The United Nations has drawn up an ambitious plan to address the most critical issues facing the world: the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs for short. The 17 SDGs represent an action plan to increase peace and prosperity, to eradicate poverty, hunger and inequality, and ultimately, to protect the planet, all by 2030. The plan is recognised worldwide as a crucial step toward the future sustainability of the world.
Standards contribute to all 17 SDGs. They support the three pillars of sustainable development: economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
By using standards as a guide, your organisation will easily navigate the path towards sustainable development. So which standards do you start with? We have two tips for you.
Tip #1 The ISO 26000 standard, Guidance on social responsibility. With lots of practical guidelines that have a direct impact on sustainable development goals, ISO 26000:2010 provides companies with guidance on how to contribute to sustainable development.
The standard introduces you to common definitions and terms, highlights trends in social responsibility, and describes principles and practices related to social responsibility. At its heart are tools to help you realistically integrate, implement and promote socially responsible behaviour in your organisation. Moreover, the standard is available in five languages, so internationally active organisations can confidently work in harmony across locations. An excellent starting point!
Tip #2 The future international standard for a management system, ISO 53001 Management System for the UN Sustainable development goals – Requirements for any organization. This will be one of the most impactful standards in the near future, both for people and the planet. And if you're a sustainability specialist or have one in your organisation, you can help shape the standard right now.
