Sodexo reinforces its commitment to tackle inequality by joining G7 Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) coalition powered by...
August 23 2019 - 1:56AM
Sodexo reinforces its commitment to tackle inequality by joining G7
Business for Inclusive Growth (B4IG) coalition powered by the OECD
Companies joining forces are investing a combined total
of over 1 billion USD in more than 50 current and future
initiatives, benefiting 100 million people to date
Paris, August 23, 2019 – In
recognition of record-high levels of inequality, Sodexo, among a
coalition of 34 leading international companies, has committed to
step up business action to advance human rights throughout their
value chains, build inclusive workplaces and strengthen inclusion
in their internal and external business ecosystems. In doing so,
they will advance G7 government-led efforts to strengthen equality
of opportunity, tackle regional disadvantages and fight gender
discrimination.
“The Business for
Inclusive Growth Initiative is closely aligned with Sodexo’s
permanent efforts to fight social and economic inequalities since
1966. Sodexo takes pride in being a beacon for inclusion in the
35,000 communities and 72 countries in which we operate by
providing respectable jobs with training and a career path for
people who might otherwise feel left behind. We also actively seek
to bring diverse and small, local businesses into our network of
suppliers, with a special focus on minority-owned, female-owned,
disabled-owned or LGBT-owned companies,” said Denis
Machuel, Chief Executive Officer of Sodexo.
“Given the scale of
the inequality challenge, we need to join forces to come up with
new ways of doing business for inclusive growth. We are developing
many initiatives to drive social innovation and inclusive value
chains, many of which are in pilot phase. The B4IG project
incubator for public-private innovation is the right way to bring
such projects to scale to make sure transformation happens on the
ground,” he added.
B4IG members have a global footprint, cover a broad range of
sectors, employ more than 3.5 million people around the world and
have combined annual revenues of over 1 trillion USD. The B4IG
coalition is the first business-led initiative of its kind, thanks
to its 360° approach to tackling inequality, international
dimension, and multi-stakeholder approach focused on building
synergies between companies, governments and philanthropic
organizations. The coalition’s strategy rests on three
pillars:
- A Business Pledge Against Inequalities to advance human
rights, workplace inclusion & diversity and value chain
inclusiveness;
- An incubator to design or expand new inclusive business
models, piloting social innovation and private-public collaboration
at the micro-economic level; and
- An inclusive growth financing forum to promote
innovative financing mechanisms between business, governments and
philanthropic actors.
The G7 B4IG coalition will be coordinated by the OECD, whose
work has shown that inequalities hamper growth and social mobility.
The coalition will benefit from OECD economic and social evaluation
expertise as it advances on this agenda over the next three years.
Progress and lessons learned will be shared during an annual board
meeting, with CEOs and key figures from public and civil society
sectors, including the International Labour Organisation and the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. B4IG results will be shared
with the Business 7 and Labour 7 to help inform their preparation
and contributions to G7, with a view to foster more inclusive
macro-economic growth policies.
B4IG will be presented to President Emmanuel Macron at the
Elysée Palace on Friday, August 23, ahead of the G7 Leaders’ Summit
in Biarritz.
Gabriela
Ramos, OECD Chief of Staff and G7 Sherpa, said: “Growing
inequality is one of the biggest social challenges in the world
today. It is perpetuating poverty, undermining social cohesion and
trust. Sustainable economic growth means inclusive economic growth.
It means giving every individual the opportunity to fulfil her or
his potential, the chance not only to contribute to a nation’s
growth but to benefit from it, regardless of their background or
origins. The OECD welcomes this initiative by France to involve
some of the world’s most important companies to work hand-in-hand
with governments and the OECD to tackle inequalities. For our part,
we will continue to lead the way in its policy analysis, research
and expertise.”
Promoting inclusive growth is part of Sodexo’s Positive
Impact.
About Sodexo
Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon,
Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of
Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational
performance. Operating in 72 countries, Sodexo serves 100 million
consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site
Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home
Services. Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed
over more than 50 years of experience: from foodservices,
reception, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment
management; from services and programs fostering employees’
engagement to solutions that simplify and optimize their mobility
and expenses management, to in-home assistance, child care centers
and concierge services. Sodexo’s success and performance are
founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its
ability to continuously develop and engage its 460,000 employees
throughout the world.
Sodexo is included in the CAC 40, FTSE 4 Good
and DJSI indices.
Key figures (as of August 31, 2018) 20.4
billion euro in consolidated
revenues460,000 employees19th
largest private employer worldwide72
countries100 million consumers served daily
15.4 billion euro in market capitalization (as of
July 5, 2019) |
Contact
Media |
Laure Anne WarlinLaure-Anne.Warlin@sodexo.com+33 6
27 51 32 19 |
- Press Release Sodexo B4IG Coalition-ENG-20190823
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