The Significance of SDGs for the Raw Materials Sector: A Stakeholders’ Approach in Three ESEE Countries

Stavros Tomazinakis,Dimitrios Damigos,Katerina Adam,Anna Gaki,George Valakas

doi:10.3390/materproc2021005048

Stavros Tomazinakis, Dimitrios Damigos + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2021005048

Copy DOI

Publication Date: Dec 1, 2021
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: National Technical University of Athens

Abstract

The Raw Materials (RM) sector is linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), impacting their implementation throughout the whole RM value chain (e.g., mining, processing, metallurgy, recycling, etc.). This study aims to identify and rank the most significant SDGs for this sector, from the perspective of key stakeholders, academics, university students, professionals, and industry representatives, in three East and South-East Europe (ESEE) countries: Poland, Greece, and Slovakia. Within this framework, 423 stakeholders from the above groups provided their views in a survey with structured questionnaires. The results were analysed, based on the stakeholders’ groups and the role of the sector in the countries examined. Overall, the SDGs 9-Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure-, 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth-, and 7-Affordable and Clean Energy- were highly ranked by the stakeholders, indicating a strong link between these SDGs and the RM sector.

Highlights

Materials Sector: A Stakeholders’The Raw Materials (RM) sector has a crucial role in the achievement of SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [1], as recognised by the European Union (EU) Member States [2,3]
The research on opinions and perceptions of key stakeholders of the RM sector can reveal important areas for improvement at the national performances regarding the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since in many EU Countries the RM sector is perceived as an industry that does not make the required effort to behave responsibly towards society [6]
Considering the critical role of the above stakeholders towards the implementation of the SDGs, this study aims to identify and rank the most significant SDGs for the RM sector, from the perspective of key stakeholders in three East and South-East Europe (ESEE) countries: Poland, Greece, and Slovakia

Summary

Introduction

Materials Sector: A Stakeholders’The Raw Materials (RM) sector has a crucial role in the achievement of SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [1], as recognised by the European Union (EU) Member States [2,3]. The three central pillars of Sustainable Development (SD), environment, economy, and society are interconnected through culture, since the national realities, capacities, and levels of development, as well as specific challenges, influence the achievement of the SDGs [5] In this regard, key stakeholders at a national level and their perceptions, play an essential role in designing strategy and policy frameworks for the achievement of SDGs. The research on opinions and perceptions of key stakeholders of the RM sector can reveal important areas for improvement at the national performances regarding the achievement of the SDGs, since in many EU Countries the RM sector is perceived as an industry that does not make the required effort to behave responsibly towards society [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion