CSR in a Global Company. The Case of ABB

Antonio Giacomucci, ABB Italy

ABB is committed to sustainable development, which is an integrated aspect of all their business activities. The company started early. In 1992 it signed the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development. Being a global company with a special focus in the energy sector, ABB is of interest to financial institutions and being a decentralized industrial group it is important for ABB to have strong policies which are communicated clearly and understood.

Antonio Giacomucci is Manager for Sustainability Affairs, ABB Italy. He will present policies and guiding principles like SA 8000, UN Global Compact and ABB´s policy for business ethics concerning among other things bribery, corruption and anti-trust compliance. ABB is enforcing zero tolerance of illegal and unethical behaviour as well as respecting local and international laws. With operations in many different cultures and countries employee relations are crucial. Human rights issues, fair treatment of the work force, compensation schemes, work hours, bullying, equal opportunities are but a few of the issues to focus on.

ABB shares the UN´s concern about climate change and ABB´s executive committee has approved the first steps towards ABB becoming a carbon neutral organisation. Using life cycle assessments ABB strives to deliver products and systems that require less material, have higher efficiency and consume less energy.

ABB is part of an initiative called Power to the People: Building Solutions to Energy Poverty in Africa. In Mozambique 90 % of the population has no electricity and in all sub-Saharan countries lack of electricity is often connected to poverty.