Communication
on Progress (CoP)

Reporting to stakeholders in a transparent and public manner is fundamental for companies committed to sustainability. Your company’s annual Communication on Progress (CoP) is a key component of your commitment to the UN Global Compact. To streamline reporting on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals and support an evolving reporting marketplace, the UN Global Compact has introduced new CoP process.

2023 Communication on Progress

Following a temporary suspension of the CoP platform earlier this year due to technical challenges, the UN Global Compact is actively working to relaunch the digital process for the submission of the 2023 CoP through an interim platform, set to be available by mid-October. To provide sufficient time for completing the reporting requirements, we are extending the reporting deadline to 31 December 2023.

We strongly encourage all participants to complete the digital questionnaire for their 2023 CoP to realize the full benefits of the data to benchmark and track corporate sustainability progress over time. Should completing the CoP questionnaire not be feasible for your company, you have the option to submit your corporate sustainability report.

It is important to note that failure to submit the CoP will not result in exclusion from the UN Global Compact in 2023. Nevertheless, submitting your CoP underscores your commitment and progress toward adhering to the Ten Principles and advancing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2023 CoP Submission Process

If you submitted the questionnaire before the system pause, you have completed the 2023 reporting requirement and no further action is required.
If you started the questionnaire but did not submit before the system pause, we will provide you with all of your previously completed responses before we reopen digital CoP submissions in mid-October.
If you have not started the 2023 reporting requirement, we encourage you to continue using the Excel template to collect your information to report using the digital questionnaire.
If you have newly joined the UN Global Compact in 2023, you do not have to submit a CoP this year. New joiners are due to submit their first CoP within the submission period of the following calendar year.

New Deadline and Delisting Policy

The deadline for submitting the 2023 CoP is 31 December 2023.
Business participants who have not submitted their CoP (as a questionnaire or sustainability report) by this deadline will be listed as 'Non-Communicating' from 1 January 2024. By resubmitting the 2023 CoP, the status 'Active' can be restored.
No company will be delisted from the UN Global Compact for failing to submit a 2023 Progress Report.
The 2024 reporting period will take place as planned. Companies that do not submit a CoP for the 2024 reporting year by 31 December 2024 will be delisted from the UN Global Compact as of 1 January 2025.

In case of questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to info@globalcompact.ch or
cop-support@unglobalcompact.org. More general information on the CoP as well as further guidance and on-demand courses can be accessed below.

Communication on Progress

In 2023 a new Communication on Progress (CoP) was introduced to enable participating companies to understand, measure, track, and disclose their performance on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. The new framework transitions from a narrative format to a standardized questionnaire supported by a digital platform. All business participants will be required to disclose their progress using the new Communication on Progress system beginning in 2023. Relevant information and documents can be found further below.

Download One Pager

Two Requirements

Overall, the CoP is designed to add value to participants in several ways:

Build credibility and brand value by showing their commitment to the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Measure and demonstrate progress to stakeholders on the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals, in a consistent and harmonized way.
Receive insight, learn, and continuously improve performance by identifying gaps, accessing guidance and setting sustainability goals.
Compare progress against peers with access to one of the largest sources of free, public and comparable corporate sustainability data.

CoP Questionnaire PDF (in English)

CoP Questionnaire Excel (in English)

CoP Questionnaire PDF (in German)

CoP Questionnaire Excel (in German)

Submission Period

The universal submission period runs from March 27 to July 15 in 2023.

A business participant will be designated as Non-Communicating when it fails to submit the CoP within the submission period (July 15). There will be no grace period and extensions for participants. If a non-communicating participant fails to submit a CoP within six months of becoming non-communicating (by 31 December of each year), it will be delisted. Further details can be found in the CoP Policy.