MANILA, Philippines – While corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a means of corporate self-regulation in the modern business world, "sustainable business" goes beyond that context of regulation responsibility – it takes on the company's purpose of existence.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines and the Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE) launched the "SDGsBizPH" platform before private organizations on Wednesday, December 13, in Makati City.
Seeking to strategically harmonize partnership and cooperation among businesses, the app serves as an online platform for the private sector to share their initiatives, stories, and projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"If you do good, you can do well. This is really the bottom line. Profit and social good are not mutually exclusive endeavors," said UNDP Philippines Country Director Titon Mitra during the launch.
Prior to the launch, the UNDP had documented 139 initiatives from 75 companies in the Philippines supporting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
During the same event, Philippine companies signed an agreement with the UNDP to promote the goals and form an advisory council for the enhanced coordination of SDGs in the country.
SDGs, our business
According to a study by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, sustainable business practices create a profit potential of $12 trillion per annum in the global industries of agribusiness, health, development, and energy.
While this statistic poses an opportunity for profit growth, it also serves as a call to action for businesses to integrate sustainable development as their core strategy.
UNDP recorded a total of P40.7-billion total project allocations for the SDGs from companies that participated in the 2017 debut report.
Among top priorities of the organizations were sustainable cities and communities (34%), quality education (28%), affordable and clean energy (19%), and good health and well-being (17%), among others.
PBE Executive Director Bonar Laureto said that to achieve the SDGs, strategic coordination among businesses, civil society, and the government is needed.
The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 meanwhile vows to promote inclusive growth and coordination with the SDGs. (READ: NEDA Board approve dev't plan, vows 'inclusive growth' under Duterte) – Rappler.com