THE UN'S 17 Global Goals

To ensure sustainable global development, all the world's countries agreed in 2015 on 17 Global Goals to be achieved by 2030.

 

At Coredesign, we have long attached great importance to the climate. This is also the reason why we have a wide range of environmentally friendly products and have such a strong focus on sustainability. But that is not enough.

 

That is why we have immersed ourselves in all of the 17 World Goals and chosen to focus on them all - but we also recognize that it is somewhat ambitious and naive to have an equal focus on all 17 World Goals. That is why we have chosen to have a greater focus on 5 of them: 5 Gender Equality, 8 Decent Jobs and Economic Growth, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 Climate Action and 15 Life in the Country.

 

Each goal is covered by a number of sub-goals and indicators. Below, we briefly touch on it in order to form an overall picture:

 

Global Goal 1: What it means: Right now more than 700 million people live in "extreme poverty". Extreme poverty is defined as a personal income of less than 1.9 dollars a day. One of the sub-goals is to abolish all forms of poverty by 2030.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we care a lot about labor rights. Therefore, employees must be paid a decent living wage and above the minimum wage. The same applies to the suppliers we choose to cooperate with. There, the salary must be at least the minimum wage laid down in local legislation. In addition, we also sell Fairtrade products, and Fairtrade ensures agreements that national agreements on minimum wages and working conditions are respected.

 

Global Goal 2: What it means: In 2014, 795 million people are estimated to be chronically undernourished. Among other things, the sub-goals state that by 2030 hunger must be eradicated, and everyone must be guaranteed access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign we help where we can. We have therefore chosen to support Hus Forbi, and some of the money goes, among other things, to feeding the homeless and socially disadvantaged in Denmark.

 

Global Goal 3: What it means: Every year, thousands die due to disease. In developing countries, these are diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS. One of the sub-goals is therefore to spread universal health insurance and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for everyone.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we care a lot about health and well-being. Therefore, all employees are also covered by health insurance, and if there is a need for psychological crisis help, we immediately contact this or ECOHouse – our business partner. We also run MUS interviews to, among other things, ensure employee well-being. We also require our suppliers to ensure a healthy and safe working environment that complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding health, the environment and working conditions. In addition, we support the Children's Cancer Foundation.

Not only that, we also completely avoid products that contain dangerous chemicals, CMR substances* and substances that are highly harmful to health. This also helps to promote a healthy life for all.

 

Global Goal 4: What it means: Although the overall enrollment rate is higher than in the past, there are still many who drop out of school or do not complete their education. Therefore, the goal is to ensure everyone has equal access to quality education and to promote everyone's opportunities for lifelong learning.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we ensure that employees have statutory training. In addition, we also focus on further training our employees and ensuring they receive quality training. In connection with legal news emails, we also keep an eye out for new formal qualification requirements.

 

Global Goal 5: What it means: Even though more girls go to school and more women become wage earners outside agriculture, there are still significant differences between men and women – also in the labor market. One of the sub-goals is that women must be ensured full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels in decision-making processes within politics, economics and public life.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we have a strong focus on gender equality. Gender is therefore not a decisive factor in determining the salary, but instead one's qualifications are. We consider ourselves to be like-minded with each of our responsibilities. In addition, we have a female manager.

 

Global Goal 6: What it means: Although 2.1 billion people have gained improved access to water and sanitation since 1990, water scarcity still affects more than 40 percent of the world's population. Universal and equal access to safe drinking water at an affordable price must therefore be achieved by 2030 for all. In addition, equal access to suitable sanitation, hygiene and proper toilet conditions must be achieved for all.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we take great care that the facilities must be in order. Therefore, all employees have access to clean water and proper toilet conditions. The same applies to our suppliers. The supplier is therefore responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient, clean toilet and bathing facilities. In addition, employees must have access to clean drinking water.

 

Global Goal 7: What it means: Today, one in five still lacks access to electricity. As the demand becomes greater, there is a need for a significant increase in the production of renewable energy worldwide. One of the sub-goals is therefore that, by 2030, universal access to reliable and modern energy supplies at an affordable price must be ensured.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we give high priority to the environment. That is why we also have a Zero-CO2 Certificate, as we have a CO2-neutral website. Therefore, the CO2 emission from both our website and our users of it is neutralized through measurable CO2 reductions. The reductions take place i.a. when setting up new, renewable energy sources (e.g. wind turbines) and when participating in controlled, CO2-reducing projects. We also collect batteries and use energy saving light bulbs.

 

SDG 8: What it means: We still see today slower growth, greater inequality and an employment rate that is not growing fast enough to keep up with the growing workforce. One of the sub-goals is therefore to achieve decent jobs for all women and men by 2030. In addition, immediate and effective measures must be taken to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we attach great importance to the working conditions being in order for everyone – both for our employees, but also for our suppliers' employees. Therefore, neither forced nor child labor of any kind may be used in our or our suppliers' workplaces. The same applies to discrimination; this must not occur or be supported. In addition, we require our suppliers to ensure the rights, health and safety of employees, and production must be carried out in a responsible and safe manner. That is why we also require our suppliers to sign our Code of Conduct.

 

Global Goal 9: What it means: Today, there are still more than 4 billion people who do not have access to the Internet. Technological development is also the key to finding sustainable solutions to both economic and environmental challenges. One of the sub-goals is that everyone must have access to information and communication technology.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we take great care to keep up with technological developments, so we have access to information and communication technology. In addition, the technology is also becoming more and more environmentally friendly, which is a journey we attach great importance to.

