Sporting Goods Industry Endorses Corporate Responsibility Declaration

Lahore/Sialkot Sporting Goods Industry Adopts Declaration On Corporate
Environmental Responsibility

A UNEP new release of November 26, 2004, announces that following two days of discussions in Lahore and Sialkot, Pakistan, the Third Global Forum for Sports and Environment (G-ForSE), the leaders of the sporting goods industry in Sialkot, who produce 60 per cent of the soccer balls used around the world, unanimously endorsed a declaration calling for environmental concerns to be fully taken into account in their industry.  Industry leaders who have tackled the issue of child labour in recent years committed to continue to improve working and environmental standards in line with the UN Global Compact initiated by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.  The Forum was organized by organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Sports Alliance (GSA).
 

The forum focused on "Corporate Environmental Responsibility," exploring ways by which sport corporations, particularly the sporting goods industry can enshrine and promote sustainable development in their activities.  It also addressed the possible role of the sporting goods industry in promoting the Implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Michel Parraudin, President of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, spoke on the need to continue promoting corporate social responsibility principles.
 
The Lahore/Sialkot Declaration on Corporate Environmental Responsibility states:

Recognizing the value of involving the private sector in achieving the United Nations Millennium Goals,

Recognizing the role of the environment in the Global Compact of the United
Nations Secretary-General,

Recognizing the importance that an increasing number of companies are
placing on the Global Reporting Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme,

Noting the importance of the participation of the corporate sector in the
implementation of the United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable
Development and the celebration of the United Nations Year of Sport and
Physical Education -- 2005,

Further recognizing that considerable progress has already been accomplished in incorporating environmental concerns in the work of sporting goods companies,

Further inspired by the social progress achieved in many parts of the world, including Lahore and Sialkot where child labour has been eliminated for the soccer ball industry,

Determined to contribute to the efforts for human progress and the reduction of poverty,

We sport-related industries therefore agree:

1.         To raise the importance of sustainable development and the environment
in our work principles;

2.         To include the environment as a key factor in our non-financial
reporting;

3.         To reduce and improve the use of water and energy during the production
of sporting goods;

4.         To introduce cleaner technology, reduce the amount of toxic and chemical
waste produced and other pollutants in our production facilities;

5.         To raise environmental awareness and action among company workers;

6.         To promote and sponsor children and youth activities linking good
health, sport and environment;

7.         To participate in and support initiatives that seek to promote the
linkages between sport and the environment including with athletes.


The 2004 UNEP Global Forum for Sport and Environment was opened on 25
November in Lahore, Pakistan, by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan.
Over 250 participants from the sporting goods industry, international
sports organizations, organizers of major sports events, NGOs and various
UN agencies met to discuss the impact and contribution of sports to the
environment.

The first two Forums were held in Tokyo in November 2001 and 2003.

For more information, please contact: 

Eric Falt, UNEP Spokesperson and Director of the Division of Communications and Public Information,

In Nairobi, on Tel.: +254-20-623292,

Mobile: +254-733-682656,

E-mail: eric.falt@unep.org

Or

Theodore Oben, Head, UNEP Sport & the Environment Unit,

on Tel: +254-20-623262,

e-mail: Theodore.Oben@unep.org

For additional information, see www.unep.org/sport_env/g-forse/contents/activity.htm

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Jim Sniffen
Information Officer
UN Environment Programme
New York
tel: +1-212-963-8094/8210
info@nyo.unep.org
www.nyo.unep.org
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