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Management of sustainability in details

Step 3 and 4: Setting goals and Integrating

This module takes a closer look at steps 3 and 4 of sustainability management: Setting goals and
Integrating. Step 3 refers to goal setting and is directly linked to the outcomes from the influence
appraisal and prioritization falling under step 02. This is a critical factor in achieving good
outcomes since setting specific, measurable, and time-bound sustainability goals help promote

communicated preferences and conduct routine across the organization. The SDGs enable
companies to establish clear goals and effectively share dedication to sustainable development
(Izzo, Granà, Izzo & Busco, 2020). The step 03 can be divided into:

• specify the scope of goals and KPIs,

• specify baseline and choice goal kind,

• specify the level of ambition,
• declare commitment to SDGs.

The organization’s strategy determines how it plans, supervises risks, and maximizes
opportunities; therefore, companies should develop their strategic objectives in order to support
suitable and effective SDGs via their business model. It means including resource distribution
plans and clear, quantified short, medium, and long-term targets (UN Global Compact, 2015).
After goal setting, specific KPIs are recognized together with individual goals suitable for each

organization´s strategic priorities. At this point, step 04 occurs; integrating sustainability into the
business and embedding targets across processes and operations plays an essential role in
managing these goals (SDG Compass, 2015a). Integrating sustainability helps convert all aspects
of an organization´s core business (product and service, customer segments, supply chain
management, managing raw materials, transport and distribution networks, and product end-of-
life) (Verboven & Vanherck, 2016). Companies are increasingly working with partners to enhance

their impact and reach to pursue shared objectives or address systematic changes. This step
consists of actions (SDG Compass, 2021):
• anchoring sustainability goals within the business,

• ingrain sustainability across all operations and processes,

• encounter in partnerships.

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