At GECA, we’re celebrating the Global Week to #Act4SDGs (17-28 September), which in preparation for the COP 26, aims to inspire, mobilise and connect people, networks and communities from every part of the world to act on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It’s a wonderful opportunity to reignite the conversation on how everyone can embrace the SDGs for a fairer future. We’re also keen to share how we have embedded the SDGs in our work at GECA.
The 17 SDGs are an internationally agreed framework for urgent action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all UN member states in 2015, including Australia. The goals address global challenges, including global inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
GECA has been a long term supporter of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. GECA is committed to UN Global Compact Ten Principles relating to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and supports the UN Global Compact strategy to drive business awareness and action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
As part of GECA’s commitment to continuous improvement and alignment with the UN SDGs, our team of experts has integrated relevant SDGs into all our standards. Each of GECA’s lifecycle ecolabel standards links to specific SDG targets, with criteria relating to SDG 12 in particular found across ALL standards. SDG integration into our standards demonstrates measurable impacts across the SDGs, providing clarity to consumers, specifiers, and procurement about how they are actively contributing to these targets.
GECA standards have individual criteria that answer a specific SDG target, covering environment, human health, fit for purpose, and social aspects. Each standard includes core SDGs and supporting SDGs highlighted throughout each section of the standard. Many of our standards are now in the updated template with the integration of SDGs. For example, here is how the SDGs are identified and communicated in our Furniture, Fittings, Foam & Mattresses standard:
By linking our standard requirements and impact with specific SDGs, we support our licensees and procurers with their commitments to action on SDGs. When organisations can communicate their product or service’s alignment with the particular SDGs they support, they can demonstrate their contribution to organisational sustainability goals and the broader trajectory toward a sustainable world.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about our standards.
