August 2017: Companies are continuing to announce plans to align their business goals with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to integrate the SDGs into their strategies and plans. Companies in Japan, Kenya and the US have adopted practices to promote sustainability. A Danish pension fund is promoting sustainable infrastructure investment. Other recent private sector contributions include reports on inclusive business models and impact investing.

In Japan, Sumitomo Chemical introduced an in-house certification programme for products and technologies that contribute to achieving the SDGs. Twenty-one products have already been certified, including a component for enhancing the capacity of lithium-ion batteries in electric cars, to support achievement of SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action). Fuji Xerox launched an international resources recycling system in line with SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), establishing centers for recovering and recycling its products and ensuring that all materials used in machines will be reused or burned to extract heat. Fuji Xerox reports its product recycling rates are close to 100%.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced sustainability goals for the year 2050, including the development of medium-term business plans based on environmental, economic and societal considerations. The company hopes to achieve net-zero emissions, ensure well-being for all and transition to a circular economy by 2050 through several actions. These actions include: increasing adaptability and resilience; ensuring businesses engage in regenerative value creation; promoting co-innovation with stakeholders; and establishing performance indicators to evaluate the achievement of its sustainability goals. Yokogawa, which has a global network of 113 companies across 60 countries, works in industrial automation and control, test and measurement, and aviation.

Read full news here: SDG