BETTER BUSINESS BETTER WORLD

3.3 Transforming the way business operates for better
business and a better world
All of the businesses growing in sustainable markets today are progressing on some
of the Global Goals. But some are going backwards on others. For instance, zerohour
labour contracts are used in some “sharing economy” models in ways that add
to workers’ income insecurity: they couldn’t be counted decent work.
As the Commission’s research showed in Section 2, progress on all the Global Goals
is needed to deliver all their business benefits, making a powerful business as well as
moral case for business leaders to back progress towards all the Global Goals.
"Progress on all the Global Goals is needed to deliver their
business benefits."
Doing this comprehensively implies a transformation in how businesses operate,
individually and collectively. Business leaders can take action at four levels to drive
this transformation:
• as individuals, to gain commitment to the Global Goals as a growth strategy
from colleagues and the business community
• through their companies, by making the Global Goals permeate strategy and
operations
• working with sector or economic system peers to shift the sector to sustainable
competition, and
• working with government and regulators to shape policies that advance the
Global Goals.
3.4 Gaining commitment from CEOs and boards
A change of company strategy starts at the top. Widespread changes in business
practice also start with changes in the way company leaders think and behave.
Getting the weight of business behind the Global Goals as a growth strategy depends
on a critical mass of leaders buying into the case, both for business as a whole and
for individual businesses. Then those leaders need to make the case loud and clear to
their fellow board executives within their companies and in the business community.
Members of the Commission are committed to doing this and supporting other
current and future business leaders who think the same way.
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