EIC Corporate Responsibility Report

EIC’s Corporate Responsibility Report illustrates how European international contractors have implemented socially, environmentally and ethically responsible working practices in their daily international operations. The new UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a powerful aspiration and strategic direction to solve societal challenges through business innovation and collaboration in the light of present global challenges.

Corporate Responsibility has become an integral element in today’s global business landscape. European international contractors look at their Corporate Responsibility obligations not just from a risk perspective, but also as business opportunity. In this context, the EIC Corporate Responsibility Report showcases the manifold contributions of European international contractors to the Sustainable Development Goals based on the understanding that their international operations are conducive to creating a better future for our Planet, its People and their Prosperity, whilst adhering at the same time to the value of Responsible Business Conduct.

Contributions to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals

The global construction industry employs approximately 7% of the global workforce and it is predicted to account for approximately 13% of GDP by 2020. The construction sector generally, and European international contractors specifically with their world-wide operations, provide tens of thousands of decent jobs and are a major positive force for economic and social development. Thus they contribute significantly to the achievement of the SDGs 1 [No Poverty] and 2 [Zero Hunger].

Due to the very nature of the construction business, European international contractors and their partners world-wide contribute further directly to the SDGs 6 [Clean Water and Sanitation], 7 [Affordable and Clean Energy], 9 [Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure] and 11 [Sustainable Cities] and thus help to bridge the global infrastructure gap.

The EIC CR Publication defines the ten Corporate Responsibility aspects deemed as the most relevant to the international construction business, namely Adapting to Climate Change, Business Ethics, Continuous Learning and Transfer of Know-how, Creating Added Value in the Communities, Engaging our Stakeholders, Greening Operations and Conserving Resources, Health and Safety, Human Rights and Diversity, Labour Conditions and Supply Chain Responsibility. Given that the 17 global goals are inter-linked, EIC takes the view that European international contractors make prominent contributions to the broad range of issues listed in the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.