Here's why the Sustainable Development Goals are good for your small business

First up, what even are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a blueprint of sorts to create a better and more sustainable world.

They were created as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all UN member states in 2015.

Made up of 17 interlinked goals with 169 targets to be reached by 2030, the SDGs recognize that social, economic and environmental issues are all connected, and that advancement in one area can’t be at the expense of another for true success.

Why should small business owners care about the SDGs?

The SDGs are ambitious—and necessary—and won’t be achieved without wide and active participation from the public and private sector.

The good news is that businesses of all size and from all industries can benefit by working towards the SDGs.

According to the Business & Sustainable Development Commission, achieving the SDGs could create economic opportunities worth $12 trillion and create 380 million jobs by 2030.

Beyond “doing good,” tackling the world’s biggest problems brings business opportunity. And this opportunity isn’t limited to innovative start-ups. If you care about creating a strong, resilient business, you should care about the SDGs.

More and more, customers care about companies doing the right thing and taking an active role in addressing social and environmental challenges. But these efforts need to be genuine, not greenwashing. Businesses can use the SDGs as a framework to measure positive impact. Especially for small businesses, this can give our social and environmental efforts added credibility.

By aligning their business operations and practices to the SDGs, companies go beyond superficial CSR policies and become an active partner in creating a more equitable, just and sustainable future.