KAWASAKI Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) has announced it has signed onto the UN Global Compact, whereby companies and organisations agree to act as “good corporate citizens”.
The Compact is understood to be the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
According to K-Line, signatory companies commit to support and implement the UNGC’s ten principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
They also commit to strategic actions to advance broader societal goals such as those contained in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the ten principles, signatory businesses:
- Support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights
- Ensure they are not complicit in human rights abuses
- Uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
- Uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour
- Uphold the effective abolition of exploitative child labour
- Uphold the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation
- Support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges
- Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility
- Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies
- Work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Tokyo-based and stock exchange-listed K-Line employs more than 6000 people around the world and operates a 478-strong fleet of vessels including dry bulkers, offshore support vessels and containerships, among others.
Additional reporting by Shipping Australia
