The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global UN response to contemporary challenges, succeeding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Launched in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda, the 17 SDGs cover critical areas for sustainable development, such as poverty eradication, environmental protection, promotion of quality education, gender equality and climate action.
These goals aim to ensure global peace, prosperity and well-being by 2030. The relevance of the SDGs transcends governments, encompassing companies, organizations and individuals, providing clear guidance for implementation of sustainable and globally integrated actions.
SDGs in the Corporate Context
In the corporate context, the integration of the SDGs into business strategies is essential to face current challenges. Companies that adopt international frameworks, such as the SDGs, are able to align their initiatives with global demands, promoting transparency and comparability.
Additionally, we bring The SDGs serve as a guide for organizations seeking to maximize their positive impact, but still don't know where to start.
Incorporating them into strategic planning strengthens the brand's positioning and helps attract and retain talent. This integration also:
- Improves corporate reputation;
- Opens new market opportunities;
- Ensures long-term sustainability;
- Responds to the needs and expectations of key stakeholders.
Relating the SDGs to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) programs allows companies address critical issues with a direct impact on ODS. This ensures operations and strategies that significantly contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.
The relationship between the SDGs and ESG programs is direct, as both share the promotion of sustainable and responsible business practices. The adoption of a well-structured ESG program allows companies to address critical issues related to their operations, with an impact on the SDGs.
SDGs and ESG in Softplan
Na Softplan, our ESG program in the structuring process is based on three pillars: Innovative Solutions, Transformative Relationships and Reliable Operations.
All of them are directly correlated to the SDGs and were structured based on international guidelines and methodologies, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), UN Global Compact and national guidelines such as the Ethos Institute and B3 Corporate Sustainability Index.
The fundamental objective of this process is to define the material themes of the organization, that is, the areas or themes that generate the most significant impacts (positive or negative) that the company causes (or can or could cause) on its most relevant stakeholders.
Based on the material themes that emerged from our process of listening and engaging with stakeholders, we identify the impacted SDGs, which led to the positioning on the strategic pillars:
- Innovative solutions: we use the tech to accelerate business efficiency and propose solutions that promote innovation and positive impacts for customers, society and the environment (SDGs 9, 10, 11, 13 and 16);
- Transformative Relationships: We believe in the transformative power of knowledge, That's why we foster an ecosystem that promotes the development and inclusion of employees and communities (SDGs 3, 4, 5 and 8);
- Reliable Operations: We have a continuous focus on the accurate, safe and ethical execution of all activities, ensuring reliability and consistency in each process (SDG 16).
How to measure and report
We are committed to measuring and reporting our impacts, recognizing the importance of indicators and criteria that make sense for the Softplan and our stakeholders.
This process is essential to ensure transparency and maximize the positive impact of our actions. Through continuous engagement with customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders, we seek to constantly improve our evaluation methods, ensuring that our initiatives effectively and genuinely contribute to the SDGs.
A Softplan is in a privileged situation in terms of its potential to generate positive impacts.
In the public sector, we have 9 Digital Transformation solutions who act directly to expand and qualify the provision of public services to society. I.e, greater efficiency and quality transform into greater well-being and social justice.
In civil construction, we have a ecosystem that currently has 7 solutions.
This sector, due to its nature of activity, is a large emitter of greenhouse gases. This means that the reduced waste and greater efficiency can mean less pollution.
Civil construction is also a sector that induces economic growth. According to ABRAINC, the civil construction chain moves 62 economic activities, which together represent 8% of GDP, that is, double the direct impact.
Compliant IBGE data, in the Contínua PNAD, in 2023 7,244 million people worked in civil construction. Of these, 2,748 million formally. I.e, there is potential to formalize 4,5 million workers.
How we do
Measuring this impact appropriately is the first step to starting the virtuous cycle of continuous improvement. In the case of our public sector solutions, thinking about the stakeholder Client, we created the ESG Indicator Center.
It is a tool that collaborates directly with the accountability of the results obtained to society and customers in a clear and transparent way.
Another advantage is promote continuous strategic discussion with stakeholders about how our solutions can maximize their positive impacts and eventually avoid, minimize, mitigate or remedy negative ones.
Thinking about our solutions for the Public Sector, more specifically for Courts of Justice, we have the SAJ (Justice Automation System). The digital judicial process, which eliminates the need for paper consumption, enabled savings of 2023 thousand tons of greenhouse gases in 68 (this is equivalent to a fleet of almost 60 thousand vehicles traveling on the streets in one year), which is directly related to SDG 13 – Action against global climate change.
The question remains (and consequently the objective and action plans): for 2024, how can we further reduce this volume of emissions?
Another example. Still in 2023, the Departments of Roads and Highways and State Infrastructure Secretariats, which use the Sider, it took an average of 23 hours to approve the contract measurements, which represents a gain of 45% compared to 2022.
Faster measurement contributes to greater agility in construction processes and inspection of public works, which in turn speak directly to SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
Still, for 2024, how can we support our customers to further shorten approval times?
SDG 16, for example, which deals with Peace, Justice and Effective Institutionss, it's practically the reason why the entire suite SAJ solutions, serving the Courts of Justice, Public Ministries, Public Defenders and Attorneys' Offices.
Our work in civil construction also has an organic and direct impact. One article A recent report by the Brazilian Association of Real Estate Developers correlated the construction chain with 9 different SDGs.
Already one study of the 2019 Green Building Council is even more educational in presenting the relationship between the SDGs and the construction chain:
The SDGs represent a milestone in the search for a more fair, equitable and sustainable future. Through the 2030 Agenda, the UN not only offers a comprehensive plan of action to address the greatest global challenges, but also provides a universal framework that can be adopted by governments, companies and individuals.
At the corporate level, the integration of the SDGs into business strategies is a matter of social responsibility and a opportunity for innovation and sustainable growth.
The relationship between the SDGs and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) programs highlights the importance of responsible business practices that directly impact global goals.
Adopting well-structured ESG principles allows companies to contribute significantly to the SDGs, addressing critical issues related to the environment, society and governance.
Na Softplan, the commitment to sustainability is reflected in our three pillars: Innovative Solutions, Transformative Relationships and Reliable Operations, each related to the specific purposes of the SDGs.
Measurement and accountability are essential to ensure transparency and maximize the positive impact of our actions. When developing solutions for the public sector and civil construction, we also seek to promote social well-being and reduce environmental impacts.
Tools such as the ESG Indicator Center and initiatives such as SAJ (Justice Automation System) exemplify our commitment to sustainability and innovation.