Aligning our work to the world we all want – why conscious sustainability makes good business sense?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to raise the awareness of business leaders to the opportunity presented by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a brief account of the author’s experience of running workshops which engaged thousands of people from age 7 to well over 70 across three continents. It also points the reader in the direction of several case studies, suggesting that alignment to the global agenda makes business sense. Findings The first finding is that most people want the same world to be passed to future generations. Second, this world is consistent with the one described by the SDGs. Third, businesses are discovering that alignment to this vision makes good business sense. Practical implications There is significant opportunity for business leaders to consider the world we live in and align their strategies to the global agenda. Social implications Failure to deliver the SDGs will cause significant disruption to or even collapse of society as we know it. Getting business involved is good for the future of humanity and the world we inhabit. Originality/value There are many papers on the SDGs but, to the best of the author’s knowledge, none make the link between the SDGs and the world most people want for future generations. This factor alone should be enough to inspire business leaders to take note.