November 2017
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Should businesses look at integrating the UN’s Sustainable Development<br />
Goals (SDGs) into their reporting?<br />
ALYSON SLATER:<br />
The SDGs provide us with a globally agreed set of<br />
goals and targets for creating a better world. They<br />
are generally being embraced by the business<br />
community, and governments have made it clear that<br />
we cannot reach most of these goals without business<br />
engagement. Co-ops are in a unique position when it<br />
comes to the SDGs – they have intentionally designed<br />
their business models to try to have a positive<br />
impact on some of the toughest goals – things like<br />
inequality, zero hunger, and life on land. If co-ops<br />
can demonstrate their contributions to these goals<br />
they may very well inspire other businesses to scale<br />
up their action too.<br />
ALISON FREEMAN:<br />
Absolutely; the SDGs represent the globally agreed<br />
priority areas selected by governments, businesses<br />
and civil society. This is the first time such an agenda<br />
has received endorsement across sectors. Many<br />
organisations are now using the SDGs as strategic<br />
tools to focus on where they can make the biggest<br />
contribution. Institutional investors too are moving<br />
away from businesses that they consider risky and<br />
they will be looking towards the SDGs for criteria.<br />
From a regulatory perspective, it also makes sense<br />
for businesses to report on these areas, as they<br />
will shape the policy environment, and the public<br />
sector will look favourably on contractors who can<br />
show they are adding to the agenda. The UN Global<br />
Compact and Accenture conducted a survey of CEOs<br />
in 2016 and found more than half thought businesses<br />
had the most important role to play in achieving<br />
the SDGs. This might seem like a big responsibility<br />
to have to rest on the shoulders of business, but it<br />
also makes sense, as this is by far the biggest sector<br />
and provider of services and infrastructure. The<br />
business case is also clear, as year-on-year recordbreaking<br />
global temperatures, along with extreme<br />
weather events, such as the hurricanes in America,<br />
show that ignoring some of these major trends<br />
presents significant operational risks. Millennials<br />
coming into the workforce will also be attracted to<br />
businesses who are most engaged in purposeful and<br />
SDG agendas.<br />
MARCUS HULME:<br />
The SDGs have got much more traction than the old<br />
Millennium Development Goals; there’s much more<br />
noise about them. I think you should at least say how<br />
what you’re doing fits in with them. They’re a common<br />
language that people understand – a universal<br />
framework. You can just pick out one or two goals that<br />
cover your work.<br />
p Southern Co-op’s ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ sees it support community causes throughout its trading area<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2017</strong> | 37
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