September 25th - Celebrating the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Flag Day
- epenticost
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Why supporting the UN SDGs strengthens your ESG Strategy
On 25 September, organisations around the world mark UN SDG Flag Day – a moment to reflect on the role business plays in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were originally designed as a “shared global blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet1” but were quickly developed to provide businesses with a framework to guide strategy, innovation, and impact.
For companies building or refining their ESG strategy, the SDGs are a great framework to help demonstrate purpose, align sustainability actions with global priorities, and show stakeholders how your company contributes to what have been identified by the United Nations as the world’s most pressing priorities.
Why the SDGs matter for business
Investors, customers, and employees are increasingly using the SDGs as a lens to understand business commitments because they are global and they each highlight a particular material risk, for example, climate change, inequalities, or deteriorating biodiversity. In parallel, they also frame opportunities such as clean technology, the circular economy and inclusivity in workplaces.
You could think of alignment with the UN SDGs as a social licence to operate; you’re saying that you understand your responsibilities beyond compliance, building long-term trust and resilience.
Practical ways to link the SDGs to your ESG strategy
An effective ESG strategy is built around material issues, i.e. those most relevant to your business and stakeholders. Mapping these to the SDGs creates a clear story of impact and you can continue to report on your contribution to the SDGs through your sustainability disclosures.
SDG 13: Climate Action
Supports your environmental strategy through GHG emissions reduction, renewable energy use, and biodiversity action across operations and supply chains.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Links to the social pillar via inclusive recruitment practices, equal pay, leadership development programmes, and mentoring schemes. There’s a high chance that your business is already supporting this SDG in some way.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Aligns with commitments to fair work, employee wellbeing, and ethical supply chain management.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Ties directly into resource efficiency, circular economy initiatives, and sustainable procurement.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Reinforces Governance priorities through robust ethical standards, anti-bribery measures, and transparent reporting.
By embedding the SDGs into your strategy, setting measurable targets that align to the goals, reporting transparently on progress, and engaging with employees and partners, you can make sure that SDG alignment isn’t a tick box exercise.
This SDG Flag Day, consider how your organisation’s ESG strategy connects to the Global Goals. Which SDGs are you already contributing to? Where could you stretch further? And how can you demonstrate that your sustainability actions are part of a much bigger story?
Authored by Sarah Kirton.
