5 Ways Companies Can Contribute to the SDGs

Launched in 2016, the SDGs are a set of 17 ambitious goals and 169 targets designed to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Developed through global collaboration among governments, civil society, scientists, and business leaders, the SDGs provide a universal framework for action across sectors.

But how do businesses fit into this vision?

The difference between traditional and social entrepreneurship lies in one word: mission.

Social enterprises blend the efficiency and innovation of business with a deep commitment to solving societal problems. They measure success not just by profit, but through a triple bottom line:

• People: What social impact is the business making?
• Planet: How is it contributing to environmental sustainability?
• Profit: Is it financially viable and able to sustain itself?

This approach aligns with changing consumer and workforce expectations. According to Deloitte’s 2018 Human Capital Trends report, 86% of millennials believe business success should be measured by more than just financial performance. And a Nielsen survey found that 81% of consumers globally think companies should help improve the environment.

Clearly, the world is shifting — and businesses are being called to lead.

Social enterprises come in different forms, each with unique approaches to impact:

1. Non-Profit Social Enterprise
   These organizations, like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), rely on donations or grants to address market or government failures.
2. For-Profit Social Enterprise
   Companies like Tesla are driven by profit and purpose—seeking to solve environmental issues (e.g., clean mobility) while remaining commercially successful.
3. Hybrid Social Enterprise
   Brands like ThankYou reinvest profits into social causes, prioritizing impact over financial return.

All three models can play a vital role in advancing the SDGs.

Whether through their operations, products, or partnerships, businesses can embed the SDGs into their core activities. Here are five key leverage points across the value chain:

1. Inputs: Source materials ethically and sustainably (e.g., avoiding conflict minerals or using fair-trade suppliers). This supports goals like SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG-15 (Life on Land).
2. Operations: Hire inclusively and support marginalized communities — for example, by employing former prisoners or refugees (SDG-10: Reduced Inequalities).
3. Products and Services: Develop offerings that address real social or environmental needs, such as affordable solar power or low-cost medical devices (SDG-7: Affordable and Clean Energy).
4. Profits: Use earnings to reinvest in community development, education, or health infrastructure (SDG-4: Quality Education, SDG-6: Clean Water and Sanitation).
5. Governance and Partnerships: Collaborate transparently with stakeholders and align incentives with impact goals (SDG-17: Partnerships for the Goals).

Mumwa Crafts Association in Zambia is a compelling example of a social enterprise contributing to multiple SDGs across its value chain:

• Inputs: Sustainable sourcing supports SDG-15.
• Operations: Employment and training for rural women tackle SDG-1 (No Poverty).
• Profits: Investments in sanitation projects advance SDG-6.

Whether businesses focus on one goal or many, whether they act across the value chain or in a single domain, their potential to create meaningful change is immense.

The question is no longer whether companies should contribute to global challenges — but how. The SDGs offer a roadmap, and social enterprises are proving that profit and purpose can go hand in hand. As consumers, employees, and citizens, we all have a role in demanding and supporting businesses that lead with impact.

So — how do you see the role of business in building a better world?

Let’s start the conversation.