Chris Harrop, Group Marketing Director of hard landscaping leader Marshalls PLC, has been appointed Chair of the UK network of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The UNGC is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
Chris Harrop’s environmental and ethical trading initiatives at Marshalls have made the Group a leader in corporate sustainability in the UK.
Graham Holden, Chief Executive Officer of Marshalls, says of the appointment: “Chris has worked long and hard to develop the sustainability agenda within Marshalls and to drive positive change within the organisation and throughout the wider landscaping sector.
“I’m delighted that his passion and drive have been harnessed by UNGC in this way. I’m sure that Chris’s positive impact will be keenly felt within the UNGC UK Network.”
Chris Harrop said on hearing that he had been selected to take over the position from Andrew Cave, head of sustainability at the Royal Bank of Scotland: “I am extremely honoured and excited to take up this important post within the UNGC.
“I’m passionate about the role that the private sector has to play in sustainable development. I’ve found through experience that the UNGC offers a framework, like no other, which enables companies to address the complex issues of sustainability, supports them on their journey, provides intelligent challenges, first class education and ahead-of-the wave debate and information.
“The UNGC’s principles in relation to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, together with its Communication on Progress reporting, provide an excellent framework for driving change within organisations and embedding sustainable practice.”
He added: “Marshalls’ relentless commitment to sustainability in all aspects of its business activities has enabled me to develop my own understanding, push the boundaries, and has ultimately enabled me to take up this opportunity with the UNGC, for which I’m most grateful.”
Under Chris’s direction Marshalls became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact in 2009. The impact of his work spans both corporate and product sustainability in the UK and overseas, reducing Marshalls’ environmental impact and making the group a leader in carbon footprinting by rating more than 3,500 of its products.
He also drove a programme of human rights impact assessments, putting ethical responsibility into Marshalls’ supply chains and delivered the first ethically audited stone product range to market. He has worked with various people and agencies to improve working conditions and provide community programmes in India, China and Vietnam, championing workers’ rights, education, pay & conditions, women’s empowerment and health programmes.
Andrew Cave says of his successor: “I’m delighted to hand over the baton to Chris and am confident that under is leadership the UNGC UK Network will continue to grow and to lead the way.” Chris concluded: “I count myself very fortunate to be in a position to take up this role with UNGC. I relish the opportunity to further influence and drive the sustainability agenda and to shift corporate sustainability from niche to mainstream.”
Chris has also been presented with a ‘Game Changer’ Award by Business in the Community (BITC). The Award recognises the role individuals from business play in driving forward the ‘responsible business’ agenda.
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