Align your business with the SDGs: For a brighter future.

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The SDGs are the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Covering a wide spectrum of social, environmental and economic topics, they’re set to call for joint actions among governments and businesses to create a sustainable future for the world and all living species.

I had the chance to be interviewed by Charlotte Pfau last week for her master thesis about “The role of businesses in achieving and promoting the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals”. Charlotte approached me due to my work in sustainable branding. Talking to her reminded me of the huge potential the SDGs hold for businesses, both in their strategic and communicative work. No matter if you’re a small or larger company, we all should rely on the SDGs in our work more often. 

Not only offer they an overarching framework to shape and communicate business strategies and activities, they also help to:

  • Stimulate internal change and decision making by identifying future business opportunities and areas of development

  • Strengthen stakeholder relations by creating trust and values

  • Demonstrate how a business helps to stabilise local businesses, societies and markets

  • Join a common language and shared global purpose

  • Enhancing the value of your corporate sustainability by helping you to use resources more efficiently, or finding more sustainable alternatives

What started as the desire of customers for sustainable brand actions a few years ago, has grown into a non-negotiable claim. A growing number of global protests and social movements are an undeniable sign for these claims. People are literally screaming for a clear position in the social, cultural and political context, forcing governments and companies to take action. This isn’t an easy task for brands but the SDGs offer to be a helpful tool.

As a starting point you’ll find guidance on how to align your business strategy as well as measure and manage your efforts to the realisation of the SDGs on https://sdgcompass.org/. The SDG compass platform offers tools and knowledge to put sustainability at the core of your business. We’re happy to support you in finding your very own way of working and communicating in line with the SDGs.

Just keep one thing in mind:
The SDGs are NOT a marketing tool – you need to inhale and breath the goals that you are aiming for. You need to commit and be honest about your efforts. Don’t do it just for the reputation. Your stakeholders will know if your efforts are real and if they’re not, you will do more harm than good to your business.

At Karlie, we work to empower companies to find their active voice in a diverse surrounding. To set the right priorities – strategically and visually. We fundamentally believe in a holistic brand approach that has the power to create new connections and improve the reality of the world around us. 

Sarah Martin