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Sustainability and the environment, pending subjects for SMEs

SMEs are the organizations that have the most work ahead of them to comply with the SDGs. In this context, Tüv Süd, a company specializing in security, sustainability and high-quality solutions, has carried out a current study on the integration of the SDGs in Spain based on the first conclusions of the SDG Self-Assessment Test, presented by the company at the beginning of year.

According to the results of this free access tool, consulted by companies in sectors such as the automotive industry, tourism, construction, logistics and transport, among others, the SMEs Are the less advanced companies in terms of sustainability and the environment.

In fact, 60% of the companies that have carried out the test declared that they had not implemented any specific or generic action as a starting point for the integration of sustainable development within the organization, which shows “significant shortcomings and great ignorance about how to align sustainability with business strategy and, therefore, with the contribution to the United Nations SDGs”, emphasizes Sandra Sancho, Director of Sustainability and Good Governance Business at Tüv Süd. Among the main shortcomings, the study has found that many of them do not have:

  1. Sustainability Policy that reflects the commitment to sustainable development with greater effectiveness, continuous improvement and performance as a sustainable company, as well as the definition of those external and internal issues that affect your organization.
  2. Determination of Most relevant SDGs through the preparation of a materiality analysis that identifies the relevant issues for the stakeholders of an organization in a transparent manner and, in parallel, to advance in the creation of value in governance, social and environmental
  3. Establish measurable objectives and goals within your operational strategy, for example, by developing a sustainable strategic plan which provides for setting and reviewing quantifiable and measurable objectives based on sustainable development.
  4. Commitment of senior management to the sustainability strategy through the creation of an internal committee to direct and work on the process of continuous improvement of sustainable development plans.
  5. Specific training related to the SDGs.
  6. Preparation of a progress report or sustainability report.

The best and worst SDGs integrated by companies

Taking into account the different SDGs, it has been found that those linked to health and wellness (3) and climate action (13) are those in which companies are developing more integration actions both internally and externally. “This conclusion makes it visible that the most integrated SDGs are those that entail the most mandatory legal compliance”, explains the expert. On the contrary, at present, those with the least weight in companies are SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities, SDG 16: peace, justice and strong institutions and SDG 14: life below water, that is, “Those in which there is greater ignorance or lack of global vision and, therefore, in which there is a long way to go to advance in matters of development, management and sustainable transformation of companies”, clarify.

To meet this challenge, Tüv Süd recommends “intervene to promote its integration as a roadmap towards improving the planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Although companies are increasingly convinced of the need to move towards sustainability, there is a great lack of knowledge on the part of the top managers of medium-sized companies about what they should do to make their company sustainable”. In fact, “in our case we had already perceived an increase in the demand for technical assistance services to facilitate its sustainable transformation”Sandra Sancho concludes.

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