The United Nations’ (UN) ambitious strategy to end poverty by 2030 and make significant global social and environmental progress could create almost 380m jobs and opportunities worth $12trn (£9trn) in sectors ranging from affordable housing and energy efficiency to circular economy models and advances in healthcare, according to the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

However, when the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are underpinned by 169 targets, were formally launched in 2016, the Commission stated that 'most businesses have barely registered the importance of working sustainably'.

The challenge remains getting organizations at scale to recognize the benefits of working with sustainability in mind and to begin implementing measures that will lead to significant, transformational change.

The key, therefore, is to help businesses better understand the SDGs, ‘translate’ these into a business context and introduce impactful measures to align with the SDGs. In other words, to encourage them to take action in a meaningful, consistent manner that supports their individual purpose, strategy and sustainability experience/progress to date. Standards have a clear role to play in this process.

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; full and productive employment; and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems; sustainably manage forests; combat desertification; halt and reverse land degradation; and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; provide access to justice for all; and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Voluntary International Standards can contribute not only to high-level policy initiatives, but also by providing solutions that will be needed in order to achieve many of the SDGs,' says the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

It adds: 'They provide a harmonized, stable and globally recognized framework for the dissemination and use of technologies, and encompass best practices and agreements that encourage more equitable development and promote the overall growth of society.'

In other words, standards help businesses to operate sustainably.

UNIDO notes that standards have 'always played an important role' in this area and have evolved to address other key components of the sustainable development agenda. This has been done by incorporating sustainable-related issues into traditional core standards and by developing specific standards that relate to sustainability issues.

This progress has meant that standards can now 'support the achievement of just about all the SDGs,' the agency argues.

Combined with other tools and mechanisms (such as national and international policies, fiscal measures, etc.), standards are a powerful knowledge tool that can support the global implementation and long-term achievement of the SDGs.

To maximize the strengths that standards and standardization offer, businesses could be, as a starting point, encouraged to work out how the SDGs fit in with their existing sustainability plans and activities – then identify what standards will help ‘translate’ and embed the goals into their strategy and enable them to put everything into practice.

Some businesses are further ahead in this journey; for those sustainability leaders, standards could prove a useful tool to further, maximize and disseminate their ongoing effort. Like governments, organizations won’t see fit to adopt all 17 goals but rather the ones which align to their individual businesses.

Those businesses that are successful in embedding sustainability in their organization will be duly rewarded, says Unilever’s CEO, Paul Polman.

'Business has the unique opportunity to embrace the SDG agenda and recognize it as a driver of business strategies, innovation and investment decisions. Doing so makes business sense and will give them an edge over their competitors,' he explains.

However, to fully support organizations trying to understand and contribute to the global achievement of the SDG targets, new standards may be necessary.

BSI is keen to hear about your experiences on all matters sustainability and welcomes suggestions for new standards that will support your objectives in this area. Contact us to discuss your needs. Our expert team is ready to help you with our services above.

Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals