United Nations Global Compact Issues New Guidance for Companies to Leverage Technology and Innovation to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Guidance helps companies build better business models by integrating the SDGs into their innovation design process
Nov 5, 2019 1:00 PM ET

UN Global Compact issues new guidance for companies to leverage technology and …

UNITED NATIONS, New York, November 5, 2019 /3BL Media/ — The United Nations Global Compact today issued new guidance for businesses to leverage the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to inspire their innovation processes and capture future market needs.
Framework for Breakthrough Impact on the SDGs Through Innovation is a practical guide that helps companies identify new products, services and business models while also contributing to addressing global challenges, such as climate change. The report was issued in partnership with PA Consulting and Volans.

“The SDGs will not become a reality without breakthrough innovation,” said Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “The ambition of the Global Goals is truly transformational and will drive the business of tomorrow. We are already seeing how young people are driving this new way of doing business through programmes like the Young SDG Innovators.”

According to the Business Commission for Sustainable Development, achieving the Global Goals by 2030 will generate multi-trillion-dollar market opportunities and millions of jobs. Most of these opportunities will be realized in lower and middle-income economy countries.

“This report provides step-by-step guidance for corporate teams looking to inspire innovative processes, leverage disruptive technologies and build new business models to better address the Global Goals,” said John Elkington, Founder and Chief Pollinator of Volans. “It helps organizations to identify and take advantage of the growing business opportunities related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

“At PA Consulting we know that harnessing the power of ingenuity can build a positive human future,” said Alan Middleton, CEO at PA Consulting. “We are honored to work with the UN Global Compact to identify the disruptive technologies and innovations that will help leaders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The practical guide is an outcome of the UN Global Compact Action Platform on Breakthrough Innovation for the SDGs and work carried out in collaboration with PA Consulting and Volans.

To download the full report, visit here.

About the United Nations Global Compact

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact works with companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact guides and supports the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 60 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org.

About PA Consulting
We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future in a technology-driven world. As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. An innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 3,000 specialists in consumer, defense and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, and transport, travel and logistics. We operate globally from offices across the Americas, Europe, the Nordics and the Gulf. For more information, visit www.paconsulting.com.

About Volans
Volans is a London based think-tank and advisory firm with a global network. Volans helps businesses prepare plan their path and achieve positive breakthrough change at an unprecedented pace and scale.  Founded by the renowned thinker and author John Elkington, Volans works with companies like Aviva, The Body Shop, Covestro, Neste and Unilever. For more information, visit www.volans.com.