The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) are a framework for us to work towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

As an exercise to give more depth to my understanding of the 17 goals and 169 targets on the SDG's, I conducted an 'Audit' of my smallest construction company against them.

The process surprised me with the depth of insight it gave me, not just on the goals, though on a company I thought I knew inside out.

From the findings, I now have several actionable tasks and targets for the company that will improve our value and cash flow, quality of contracts and clients, work culture, training and content for marketing.

We now have a target to develop these over the next 12 weeks.

Tradesmate Pty Ltd focuses on building concrete structures from residential buildings to public infrastructure.

These were the draft notes taken.

SDG 1.
Work opportunities and training for the homeless. site finding 1% commission for them.

What local support is out there already? gov, community group, NFP, religious groups.

Is there a program we can create that helps them manage their pay for helping them get back in a stable routine?

SDG 2. N/A

SDG 3.

Strong OH&S policies and procedures

Strengthen prevention of drug and Alcohol abuse

Free Gym membership/Bondi Boxing Gym? not just for fitness but bonding in the team? if we are all at the same place it creates positive pressure for those that find it hard to stay motivated

SDG 4.

Skills training for the workers

English IELTS tests for workers to help motivate and improve their communication first so they can then get skills training

Educate the team on the SDG’s

Build a skilled workforce

SDG5.

Women in the workforce program

Are there any Tafe or trade education providers we could meet up with?

SDG 6.

Water stewardship program- brainstorm ways to reduce water waste on sites, better tap fittings and hoses and timers for curing concrete etc

Educate employees along with the SDG’s

Low environmental impact products like form oil and curing compounds

SDG 7.

100% commitment to using Company office and yard powered by Green Power

Employees educated on transferring over to Green Power as electricity service provider

Battery tools charged at night in the office or yard from Green Power

Solar charger for batteries on-site? maybe for the van

SDG 8.

Job creation

Apprenticeship opportunities, reach out to providers, see what incentives there are

Skills development

Check supply chain for child or forced labour ie material and clothing

Install firm policy on unfair hiring and benefits ie migrant workers

SDG 9.

Encourage employees to come up with new and innovative ways to deliver the project or implement the other SDG’s

SDG10.

Refugee and migrant worker employment opportunities

Refugee groups or agencies engagement

Check supply chain for equality and look for fair-trade opportunities

Sponsorship program for underprivileged though Educated foreign workers

SDG 11. ?

SDG 12.

Educate the teams and clients on waste, recycling, and sustainable procurement

Product portfolio analysis to identify innovation and reduction opportunities

Refuse Reduce Reuse Repurpose Recycle policies and practices

Do a full supply chain audit from material down to where we get the work shirts made from, the source country and company, checklists for unfair work conditions and child labour

Reduce manufacturing impact by substituting recyclable/renewable products and materials

Consider Modular design for waste/resource control and easier recycling reuse repurpose ability

Maximise waste reduction from all sources first and then onsite

Consider and possible map transport requirements of all material to assess true carbon footprint

After innovation opportunities identified, go out to industry and create partnerships and connect supply chain businesses to help them build connections and further innovate

Promote finding to the industry AND competitors, a rising tide floats all boats

These are not just for policy creation that are written but actionable, reportable outcomes

SDG 13.

Educate the builder about on-site power and their facilities using Green Power

Solar Charging systems for the work vans to charge power tool batteries

Research more on ‘Green’ concrete’s strength, price and suitabilities, talk to Boral and other manufactures and the concrete recycling companies and put it in a report for builders

Give builders, architects and structural engineers constructibility advice and design ideas to reduce the amount of concrete needed… we end up seeing all the structural designs across the built environment so are in the perfect position to spread design ideas across the advisors

Map transport needs of all material, services and labour for a job and see what can be controlled, reduced or omitted through options like changing air for sea freight, modular design or precasts

Consider climate risks in the supply chain and early adopt for new products, systems and assets

SDG 14.

Educate the teams and builders on water efficiency and off-site pollution

Check our own site water and waste controls for possible pollution of waterways

Track product life cycle to understand disposal and which products could end up in marine environments

Asses what chemicals are used in products, packaging and processing systems and reduce them on site

Improve water efficiency on-site and look for innovative systems

SDG 15.

Sustainable building material from companies with reputable forestry and mining practices

SDG 16.

Workers rights and developing support for the less advantaged in our teams including international/refugee workers

Anti-discrimination/gender policies and actionable practices and education amongst the work crews and subcontractors.

Follow this down the supply chain as well

SDG 17.

Mostly N/A though as a theme reach out and create better partnerships within the industry and even competitors for a more inclusive drive towards a sustainable industry

Conclusions-

Put a time frame of 3 months to implement all these conditions and update social of progress

Tradesmate are going for higher value and profile contracts possibly with government projects with the high social and environmental awareness and policies

Learn more about the ISO14000 Series

At very minimum the implementation of the SDG’s in a small company in an affluent country still raises the understanding and education of SDG’s

Some SDG’s are large focussed change on developing countries though using them as a theme to help develop a business on the micro-scale is beneficial ie SDG 9