SDGs and Procurement

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal set of 17 inter-related goals, targets and indicators that aimed to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These 17 goals were built on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, but include new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice, among other priorities.
The SDGs work in the spirit of partnership and pragmatism to make the right choices now to improve life, in a sustainable way, for future generations. They provide clear guidelines and targets for all countries to adopt in accordance with their own priorities and the environmental challenges of the world. For more information on the SDGs, click here.

Health Care Without Harm and the SDGs

Health Care Without Harm, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), began a joint project named SHiPP based on SDG number 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. The program aims to reduce the harm to people and the environment caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of medical products and by the implementation of health programs. For more information on SHiPP, click here.

Integrating sustainability criteria into procurement process aligns with and will contribute to results under a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well which means that SHiPP works in exactly the manner the SDGs are intended to be implemented. These include:

  • SDG 3 Good Health and Well Being;
  • SDG 5 Gender Equality;
  • SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  • SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy;
  • SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth;
  • SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities;
  • SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production;
  • SDG13 Combat climate change;
  • SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.