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Sustainable Development Goals and Policies Improving Sustainable Business Development in the UK
Introduction
In general terms, the sustainable development goals inculcate the aim of the UK in ending all poverty, improving the country, and ensuring the fight against injustice and inequality (UK Government, 2021). The UK is committed to delivering its sustainable development goals. And has found the most efficient way to do it.
The purpose of this essay is to assess the overall sustainable development goals and environmental policies of the UK and how they affect sustainable business development in the UK.
Sustainable Development Goals and Policies Improving Sustainable Business Development in the UK
The sustainable development goals of the UK consist of many goals which include ending poverty in all forms, achieving food security, ensuring healthy lives, ensuring inclusivity and quality education, etc. (UK Government, 2021). These goals in turn have many more sub-goals. But some goals directly affect the sustainable business development of the UK. This goal includes promoting inclusive and sustained economic growth along with productive and full employment and decent work.
With its environmental policies, the UK government further aims towards having a net zero and low carbon economy that will see some targets of carbon reduction (UK Government, 2022). For sustainable business development, the UK government has specific Greening Government Commitments (GGCs) that will decrease the impact of businesses on the environment.
So far, the UK’s performance concerning sustainable business development has involved increasing employment with more disabled people and women in work (Lunn, 2019). However, there are still many aspects that the UK government acknowledges requiring a lot of work. But between 2021 to 2025, the UK will especially be focusing on the GGCs. Even though the UK has individual goals of sustainable business development, many sub-targets heavily focus on the little aspects that need to be improved.
For instance, the UK aims to procure sustainable services and products to achieve the best long-term and greater financial value for society (UK Government, 2022). The UK also has goals of reducing the environmental impact of digital services and Information Communication Technology (ICT).
With sustainability in business, there is a lot of scope and room to grow, especially considering that sustainability is a very broad term in itself. Creating a sustainable business in the UK involves reducing the environmental impact of businesses (Salter, 2022). The reduction in environmental impact involves recycling and reuse along with reducing travel and having appliances which are energy efficient. Businesses can further ensure a sustainable supply chain, engage people, and embrace technology. With sustainable supply, businesses will be able to ascertain that the suppliers do their bit of making alternative changes in their processes that would not have a negative impact on the environment (Salter, 2022).
A huge part of sustainable business development is a corporate social responsibility for businesses which focuses on the environment. Since 2011 the impact of climate change has become among the biggest global risks each year. As a result, it means that more and more companies have been viewing sustainability as a way of adding value. And this does not only involve the start-ups but even the large companies that are well-established are discovering low-carbon solutions as the UK moves into a low-carbon economy (Waugh, 2019). As times progress, even customers prefer to deal with sustainable organisations.
Over time, there have been different studies that have pondered sustainable business development in number. These studies have also focused on better ways for businesses in the UK to become more sustainable. And the studies cumulatively found that approximately 60% of the carbon footprint of a company exists in its supply chain (Waugh, 2019). Recently, there have been many sustainability trends that have affected businesses. It includes the auditing of energy utilisation and choosing different ways of using it. A key trend for businesses includes the use of smart devices and more than half of the British mid-sized companies audit their energy utilisation (Waugh, 2019). Moreover, many organisations in the UK have already stopped using single-use plastics. Also, organisations have been reducing the use of resources and paper to eliminate waste along with companies aiming to be more forest-positive in the future.
Conclusion
The purpose of this essay was to assess the overall sustainable development goals and environmental policies of the UK and how they affect sustainable business development in the UK. But it is important to recognise that sustainable development goals can be many and require years of implementation to yield results. UK organisations and businesses are still in the process of implementing their sustainable development goals that will display their outcome years in the future.
Reference List
Environmental policy (2022) UK Government. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainability-in-ukhsa/environmental-policy (Accessed: March 6, 2023).
Greening government commitments 2021 to 2025 (2022) UK Government. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greening-government-commitments-2021-to-2025/greening-government-commitments-2021-to-2025 (Accessed: March 6, 2023).
Implementing the sustainable development goals (2021) UK Government. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-sustainable-development-goals/implementing-the-sustainable-development-goals--2 (Accessed: March 6, 2023).
Lunn, J. (2019) Sustainable development goals: How is the UK performing?, UK Parliament. Available at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/sustainable-development-goals-how-is-the-uk-performing/ (Accessed: March 6, 2023).
Salter, B. (2022) What does it mean to be a sustainable business?, University of Chester. Available at: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/business-engagement/business-support-services/information-and-resources/top-tips-business-growth-19#:~:text=It's%20about%20taking%20responsibility%20for,profit%2C%20productivity%20and%20staff%20retention. (Accessed: March 6, 2023).
Waugh, R. (2019) Making sustainability a cultural norm, The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/tips-for-the-future/future-of-sustainability/ (Accessed: March 6, 2023).