs. The next session will take place on 19 September. Click here to find out more, sign up for new sessions, and access past recordings.
领英推荐
To raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and showcase your organisation's contributions to achieving them, we invite you to be part of a global movement and join our SDG Flag Campaign. On Wednesday, 25 September, we are asking companies to raise the SDG Flag to symbolise their commitment to the Goals and demonstrate action they are taking to combat major global challenges including climate change, gender inequality, poverty, and promoting decent working conditions. The deadline to order a flag is Wednesday 18 September, so please click here to purchase your flag.
Member Spotlight
MICHAEL CUSACK , Chief Sustainability Officer, ACS (Advanced Clothing Solutions)
About me:
Michael Cusack is revolutionising the fashion industry through his unparalleled dedication to social and environmental sustainability and innovation. At the helm of ACS, Europe’s largest Circular Fashion hub, Michael has integrated the 7 Rs: Rental, Renewal, Returns, Resale, Repair, Repurpose, and Recycle into ACS’s business model, making them a leader in sustainable fashion. Under his leadership, the company has reduced its carbon footprint by over 30% annually for the last five years, achieved a BCorp certification score of 150.9, and won the King’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development. Michael Cusack's work is transforming the fashion industry, proving that it is possible to combine profitability with sustainability, and setting a powerful example for others to follow.
Favourite restaurant, bar, pub or coffee shop?
Favourite TV show, book, podcast, or film?
Blue Gold is my favourite book because it masterfully combines thrilling action with thought-provoking environmental themes, particularly around the global water crisis, creating a compelling and relevant narrative that resonates with you.
What's something an outsider wouldn't know about your industry?
The fashion industry has a significant environmental and social impact, being one of the largest contributors to global pollution due to textile waste and the short lifecycle of products. The fast fashion model exacerbates this by promoting cheap, low-quality clothing that often ends up in landfills and is produced under poor labour conditions in developing countries. This dual impact harms both the planet and vulnerable communities. However, companies like ours are enabling fashion brands, retailers, and consumers to adopt eco-friendly choices that maintain style and profitability, offering scalable solutions to reshape the industry's traditional wasteful practices.
Who or what inspires you in your career?
Mahatma Gandhi’s principles inspire my career by aligning my efforts with key UN Sustainable Development Goals. His commitment to nonviolence, simplicity, social justice, and grassroots mobilisation resonates with goals like Climate Action, Responsible Consumption and Production, Decent Work, No Poverty, and Gender Equality. By integrating these values, I aim to guide ACS in promoting sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact, advance social equity, and support ethical governance, positioning ACS as a leader in the circular fashion movement for a more sustainable and just world.
The UN Global Compact is proud to work with over 23,000 forward-thinking global companies committed to advancing the sustainability agenda.?You can check if your company is a participant here .
We welcome some of our newest UK members, including:
Alfa Financial Software | Alliance Pharma Plc | B4NZ | Berkeley Capital Group (BCG) | Bird & Bird | BRUSH Group | Elements Green | Foreign Investment Network | Hastings Direct | iMEDicare LTD | Immerse | MWH Treatment | Nature Positive | Rayner | Business Stream | Serco | Sherlock Communications | The Cheeky Panda | Certified B Corp | The Honey Partnership | The Sweet People Ltd | Clearly | WaterAid | Well-Safe Solutions
If you would like to know more about the benefits of joining the UN Global Compact and the UK Network, get in touch with the team today by contacting Simran Stevens, Outreach Manager ([email protected] ).