Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) - impact on business

With 193 governments agreeing to deliver 17 goals tackling major world issues by 2030, change lies ahead for business, not only to rethink strategy and business behaviour to align with the goals, but also to assess and evidence their impact.

Taking action on the Global Goals 

With 17 Global Goals to understand, how do you know where to start? Businesses contribution to the Goals will be key to their achievement. Each government will have its own set of priorities which will drive the action it needs to take. You'll want your business to align with the SDGs so that it makes an impact that helps, not hinders, a country to achieve its goals. There's much to consider not only for the country or countries you currently operate in, but also your supply chain and your future strategy to enter new markets and territories too.

Getting to grips with the targets and indicators that sit behind each goal is fundamental. You'll want to understand what impact your business has on each and identify market opportunities too. When agreeing your strategy, you'll want to know which initiatives and options will make the biggest positive difference or shrink a negative impact the most. You'll want to know where to direct your attention and investment.

Supporting you on the SDG journey

Build the business case to engage with the SDGs

  • Introduce concepts
  • Explore how the SDGs are relevant for business and investors
  • Understand worst performing SDGs per country, and those with most potential opportunity and impact by industry

 

Understand which SDGs are relevant to your business

  • Identify the SDGs that are most relevant to your business given your countries, territories and sectors of operation
  • Evaluate which SDGs your business can best contribute to
  • Identify the significant risks and potential opportunities

 

Define the approach and engage internally to align business activity and practice to the SDGs

  • Identify new opportunities for revenue growth
  • Consider altering existing systems. eg  cost reductions or system efficiencies
  • Analyse which options give the highest  shared value - i.e. the greatest value  for the business and the greatest value  for society
  • Set and communicate performance  indicators and targets
  • Monitor and track progress

 

Measure impact and performance against the SDGs

  • Quantify SDG-related impacts (using our Total Impact Measurement and Management framework) by monetising them in terms of the societal  value created (or destroyed).
  • Compare your contribution across different types of Goals e.g. Education vs.  Health
  • Contribute to improved decision making

 

Align reporting to the SDGs and share progress with stakeholders

  • Make it easier for stakeholders to understand your business contribution to the SDGs
  • Use established standards, frameworks and business disclosures to improve your corporate reporting for the most material  SDG issues to your business
  • Get third party assurance on your non-financial information

 

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Contact us

Will  Jackson-Moore

Will Jackson-Moore

Partner, Global Sustainability Leader, PwC United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)7710 157908

Renate de Lange

Renate de Lange

Partner, Global Sustainability Markets Leader, PwC Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)62 248 81 40

Louise Scott

Louise Scott

Chief Operating Officer, Global Sustainability, PwC United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)7734 958 942

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