The United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world’s call to action on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing humanity and the natural world. However it can be challenging for those at the beginning of a sustainability journey to know how to get started, as not all the 17 SDGs are equally relevant to a business. And to what extent can a company contribute to each and how it affects organisations? The risks and opportunities they represent will depend on many factors. This article is key in helping businesses better understand some of the SDGs ABAC® can help you with, and it helps translate SDGs into a business context and introduce impactful measures to align with the SDGs.
The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030. A recently released UNIDO-IAF-ILAC brochure highlights the contribution of accredited conformity assessment services to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is frequently used in most areas covered by the SDG’s.
HOW ISO STANDARDS HELP MEET THE SDGS
SDG’s calls on the contribution from all elements of society, including local and national governments, business, industry and individuals. To be successful, the process requires consensus, collaboration and innovation. ISO has published more than 22 000 International Standards and related documents that represent globally recognized guidelines and frameworks based on international collaboration. Built around consensus, they provide a solid base on which innovation can thrive and are essential tools to help governments, industry and consumers contribute to the achievement of every one of the SDGs.
Certifications such as ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations or ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management Systems are frequently specified to operate in the global marketplace. They can demonstrate compliance with a standard, a code of practice, or regulatory requirement.
Here are some key points from the publication on how accreditation supports a few of the SDGs:
SDG 1 No poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
By providing a platform for best practice in all areas of economic activity, from agriculture to banking, ISO International Standards contribute to the sustainable production of food and resources and sustainable employment. For example, ISO 37001, Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS) supports business and government in their efforts to build integrity and combat bribery. Instilling an anti-bribery culture within organizations helps reduce the large gaps in wealth that are a major cause of poverty in many countries around the world.
SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Health and safety in the workplace are core elements and have a wide impact on sustainable development in a business. They face increasing social, commercial, and regulatory pressures to assess and control hazards and risks from their operations, and accreditation helps by:
- Testing occupational hygiene, asbestos fibres, and air monitoring
- Identifying land and air pollutants and electrical safety
Certification of Occupational Health and Safety Management systems or other management systems can help support effective management of health and safety in the workplace ensuring sustainable environmental concerns related to health and safety in the workplace are effectively managed.
International Standards, by their very nature, promote economic growth by setting a common language and internationally agreed specifications that can be applied in the development of national and international regulations. A product of best practice and consensus, they are also essential tools for reducing barriers to international trade. This contribution is acknowledged in the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. A barrier to economic growth is bribery, which can harm employment opportunities. ISO 37001, Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS) contributes to economic prosperity by helping organizations fight bribery and promote an anti-bribery culture.
SDG 9 Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
Industry and manufacturing are the main drivers of sustained economic growth and sustainable development; accreditation enables consumers, suppliers, purchasers, and regulators to have confidence that products placed on the market are safe and meet the manufacturer’s claims by:
- the testing of food, fuels, toys, construction products and electrical
- safety testing of products including children’s toys, glass wear, packaging prams
- chemical analysis to ensure safe use of chemicals inspection through supply chains, equipment production capability assessment
SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Governance is the system by which an organization is directed, controlled and held accountable to achieve its core purpose over the long term. Effective, accountable and inclusive societies and institutions rely on good Governance at all levels, from small companies through to multinationals and governments. ISO technical committee ISO/TC 309, Governance of organizations was created to consolidate good practise for effective Governance and covers a wide range of aspects, from the direction, control and accountability, compliance, corruption and whistleblowing. Its most prominent standard, ISO 37001, Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS), helps promote peace, justice and strong institutions by increasing transparency and accountability. Further standards by this committee include ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems – Guidelines (CMS), and ISO 37000 Guidance for the Governance of Organizations, which encourage good direction and control of organizations of all types and sizes.
Stop bribery and corruption with ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification
ISO 37001 Anti-bribery Management Systems (ABMS): corruption and bribery affect any organisation, large or small, public, or not-for-profit. It has the potential to cause severe harm to your business, including financial loss, dire legal consequences, damage to your brand, company’s reputation and sustainable development. Therefore, anti-bribery needs to be managed correctly and effectively.
ISO has developed a standard – ISO 37001:2016 ABMS – to help organisations promote an ethical business culture. “Designed to help your organisation implement an anti-bribery management system (ABMS), and/or enhance the controls you currently have. It helps to reduce the risk of bribery [and corruption] occurring and can demonstrate to your stakeholders that you have put in place internationally recognised good-practice anti-bribery [and anti-corruption] controls”.
ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems: navigating a Sea of International Compliance Standards to Build a Framework for an Effective Strategic Compliance Program!
Is your company in line with international regulations such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), or the Good Practice Guidance on Internal Controls, Ethics and Compliance (OECD) or the Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance Handbook for Business (OECD) and/ or The UK Bribery Act 2010 – the British Ministry of Justice’s Adequate Procedures document? So many laws and regulations. So, few resources are available to ensure compliance, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems Certification can help your business. To stifle the spread of corruption at a global level, the world’s governing bodies have woven together with a complex and ever-expanding web of laws, regulations and standards. And these significantly impact how multi-national organisations conduct business.
If your business isn’t meeting the myriad obligations established by government bodies worldwide, the risk exposure can grow exponentially as each day passes. Good corporate governance begins at the top, with a strong leadership desire to demonstrate that your organisation is taking every available step to prevent bribery and corruption. The challenge comes in interpreting and complying with the many various laws, standards, codes and rules which companies face at a local, regional, and national level. Because of these challenges, you must develop a robust internal system to safeguard your organisation from the internal and external risks associated with bribery and corruption.
The guidelines outlined in the internationally accepted ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems represent the first step in developing a framework that protects the organisation from falling victim to the many risks associated with corporate bribery and/or corruption. ABAC®, powered by CRI® Group, is designed to assist in developing processes and systems that help your organisation effectively manage compliance risks and foster a system-wide culture of business integrity. Comply with confidence with ISO 37301!