 

Global Goal 10: What it means: Income inequality is still widening, with the richest 10% earning up to 40% of total global income, while the poorest 10% only earn between 2-7%. Therefore, one of the sub-goals states that by 2030 a gradual increase in income must be achieved and maintained for the bottom 40 percent of the population, which is higher than the national average.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we believe that everyone should have fair wages. In addition, we have also chosen to support Hus Forbi, which among other things gives some of the money to the sellers as well as shelter for the homeless and socially disadvantaged in Denmark.

 

Global Goal 11: What it means: The big cities have gotten bigger and in 2022 there were 31 megacities (cities with +10 million inhabitants). Therefore, some of the sub-goals state that by 2030 the negative environmental impact per population is reduced, among other things, by placing particular emphasis on waste sorting. In addition, universal access must be provided to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

 

How Coredesign contributes: Coredesign has chosen to be located in Copenhagen, which consciously engages in sustainable initiatives such as keeping Copenhagen clean, sustainable transport, green areas and ensuring easy and safe bicycle transport options. The vast majority of our employees also take public transport, walk or cycle to work. In addition, we also make a conscious choice when there are elections, so that we can have a voice in the green measures.

 

Global Goal 12: What it means: As soon as possible, we must have reduced our footprint on nature, within the production and consumption of our goods and resources. Therefore, some of the sub-goals state that by 2030, global food waste must be halved, and companies must be encouraged to use sustainable practices and to integrate information about sustainability in their reporting cycle.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we attach great importance to sustainability. Therefore, we have undertaken a lot of measures, e.g. to use recycled and recyclable materials when possible and legal in relation to requirements such as traceability and hygiene. We completely avoid products that contain CMR substances and substances that are highly harmful to health, and undertake to continuously improve our environmental performance and prevent pollution from our products and activities. In addition, we have also donated surplus clothing to the Red Cross.

 

Global Goal 13: What it means: Today, the emission of greenhouse gases is more than 50% higher than the level in 1990. Therefore, one of the sub-goals states that all countries must reduce their Co2 emissions.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign we are very concerned about the climate. We have therefore chosen to support Verdens Skove's work and have thus helped to support the conservation of 1285 square meters of rainforest, which corresponds to approximately 80 tonnes of CO2 equivalents. We also often hold digital meetings with our customers and suppliers, and in this way we and they save on transport, and thus also on CO2 emissions. Otherwise, we also have a showroom centrally located at Islands Brygge, and most of our customers come by here either on foot or by bicycle when meetings are held. And then we also have a No-CO2 certificate, as we have a CO2-neutral website.

 

Global Goal 14: What it means: Today, there are an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic waste in every square kilometer in the ocean. Therefore, one of the sub-goals is that by 2025, all forms of marine pollution must be prevented and significantly reduced – especially pollution caused by land-based activities, including marine litter and pollution with nutrients.

 

How Coredesign contributes: As a total supplier within Branding & Gifts, we make high demands on our suppliers. Therefore, they must follow applicable laws and regulations on environmental protection, which must be observed as a minimum. This means that the supplier must strive to reduce waste and discharges to air, soil and water, handle, store and dispose of environmentally hazardous waste in an environmentally sound and responsible manner and contribute to the recycling of materials and products. In this way, we ensure that our products, packaging and the like do not end up in the oceans.

 

Global Goal 15: What it means: Every year the planet loses 13 million hectares of forest. This is due to both forest fires and precipitation. Therefore, one of the sub-goals states that deforestation must be stopped and degraded forests must be restored. In addition, we must grow food in a sustainable way.

 

How Coredesign contributes: At Coredesign, we take the quality of our products very seriously. Therefore, some of our food products are also Fairtrade and/or organic, which is why it is produced in a sustainable way. We also have a number of products that are FSC-labelled. Therefore, the paper or wood comes from an FSC forest, where no more wood is felled than the forest itself can reproduce. In addition, we have supported the work of Verdens Skoves and along the way helped to preserve parts of the rainforest.

 

SDG 16: What it means: We live in a world that is increasingly divided. Armed violence and insecurity have a devastating effect on a country's development. Therefore, some of the sub-goals state that mistreatment, exploitation and human trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children must be stopped, as well as all forms of corruption and bribery must be reduced significantly.

 

How Coredesign contributes: As mentioned, at Coredesign we place a high value on labor rights. Therefore, corporal punishment may not be used, employees may freely associate or organize with associations of their choice, and bribes may not be offered, promised, given, accepted or demanded.

 

SDG 17: What it means: The SDGs can only be realized through strong global commitment and cooperation. One of the sub-goals is to strengthen North-South and South-South cooperation by supporting national plans to achieve all the global goals. Through the promotion of international trade and support for increased exports from developing countries will contribute to achieving a universal, rules-based and fair trading system that is fair and open and to the benefit of all.

 

How Coredesign contributes: To ensure that we in Coredesign contribute to the UN's Global Goals, we have entered into a collaboration with ECOHouse, Global Goods, GRAKOM, among others, and we are ISO-certified.

We are selective when it comes to our suppliers – not only when it comes to the quality of the products, but also the conditions. That is why we have long-term and strong collaborations with suppliers who support our strategies towards a sustainable future and who ensure good conditions for their employees. Furthermore, we have a collaboration with a number of suppliers in the east to also promote and support increased exports from the developing countries.

 

If you want to read more about the UN's 17 Global Goals, see here.