This year\u2019s theme will focus on how accreditations support \u2018the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).\u2019 adopted at the UN Summit in September 2015 it specifically invites the creation of an integrated, holistic, multi-stakeholder approach.<\/p>\r\n
The United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals<\/a> (SDGs) are the world\u2019s call to action on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing humanity and the natural world.<\/p>\r\n The SDGs encourage authorities to deliver on national and international commitments such as asking governments to address human rights, water and energy efficiency, public health, and other policy areas. It is a blueprint for achieving a better more sustainable future for everyone by tackling issues such as poverty, climate change, environmental degradation, and prosperity, and accreditation plays a leading role in tackling them.<\/p>\r\n For those that are at the beginning of a sustainability journey, it can be a challenge to know how to get started and how to communicate intentions as not all the 17 SDGs are equally relevant to a business. The extent to which a company can contribute to each, and the risks and opportunities they represent, will depend on many factors and the key, therefore, is to help businesses better understand the SDGs. To translate these into a business context and introduce impactful measures to align with the SDGs.<\/p>\r\n The third-party management systems such as Quality Management Systems, Environmental Management System are frequently specified to operate in the global market place and it can demonstrate compliance to a standard, a code of practice or regulatory requirement<\/a> and it is frequently used in most areas covered by the SDG\u2019s. A recently released UNIDO-IAF-ILAC brochure\u00a0<\/a>highlights the contribution of accredited conformity assessment services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.<\/p>\r\n Here are some key points from the publication on how accreditation supports a few of the SDGs<\/p>\r\n Health is crucially important and the cornerstone for human development, provision for universal health remains a global challenge and the use of accreditation within the health and social care sector can help drive up the quality and consistency of services provided by:<\/p>\r\n Additionally, to the essential accreditation to enable laboratories to demonstrate their competence to deliver these services reliably the ISO 9001 standard provides organisations that deliver health and social care services a way to continuously support quality.<\/p>\r\n Safe food and clean drinking water<\/p>\r\n Food and water safety are an essential part of everyday life and accreditation provides assurance and confidence that the quality and safety throughout the supply chain meets specific requirements by accredited laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies by:<\/p>\r\n Certification of energy management systems can help business improve energy-related performance and identify energy reduction opportunities that enhance the use of energy through energy efficiency by:<\/p>\r\n Health and safety in the workplace are a core element and has a wide impact on sustainable development in a business. They face increasing social, commercial, and regulatory pressures to assess and control hazards and risks from their operations and accreditation helps by:<\/p>\r\n Certification of Occupational Health and Safety Management systems or other management systems can help support effective management of health and safety in the workplace ensuring sustainable environmental concerns related to health and safety in the workplace are effectively managed.<\/p>\r\n Industry and manufacturing are the main drivers of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, accreditation enables consumers, suppliers, purchasers, and regulators to have confidence that products placed on the market are safe and meet the manufacturer’s claims by:<\/p>\r\n Waste management and recycling will help to future proof communities with cleaner energy, reductions in pollution and better use of effective chemicals and waste management solutions, accreditation manages the control of these by:<\/p>\r\nWhere do you start with sustainable development goals?<\/h3>\r\n
SDG 3 Good health and well being<\/h3>\r\n
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SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation<\/h3>\r\n
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SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy<\/h3>\r\n
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SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth<\/h3>\r\n
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SDG 9 Industry, innovation, and infrastructure<\/h3>\r\n
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SDG 13 Climate action<\/h3>\r\n