SDG Flag Day: raise your flags!

September 23^rd is SDG Flag Day. You’ll see many SDG flags raised – an indication that more and more companies are getting involved in environmental and social issues in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. But how are these commitments, to our planet and people, manifested?

What are the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations (UN) Assembly in 2015. They represent a universal call to action to reduce – and even end – poverty, fight against climate change, and protect the planet and its people; all that by 2030.

There are 17 SDGs, covering the environmental, economic, and social spheres. Indeed, in the fight for a more sustainable world, each of these goals is linked to and impacts the others.

Today, many companies have committed to these goals by signing the United Nations Global Compact Commitment. The UN highlights that for these goals to be achieved in every context (at work, across borders, etc.) it is necessary for all of us to be involved; contributing knowledge, creativity, know-how, technology, and financial resources.

SDG Flag Day

Based on these Sustainable Development Goals, the UN established the SDG Flag Day. Every year, it takes place on the 25^th of September (unless it lands on a weekend, in which case it is moved to a substitute weekday). SDG Flag Day celebrates the anniversary of the SDGs adoption.

The UN invites all of us to be part of a global movement working #TogetherForTheSDGs. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on sustainability topics and to highlight every organization’s contribution.

The SDG Flag Campaign started in the Netherlands in 2020 and has spread to other countries; more and more people are mobilizing for a sustainable world. To celebrate this day, institutions raise the SDG flag and spread the word across their network.

To celebrate SDG Flag Day, Mantu organized a ‘Positive Impact Week’. This week was dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, environmental awareness and global and civic engagement.

During this week, dedicated Mantu’s employees delivered workshops on:

• Digital sobriety: giving people tips and tricks to help them reduce their digital carbon footprint
• Inclusive writing: providing guidelines and best practices on how to use inclusive language, brainstorming how to challenge biased language, and promoting inclusive writing within our organization
• Climate change: a collaborative Climate Fresk workshop will illuminate the fundamental science behind climate change and empower our people to take action
• Low-carbon society: a 2tonnes workshop will educate our people on the collective and individual actions that can be taken to reduce our environmental impact

Mantu’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Mantu is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. Here is an overview of some of Mantu’s actions:

Goal 3: good health and well-being

• Definition: To enable everyone to live in good health and to promote the well-being of all people of all ages
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Providing a healthy and safe working environment
  • Taking measures to anticipate and limit health risks at work: health and safety training and mental health awareness training

Goal 4: quality education

• Definition: Ensure equitable, inclusive, and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Providing training and educational opportunities to all employees
  • Encouraging internal mobility (geographical and occupational mobility)
  • Building local education partnerships with schools and non-profit organizations

Goal 5: gender equality

• Definition: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Setting specific inclusivity targets for the entire employment process (recruitment, salaries, promotions) as well as inclusive representation in leadership roles
  • Raising awareness by providing diversity and equal opportunity training and workshops
  • BS 76005 (Diversity & Inclusion) certified (Amaris UK) 

Goal 9: industry, innovation, and infrastructure

• Definition: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization that benefits all, and encourage innovation
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Investing in sustainable offices
  • Developing an innovation lab (solutions and services)

Goal 10: reduce inequalities

• Definition: Reduce inequalities within and between countries
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Providing training and educational opportunities to all employees
  • Acting against discrimination and harassment in the workplace through our non-discrimination policy and our code of ethics and conduct

Goal 12: responsible consumption and growth

• Definition: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Creating the Sustainable Business Center of Excellence
  • Optimizing our number of supplies

Goal 13: climate action

• Definition: Take urgent action to address climate change and its impacts
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Committing to the Net-Zero 2050 Science-Based Target
  • Measuring Mantu’s yearly carbon footprint
  • Developing Positive Impact business projects with the Sustainable Business Center of Excellence
  • Raising awareness via training and workshops (Climate Fresk)
  • ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 50001 (energy management) certified (Amaris France)

Goal 16: peace, justice, and strong institutions

• Definition: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ensure access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels
• Mantu’s actions:
  • Implementing an anti-corruption policy
  • Putting into practice a collaborator and customer privacy policy (ISO 27001 compliant)

Learn more about Mantu’s commitment to sustainability in our Sustainability Report available here. Because it is essential to act in the interest of a better world, let’s raise our SDG flags together!