Copyright
©
Flavio Cotrim Pinheiro
2001-2002. All rights reserved.
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Text
copied from ICC website on October 15, 2001.
The website has been changed since then.
Business Charter
for Sustainable Development
Principles for Environmental Management
Foreword
There is widespread recognition today that environmental protection
must be among the highest priorities of every business.
In its milestone 1987 report, "Our Common Future," the World Commission
on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) emphasised
the importance of environmental protection to the pursuit of sustainable
development.
To help business around the world improve its environmental performance,
the International Chamber of Commerce created this Business Charter
for Sustainable Development. It comprises sixteen Principles for environmental
management which, for business, is a vitally important aspect of sustainable
development.
This Charter assists enterprises in fulfilling their commitment to
environmental stewardship in a comprehensive fashion, in line with
national and international guidelines and standards for environmental
management. It was formally launched in April 1991 at the Second World
Industry Conference on Environmental Management in Rotterdam, and
continues to be widely applied and recognised around the world.
Introduction
Sustainable development involves meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. Economic growth provides the conditions in which protection
of the environment can best be achieved, and environmental protection,
in balance with other human goals, is necessary to achieve growth
that is sustainable.
In turn, versatile, dynamic, responsive and profitable businesses
are required as the driving force for sustainable economic development
and for providing the managerial, technical and financial resources
to contribute to the resolution of environmental challenges. Market
economies, characterised by entrepreneurial initiatives, are essential
to achieve this.
Business thus shares the view that there should be a common goal,
not a conflict, between economic development and environmental protection,
both now and for future generations.
Making market forces work in this way to protect and improve the quality
of the environment - with the help of standards such as ISO 14000,
and judicious use of economic instruments in a harmonious regulatory
framework - is an on-going challenge that the world faces in entering
the 21st century.
This challenge was recognised by the nations of the world at the 1992
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which called
on the co-operation of business in tackling it. To this end, business
leaders have launched initiatives in their individual enterprises
as well as through sectoral and cross-sectoral associations.
In order that more businesses join this effort and that their environmental
performance continues to improve, the International Chamber of Commerce
continues to call upon enterprises and their associations to use the
following Principles as a basis for pursuing such improvement and
to express publicly their support for them. Individual programmes
to implement these Principles will reflect the wide diversity among
enterprises in size and function.
The objective remains that the widest range of enterprises commit
themselves to improving their environmental performance in accordance
with these Principles, to having in place management practices to
effect such improvement, to measuring their progress, and to reporting
this progress as appropriate internally and externally.
Note : The term environment as used in this document also refers
to environmentally related aspects of health, safety and product stewardship.
Principles
1. Corporate priority
To recognise environmental management as among the highest corporate
priorities and as a key determinant to sustainable development; to
establish policies, programmes and practices for conducting operations
in an environmentally sound manner.
2. Integrated management
To integrate these policies, programmes and practices fully into each
business as an essential element of management in all its functions.
3. Process of improvement
To continue to improve corporate policies, programmes and environmental
performance, taking into account technical developments, scientific
understanding, consumer needs and community expectations, with legal
regulations as a starting point; and to apply the same environmental
criteria internationally.
4. Employee education
To educate, train and motivate employees to conduct their activities
in an environmentally responsible manner.
5. Prior assessment
To assess environmental impacts before starting a new activity or
project and before decommissioning a facility or leaving a site.
6. Products and services
To develop and provide products or services that have no undue environmental
impact and are safe in their intended use, that are efficient in their
consumption of energy and natural resources, and that can be recycled,
reused, or disposed of safely.
7. Customer advice
To advise, and where relevant educate, customers, distributors and
the public in the safe use, transportation, storage and disposal of
products provided; and to apply similar considerations to the provision
of services.
8. Facilities and operations
To develop, design and operate facilities and conduct activities taking
into consideration the efficient use of energy and materials, the
sustainable use of renewable resources, the minimisation of adverse
environmental impact and waste generation, and the safe and responsible
disposal of residual wastes.
9. Research
To conduct or support research on the environmental impacts of raw
materials, products, processes, emissions and wastes associated with
the enterprise and on the means of minimizing such adverse impacts.
10. Precautionary approach
To modify the manufacture, marketing or use of products or services
or the conduct of activities, consistent with scientific and technical
understanding, to prevent serious or irreversible environmental degradation.
11. Contractors and suppliers
To promote the adoption of these principles by contractors acting
on behalf of the enterprise, encouraging and, where appropriate, requiring
improvements in their practices to make them consistent with those
of the enterprise; and to encourage the wider adoption of these principles
by suppliers.
12. Emergency preparedness
To develop and maintain, where significant hazards exist, emergency
preparedness plans in conjunction with the emergency services, relevant
authorities and the local community, recognizing potential transboundary
impacts.
13. Transfer of technology
To contribute to the transfer of environmentally sound technology
and management methods throughout the industrial and public sectors.
14. Contributing to the common effort
To contribute to the development of public policy and to business,
governmental and intergovernmental programmes and educational initiatives
that will enhance environmental awareness and protection.
15. Openness to concerns
To foster openness and dialogue with employees and the public, anticipating
and responding to their concerns about the potential hazards and impacts
of operations, products, wastes or services, including those of transboundary
or global significance.
16. Compliance and reporting
To measure environmental performance; to conduct regular environmental
audits and assessments of compliance with company requirements, legal
requirements and these principles; and periodically to provide appropriate
information to the Board of Directors, shareholders, employees, the
authorities and the public.
Support for the Charter
The ICC undertakes to encourage member companies and others to express
their support and implement the Charter and its Principles.
A list of these companies can be obtained from ICC Headquarters. The
ICC also publishes regularly a Charter bulletin which provides more
specific information on the Charter's Principles and different interpretations
possible - an attribute of the Charter that has been widely commended.
The first edition of Business Charter for Sustainable Development
was adopted by the ICC Executive Board on 27 November 1990, and first
published in April 1991.
It was prepared and revised by the ICC Working Party for Sustainable
Development.
Chair Peter Scupholme (British Petroleum) Vice-Chair W. Ross Stevens
III (Du Pont)
The ICC is indebted to numerous companies and business organisations
for their input in preparing and revising the Charter.
The Business Charter for Sustainable Development provides a basic
framework of reference for action by individual corporations and business
organisations throughout the world. It has been recognised as a complement
to environmental management systems. To this end, the ICC, the United
Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) and the International Federation
of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) have developed a kit to help enterprises
integrate environmental management systems in the daily management
practices, a step consistent with the objectives set out in this Charter.
The Business Charter has been published in over 20 languages, including
all the official languages of the United Nations.
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