Commitments <SO5, 4.12 and 4.13>

To strengthen its positioning in relation to sustainability, GPA assumes commitments and is a signatory to principles and pacts developed by national and international institutions. In addition, it participates in discussion groups and forms partnerships to promote socio-environmental actions with the communities where it is active.

THE GLOBAL COMPACT
In 2001, GPA associated itself with the Global Compact, a United Nations initiative that encourages the business community to adopt, in its business practices, fundamental and internationally accepted values in the areas of human rights, labor relations, the environment and the fight against corruption, among other areas.

NATIONAL PACT TO ERADICATE SLAVE LABOR
In 2005, the Group signed this accord that brings together Brazilian and multinational companies through the commitment to abolish from their chains of production suppliers and partners that utilize slave labor.

INSTITUTO ETHOS
In 1999, GPA joined the Instituto Ethos, whose mission is to mobilize, sensitize and help companies manage their business in a socially responsible manner, making them partners in building a just and sustainable society.

CEMPRE
The Group is associated with the Business Commitment to Recycling (Compromisso Empresarial para Reciclagem - CEMPRE), which works to raise consciousness on reducing, reutilizing and recycling trash through publications, technical surveys, seminars and databanks.

ABVTEX
GPA participates in the Associação Brasileira do Varejo Têxtil, an entity constituted by the principal companies in the clothing and accessories segment, whose objective is to promote the industry’s interests.

INSTITUTO AKATU
Since 2003, GPA has been one of the strategic partners of the Instituto Akatu, an NGO that works to raise consciousness and mobilize society for Conscientious Consumption.

PACT ON THE RIGHT WAY
GPA supports the initiative, promoted by Childhood Brasil and the Instituto Ethos de Empresas e Responsabilidade Social with the objective of encouraging companies to publically commit to engage in actions to fight the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents along Brazilian highways.

GPA also participates in entities and organizations that work in favor of its line of business (ABRAS and APAS) and maintains a link with the Associação Comercial de São Paulo, the Instituto para Desenvolvimento do Varejo (IDV) and the Associação Brasileira das Indústrias de Equipamentos, Ingredientes e Acessórios para Alimentos (ABIEPAN).

ABRAS
The Group maintains a solid partnership with the Associação Brasileira de Supermercados, which works to represent, defend, integrate, drive and develop Brazil’s supermarket sector, maintaining an open dialogue in negotiations with municipal, state and federal governments.

APAS
GPA participates in the Associação Paulista de Supermercados, a trade group that brings together supermarket businesspeople in the state of São Paulo with the objectives of integrating the entire chain of supply, professionalizing the sector, attending to consumer concerns, pursuing operational excellence, noting retail trends and defending social justice and sustainability.

To follow the discussions and applicable law, the Company has a Corporate Relations department, which participates actively in preparing, coordinating and monitoring union negotiations, bills, decrees, ordinances and technical cooperation agreements, commitments, and rectifying conduct, among other matters. Relationships with governments are handled directly or through associations. In 2013, GPA did not make financial contributions to political parties, politicians or related institutions. <GRI SO6>

Governance for Sustainability

In the 2nd half of 2013, the Sustainability department was restructured, culminating in the creation of a corporate department that reports directly to the office of the vice-president of Personnel Management. Its responsibilities include:

> Supporting the definition of strategy, goals and objectives for the sustainability of the businesses, in keeping with the corporate strategy;
> Consolidating non-financial information on sustainability for external stakeholders;
> Monitoring environmental policies and laws, and their application;
> Leading the governance for sustainability throughout the Group;
> Disseminating the concept of sustainability at the Company;
> Analyzing trends and new topics to guide the creation of projects that meet society’s expectations.

To make these objectives a reality and cause GPA’s corporate sustainability guidelines to permeate the entire Organization, the department has focal points at each business, who take responsibility for establishing work plans in accordance with the sustainability guidelines; determine the operational points of contact; and evaluate and monitor the initiatives, goals and indicators; among other tasks.