Neuromagic has signed the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and was officially registered as a participant company on March 27, 2025. At the same time, the company also joined the Global Compact Network Japan, which is composed of Japanese companies and organizations that have signed the UNGC.
Companies that sign the UNGC commit to supporting 10 principles related to human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. They are expected to take continuous action to implement these principles, backed by a clear statement of intent from top management.
Why did Neuromagic decide to join the UNGC, and what kind of future does it envision through sustainability? We spoke with Neuromagic’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Bettina Meléndez.
Director & CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer), Neuromagic, Inc /Leader, Sustainability Solutions Group
Bettina Meléndez
Bettina leads Neuromagic’s Sustainability Solutions Group (SusSolG). Originally from Venezuela, she has held roles in international agencies such as Dentsu Amsterdam and at the Curaçao Tourist Board (Government of Curaçao, Kingdom of the Netherlands) overseeing European marketing and PR. She also worked at a Berlin startup, gaining experience in customer experience, service design, communication, and business design. Drawing from her extensive business background and her long-standing involvement in NGOs since her teenage years, she has deep insights into the social, environmental, and economic dimensions necessary to achieve sustainable goals in business. Her international career and strong commitment to sustainability provide a unique perspective in this field.
What is the United Nations Global Compact?
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is an international initiative that encourages companies and organizations to take action toward building a sustainable society. Proposed in 1999 by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, it was officially launched in 2000.
The UNGC calls on companies to support and implement 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. These principles are grounded in international treaties and declarations, and they align closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Member companies are required to submit an annual Communication on Progress (CoP) report outlining their efforts and progress. Failure to do so may result in delisting, meaning membership requires an ongoing and genuine commitment rather than symbolic participation.
Currently, more than 17,500 companies and organizations from over 160 countries have joined the UNGC, including around 480 organizations from Japan.
Interview
—Why did Neuromagic decide to join the UNGC?
Business can, and should, be a force for good. Joining the UN Global Compact feels like a natural step forward while embedding sustainability in our work. With this step we are showing our commitment to doing the work and to doing the right thing as a company. With this step we are committing ourselves to align with international standards on human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
—How does UNGC membership fit into Neuromagic’s sustainability strategy?
We apply the 10 principles of the Global Compact in both strategic and practical ways. That includes creating internal safeguards around labour and data practices, and embedding sustainability thinking into every project. We’re also focused on how we can better track and communicate our impact, both socially and environmentally.
The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
Human Rights
- Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
- Make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labor
- Uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
- Eliminate all forms of forced and compulsory labor.
- Abolish child labor effectively.
- Eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
- Support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
- Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
- Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
- Work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
—What is Neuromagic’s unique approach to sustainability?
We’re not a traditional consulting firm. We’re an experience agency, so we look at how to bring these commitments to life through co-creation, empathy, and innovation. Whether we’re running a materiality workshop or building a digital product, we always aim to ask: how does this serve people, the planet, and long-term value?
—Looking ahead, what are your next steps following UNGC membership?
Joining the UNGC is just the beginning. We’re currently working on refining our sustainability strategy and strengthening our internal systems to align even more closely with the principles. We’re also excited to engage more with the Global Compact Network Japan and share learnings with like-minded organisations.
Sustainability Solutions Group (SusSolG)
Sustainability Solutions Group (SusSolG) leverages almost 30 years of digital design and strategy to lead organizations in sustainability transformation. In a world at its tipping point in sustainability, we have set out to empower companies that share our sense of responsibility to transform their organizations and the planet for the better.