Private sector and sustainability: ideas for contributing to the 2030 Agenda
In our previous post on the Sustainable Development Goals, we asked ourselves what businesses could do to contribute to 5 of the SDGs. Well, now we offer ideas that will help us to understand how to collaborate from our own perspective in 4 other SDGs of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations:
SDG 4 – Quality education
SDG 4 aims to “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university education“. As a company, we can support this goal by promoting the training of our employees, offering bonuses and opportunities to carry it out. We should have an updated Training Program that allows the staff to develop their skills and improve their performance, as well as to inform on topics of interest such as gender equality or workplace hazards. Another way to contribute to quality education is to offer internship opportunities to students in our organization, thus ensuring that they acquire the necessary skills to access the labor market and/or become entrepreneurs.
SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy
It is clear that, depending on the characteristics of our establishment, our impact will be greater or lesser, so we can consider tailor-made solutions, ranging from improving energy efficiency (this would include taking advantage of natural light, improving window closures, installing light sensors, etc.) to the commitment to renewable energies, choosing an energy supply company with energy from renewable sources or installing solar panels. Regarding solar energy, in Spain it is possible to take advantage of some of the public subsidy lines designed to promote self-consumption and renewable energies.
SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities
From our company or organization, we can try to do our bit to reduce inequalities, making the company more inclusive. An important step is to hire staff at risk of social exclusion, a practice that many companies carry out, with the incentive that allows them to enjoy certain tax benefits and/or is a requirement for some public contracts. We can also participate in solidarity campaigns, donating money, food, materials that come from our activity or letting non-profit organizations use our facilities.
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production
Many experts have warned that the consumption rate of today’s society is unacceptable for the planet, so we must take action from the private sector to implement sustainable consumption patterns. One way to start would be to carry out an exhaustive review of our suppliers, to try to prioritize local products and services that opt for sustainable practices. We should also review our processes to move towards a circular economy model, reducing the waste derived from our activity through reducing, repairing, reusing and recycling policies. In the case of companies in the food or hospitality sector, it is essential to avoid wasting food, for which redistribution platforms such as Too Good to Go can be useful.
