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The Consumer Goods Forum made three recommendations to the G20 member governments (see Notes for Editors, overleaf), recommending that G20 states should agree and adopt a common understanding of sustainable growth and work with business to help improve quality of life across the world. Kent and Olofsson highlighted the potential for private-public partnerships to create new jobs at every level.
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) sees the United Nations as playing an important supporting role. CGF’s proposal presented at the B20 proposes that the UN reconcile and align existing international efforts for the promotion of sustainable growth globally; define and oversee communication between public, private and non-profit stakeholders to advance public policy on sustainable growth; monitor long-term trends and develop actionable guidelines.
Commenting on the recommendations, Lars Olofsson said: “Addressing a tough economic environment requires a concerted effort and a new spirit of collaboration between companies and governments. We must come together urgently to share both vision and accountability to ensure sustainable growth and improve the quality of life for all.”
Muhtar Kent commented: “International manufacturers and retailers continue to play a central role in the creation of new jobs and sustainable infrastructure development across the world. In these uncertain economic times, a closer partnership with governments is imperative if we are to accelerate global access to prosperity.”
The Consumer Goods Forum is a global parity-based industry organisation of retailers and manufacturers. Its Board is composed of the Chairmen and CEOs of 50 of the world’s leading companies. They represent an association with more than 400 companies, with combined annual sales of some €2.1 trillion, directly employing more than nine million people around the world with a further ninety million related jobs estimated along the value chain.
Media inquiries:
Sabine Ritter, The Consumer Goods Forum,
+33 6 45 56 66 44
Consumer Goods Forum Recommendations to the G20 and Member Governments
1. Adoption of Principle
It is suggested that the members of G20 should agree and adopt a comprehensive understanding of Sustainable Growth and Job Creation that encompasses the diverse elements identified above, and that this understanding should be foundational to all G20 discussions and decisions.
2. Implementation of Collaborative Action
Given the serious consequences of failing to address widespread unemployment, the members of G20 are asked to consider an urgent, improved collaboration between government and business to redefine the preconditions for job-creating investment Consideration should be given to the potential for rapid implementation of Build-Operate-Transfer and similar models of public-private partnership and to providing informed incentives for the creation of new jobs at every level.
3. Alignment of Effort
Because of the global complexity of Sustainable Growth, it is recommended that the members of G20 request from the United Nations a reconciliation and alignment of major international efforts for the promotion of Sustainable Growth globally. The UN would be responsible for the definition of shared priorities and for communicating between diverse public, private, and non-profit stakeholders to advance public policy around Sustainable Growth in G20 member states and beyond. This work would monitor long-term social and environmental trends and develop actionable guidelines for transitioning to Sustainable Growth with a common collaborative vision of improving quality of life for all.
Overview of The Consumer Goods Forum:
The strategic work of The Consumer Goods Forum is built on five pillars that underpin the voluntary collaborative work of manufacturers, retailers and service providers along the value chain for consumer goods: Emerging Trends; Sustainability; Safety & Health; Operational Excellence; and Knowledge Sharing & People Development.
CGF members have established themselves as leaders in Sustainable Growth by adopting resolutions to help achieve zero net deforestation within their value chains by 2020, to begin phasing out the use of HFC refrigerants as of 2015, and to address health and wellness on a global level.
The Consumer Goods Forum will continue energetically to develop resolutions on Sustainable Growth in other areas of business and to strive for widespread collaboration with other stakeholders to accelerate the transition to sustainable economies.
