What Are The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals?

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a blueprint to collectively improve the world we live in; this includes eliminating poverty, tackling climate change, and reducing inequality, among others. A global effort is required to fulfil these ambitions, so businesses and the private sector have a big role to play in the process. How can you integrate these into your business and purpose? This article will help you understand the different ways brands are contributing to the SDGs, and how you might consider working towards different goals within your industry. We’re currently in the ‘Decade of Action’, so the time to act is now.

Background To The Sustainable Development Goals

Back in 2015, the 193 UN member states created a 15 year plan that sought to fight inequality and injustice, protect the planet and end extreme poverty by 2030. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are at the heart of the plan and clearly define the world we want.

The 17 Global Goals

The Global Goals provide a framework for creating change, and with 17 goals to work towards, they cover everything from climate and the environment with goals such as Climate Action and Affordable and Clean Energy; to public health with goals such as Good Health and Wellbeing; to equality with goals such as Gender Equality and No Poverty. To see a full list of the goals click here.So, how can your business contribute to the Global Goals and what are businesses doing already?

The SDGs in Action

Regardless of industry or size, all companies can contribute to the SDGs - first by doing business responsibly and then by pursuing opportunities to solve societal challenges through innovation and collaboration. While the scale and scope of the global goals is huge, the fundamental ways that businesses can contribute can start with small steps. Here we outline some examples of the businesses who are already taking action to work towards the Global Goals, and the issues they are committed to addressing.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING - Heineken promoting responsible consumption of alcohol

As an alcohol brand, Heineken acknowledges its responsibility to advocate responsible consumption and support efforts to decrease harmful consumption. Heineken is therefore working towards SDG 3 ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’ and SDG 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ within their ‘Brewing a Better World’ framework. Heineken has already put in place partnerships in 65% of its markets to address alcohol related harm, and used 10% of media spend on responsible consumption campaigns in 2020. Looking forward, Heineken is committing to the goals by setting clear targets such as increasing zero alcohol options and providing more transparent consumer information on labels by 2023. They also have an ongoing goal to reach 1 billion unique consumers yearly with responsible consumption messages to reduce alcohol related harm and encourage responsible behaviour. Heineken also aligns itself with various goals across sourcing, production, and marketing to improve sustainability every step of the way.

CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT - Levi’s shrinking water consumption

The apparel industry has a lot of progress to make, from more sustainable production practices to ethical working environments. Levi Strauss & Co. is one apparel brand that has been working towards SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), with projects that look at its supply chain and production processes.Back in 2007 Levi’s developed a Life Cycle Assessment, a study which examined the entire production cycle of its products, in order to identify where they could change behaviors and save resources. One of the areas identified for progress was water consumption, so they developed Water<Less, a finishing technique that has saved 3.5B litres of water since 2011. Levi’s also introduced a ‘Care Tag for Our Planet Programme’ which puts concise instructions on all products so that consumers can learn sustainable ways to launder and care for their clothing.

PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION - Tesco’s reducing food waste

The UN estimates that approximately one third of all food produced in the world is wasted, so Tesco is contributing towards SDG 2 ‘Zero Hunger’ and SDG 12 ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’ in two ways. Firstly, Tesco’s work closely with food banks and charities to donate good food to places that would otherwise go to waste. This includes homeless shelters, after-school clubs, and domestic violence hostels. In 2019/20 Tesco’s donated 59.4 millions meals through the redistribution programme. Secondly, Tesco’s is pledging to halve food waste from farm to fork by 2030. One way Tesco’s hopes to reach their goal is by widening their Perfectly Imperfect range which takes out-of-spec fruit and veg and offers it to consumers, pledging that “no food that is safe for human consumption should go to waste”. Another way Tesco’s is working towards this goal is through their Community Cookery School which has trained over 1,000 community cooks to get the most out of surplus food donations and help ensure perfectly edible food can be prepared into nutritious meals. Tesco’s have since achieved a 58% reduction in tonnes of food wasted compared to 2016/17.

CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION - Arla Dairy restoring biodiversity

With land used for grazing and growing feed, dairy farmers can disrupt natural habitats needed for biodiversity, which is why Arla Dairy is taking action to support a Stronger Planet, using the SDGs as a framework for action. They are working towards Goal 15 ‘Life on Land’ to promote the conservation and restoration of biodiversity. Arla have set out their ambition to increase biodiversity and access to nature by 2050, and one way they are aiming to achieve their goal is by launching Project Pollinator - part of the dairy cooperative’s farm standards programme. Bees play a crucial role in supporting our ecosystems, but have been in steady decline in the UK with an average of 11 species lost between 1980 and 2013. Project Pollinator is a trial project in which Arla farmers have set aside areas of land to help vital bee pollinators. The farmers will cultivate, seed and farm the land to create the best possible habitat for a variety of insects. To ensure they are meeting their target, Arla has introduced mandatory biodiversity assessments on Arla owned farms to track progress and transparency.

Summary

While no business is perfect, it’s how we plan to change that makes the difference. The Sustainable Development Goals can be used as a guide to responsible business practices and an invitation to commit to innovation. What’s more, with conscious consumerism now the norm, explicitly showing your commitment to the Global Goals is likely to benefit your commercial success too. Therefore the more integrated the goals are to your business, the better the opportunity for authentic storytelling.

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