7 Ways Your Businesses Can Contribute to the UN SDGs

In September 2015, 193 United Nations Member States adopted 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to protect the planet, address geopolitical instability, end poverty and hunger, and fight inequality and injustice on all levels by 2030. These goals represent the greatest challenges facing the planet and have the potential to open the door to at least $12 trillion in new market opportunities and 380 million new jobs if achieved.

Within the 17 SDGs, there are 169 unique targets meant to direct our collective effort, and while progress has been made since their adoption in 2015, significant gaps still remain. It’s easy to assume that the bulk of the work needed to close these gaps can be done by governments, multinational corporations, and nonprofits, but small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which make up ninety percent of all businesses and account for more than fifty percent of formal jobs globally, play a critical role. 

When you consider those numbers in conjunction with the rapidly growing consumer demand for businesses to embrace sustainability, have ethical business practices, and to do good in the world, it’s clear that SMEs have an incredible opportunity to pursue social impact and align themselves and their efforts with the SDGs. 

The data is incredibly clear: consumers want businesses that believe in something more than making a profit, and businesses aiming to make a real impact, rooted in a deep sense of purpose and a big idea, have a unique competitive advantage. 

83% of consumers are more likely to be loyal to brands that lead with purpose (Cone/Porter Novelli, 2019) and best of all, purpose-driven companies grow 3x faster than businesses that don't have a clearly articulated purpose (Deloitte, 2020).

Furthermore, businesses that align themselves with the SDGs are more likely to attract top talent, see an increase in employee retention and productivity, and spur revenue generation through innovation and expansion into new and developing markets. 

It should be clear by now that when businesses embrace the SDGs as a framework for their impact goals, they prosper. So, how do you get started?

Learn about them

The first step is to learn what they are. The United Nations Develop Programme and several other organizations have created amazing resource documents to help you better understand what each goal is, what the associated targets are, and some of the ways you can actively start to make a difference. 

Dig into your business purpose

Often, businesses do some quick and dirty Vision/Mission/Values work when they’re getting started, and that’s okay. It actually takes time to get a real sense for what you truly want your business to do in the world. Now’s the time to go back to basics and really get clear about the purpose and impact you want to make in the world (purpose/vision), how you can practically do that (mission), and the way in which you want to show up (values). If you need help here, I created a 10 question guide to help you get started. 

Pick ONE Sustainable Development Goal

When I feel deeply moved to action, I go all in. I urge you to resist the temptation to try and tackle all the things at once. The best path forward is to pick ONE SDG and align your efforts toward that one goal. When you try to tackle too many things at once, it’s like that scene in Finding Nemo where all the fish, including Nemo’s dad, are trapped in a fishing net, frantically swimming in a million directions and getting nowhere. The key is to “swim down” together, and focus all your effort on one thing… and then expand from there. 

Start!

That probably seems obvious, but ideas and intentions are a dime a dozen. To make progress on the SDGs and to grow your business, you have to DO something. So, pick something small and start. Here are 7 ways you can make an impact with your business right now.

Track your efforts

There are a lot of initiatives to identify the best metrics and tools for measuring impact, and while those are important, you don’t need complicated key performance indicators (KPIs) or big assessments to see if you’re moving the needle. Look at your goals and ask yourself, “How can I best measure my efforts and the impact they’re making?”

In my own business, I am actively working to support SDG #5: Gender Equality. In a practical effort to do that, I donate 3% of my profits each year to organizations like Days For Girls International that are on the ground doing work. My metrics include:

Dollar Donated

Hours Volunteered

Those two metrics give me a sense for the number of women and girls who receive sustainable period kits, gain access to menstrual health education, and potentially start their own small businesses serving their local communities. I know that when women have access to basic menstrual supplies, it increases their likelihood of staying in school and going to work, which in turn has a direct impact on their ability to create opportunities for themselves and others. 

I can also look at this from the vantage point of the female founders and other business owners I work with as they’re building out their own impact strategies and execution plans. Our work together amplifies their impact and mine. 

If you want to dig a bit deeper, Our World in Data SDG Tracker is a free, open source resource that helps businesses identify key metrics for each SDG and tracks global progress. 

Talk About It

Consumers are looking for and expect businesses to take a lead role in addressing global inequalities, climate change, and other social challenges. For businesses that genuinely want to do good, it can feel uncomfortable - and sometimes scary - to share what you’re doing. 

But people want to know what you’re doing. Authenticity and honesty go a long way. Share what you’re doing. Talk about the why behind your mission. The progress you’re making. All of it matters. 

Ask yourself: What in the world would change if I said what I wanted to say? If I made the impact I wanted? 

Then start sharing! 

Collaborate

The task before us is daunting but not undoable, IF we work together. Take a look around you and see who else is working on the same SDGs as you are. See who’s talking about issues that are connected to the work you’re doing. Who shares the same values? Who has done something similar?

Once you start looking, people will pop out of the woodwork, and it’s empowering to know that you’re not alone. 

Remember, your big idea for how to change the world IS your competitive advantage, and when we all swim down together, we can make a difference. 

If you’re not sure how your efforts are lining up, grab The Purpose Scorecard. This simple assessment will give you quick insight on opportunities that may exist to improve your vision and mission, measurement, and messaging while also highlighting exactly where you’re already shining.

Here’s to making an impact!