- ABB is committed to maintaining high social, environmental, ethical and governance standards
- Good corporate citizenship requires the engagement of stakeholders to help achieve best practice, and benefits to all stakeholders
- ABB seeks to strengthen multilateral efforts to raise standards on a range of issues – from climate change to human rights
Corporate responsibility underpins the company’s values and behavior to stakeholders, and is expressed in a multitude of ways, both internally and externally. For ABB, the desire to raise company standards and contribute to international initiatives is core.
Within the company, for example, a Human Rights policy and public statement were approved in 2007, complementing existing policies for raising social, environmental, health and safety and business ethics performance.
Training sessions have begun to raise awareness of the potential human rights impacts of business operations in different parts of the world. This work is challenging and ongoing.
Turning to climate change, ABB’s energy-efficient products, the environmentally friendly way they are manufactured, as well as products for directly mitigating global warming demonstrate the company’s commitments to environmental improvement.
Social commitments find expression in a variety of ways: in the increasing attention given to potentially sensitive projects at corporate and local level; through social programs, like one in Brazil where 1,000 employees help disadvantaged people with monthly deductions from their salaries and work in soup kitchens; and in the Access to Electricity rural electrification projects in India and Tanzania which are raising economic, social and environmental standards in remote communities.
Externally, the company continues to work actively on projects in a number of international organizations. ABB promotes energy efficiency at international congresses, contributes to efforts to reduce electrical utilities’ carbon footprint in work at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, backs the 3C Climate Initiative, and supports the United Nations Global Compact in its efforts to set up a local network in Sudan.
ABB seeks to be a “good corporate citizen.” Constant effort, vigilance and high levels of awareness are needed to raise standards which are consistent everywhere, even in difficult environments. This is work in progress.