DFGE recently co-animated a webinar organized by the World Environment Center on how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be implemented at corporate level. Here is the short summary of what was discussed there.
SDGs are the world’s new sustainability agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals were defined by the United Nations to set the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. They build on the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) to extend them. The 17 goals cover the three dimensions of sustainable development (Environment, Social, Economic) and targets have been defined to reach them. All countries and all stakeholders agreed to strive to implement them.
SDGs are a reference for organizations
The partnership between stakeholders and companies is key to ensure the achievement of the SDGs. In this sense, companies can use the SDGs as a reference to showcase how their actions impact the global picture: it is a way to ensure better transparency.
Like many other frameworks, it does not compete with existing standards, but companies can build upon them. For instance, answering to CDP will enable to tackle SDG 13 on climate action.
SDGs are also a framework where companies can understand the needs of the stakeholders like local institutions and communities. Dialogue with stakeholders enable companies to identify topics which are material for them, and to align it with the CSR strategy.
CSR management and reporting can help address the goals
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is a way for companies to tackle these global challenges.
With CSR reporting, companies inform the stakeholders they previously consulted and engaged, and can show how their projects are reducing environmental, social and governance impacts.
With a CSR management system, a continuous improvement is fostered. Indeed, impacts are identified and targets are set accordingly. Then actions are implemented to reach these objectives. KPIs enable to measure the success of these actions, and a review leads to new actions.
Below you will find a list of examples of corporate actions that can be implemented.
Examples of corporate actions for each goal
- No poverty: labor management relations with a notice before changes, alternative solutions to lay-offs fostered through social dialogue, clear rules for remuneration
- Zero hunger: ensuring no poverty (SDG1) leads to less hunger. Partnerships with local community and NGOs on food topics (donation, training, volunteering,)
- Good health and well-being: health and safety program including stress prevention plan, ergonomics in the workplace, work-life balance measures
- Quality education: training plan for skills enhancement and implementation
- Gender equality: equal remuneration, rules for hiring, training of HR and managers on discrimination, whistle-blowing system
- Clean water and sanitation: water reduction project, wastewater treatment equipment
- Affordable and clean energy: resort to sustainable energy sources, energy reduction program
- Decent work and economic growth: rules for hiring, training of HR and managers on identification and prevention of child labor, forced labor, whistle-blowing system… Implementation of shared value initiatives including valorization of the value chain (for example by training a supplier, which then delivers a better product)
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure: participation in industry initiatives, like the EICC and the EICC code of conduct for Telecommunications sector
- Reduced inequalities: diversity program, non-discrimination training and whistle-blowing
- Sustainable cities and communities: stakeholder engagement program, shared value initiatives, community involvement program, community development program (donations, volunteering,)
- Responsible consumption and production: sustainable procurement program (risk-assessment, code of conduct, performance assessment, improvement actions, responsible sourcing) and promotion of sustainable consumption (eco-labels, information to customers about sourcing)
- Climate action: carbon footprint calculation, energy-efficient materials and measures
- Life below water: prevention of water pollution (waste water treatment), partnership with a dedicated NGO
- Life on land: natural habitats restoration, assessment of risks linked to biodiversity before construction, partnership with a dedicated NGOs
- Peace, justice and strong institutions: Ethics and compliance program, featuring a whistle-blowing line to report such cases, and adequate treatment
- Partnerships for the goals: stakeholder engagement program, partnerships on dedicated topics material for the company
If your company would like to know more about how these actions can be quickly implemented, we remain at your entire disposal at . To know more about the goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
