What is Sustainable Buddy Initiative
Sustainable Buddy Initiative (SBI), is a global "for-benefit" organisation using collaborative learning solutions and other tools - to spread sustainable development, thinking, strategies, reporting and implementation. Our creative inter-organisational strategic learning processes and tools are grounded in Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work consists of establishing Agenda 2030 as a strategic cross-sector collaboration and guide for social, economic/business and environmental innovation and impact.
A Buddy Process - and much, much more
SBI started with the development of a buddy process to help small and medium companies to kickstart their sustainability journey and for larger companies to develop further. The famous oat drink company Oatly AB and OPO Scandinavia producers of eye-wear participated in a transforming pilot. It quickly became clear that our methods and tools have a much wider societal effects and implications. We have therefore entered into collaboration under the banner of Goal 17, with a broad spectrum of actors that can aid us in the diffusion of sustainability measures to build awareness, increase knowledge and foster positive change for individuals and organisations on all levels and in all sectors. We work with learning, method development, organisational change, leadership, conceptualisation and branding - in all sectors and in a global setting . The goal is to integrate sustainability as a holistic baseline, into the core of organisations - in order to make a substantial, truthful, honest and transparent external impact.
The Business perspective
In Agenda 2030 the United Nations calls on the business world to apply creativity and innovation to solve sustainable development challenges. Participation and Collaboration is key to realise the sustainable development challenges. A significant effort is made by the United Nations to bring the business sector to the table. Goal #17, "Partnerships for the Goals" - is Calling for the Collaboration and Participation by ALL actors.
Multinational Corporations (MNCs) represent 6% of all the companies in the world (0.1% in Sweden) and is responsible for 60% of the global economy. Most MNCs are today mandated by governments and pressured by external forces to work with sustainable development. They are often criticised for not doing enough. With the urgency to meet increased environmental, social and economic challenges - the need for new knowledge, learning, creativity and innovation, is greatly warranted. Today the marker is all about sustainability - and in order to stay competitive we have to align ourselves with the future.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) represent 94% of all the companies in the world (99% in the EU). They serve as the social and economical cradle of our communities. Almost every daily interaction we have, somehow/somewhere, involves an SME. Plain and simple without SMEs our societies would cease to function. Unfortunately most SMEs do not have the resources - money/time/know-how - for sustainable development. In order secure a sustainable future and meet the goals of Agenda 2030 and we must include SMEs in the process and and deepen our knowledge by collaborating with others.Governments
There is an essential role of national parliaments through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets and their role in ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments. Governments and public institutions will also work closely on implementation with regional and local authorities, sub-regional institutions, international institutions, academia, philanthropic organizations, volunteer groups and others. Governments have the primary responsibility for follow up and review, at the national, regional and global levels, in relation to the progress made in implementing the Goals and targets over the coming 15 years. Governments must take a central role in the partnership/collaboration configuration presented in Goal 17. They must provide the means required to realize our collective ambitions. With that said: Government institutions, departments - on national, regional and local levels - all need to work to integrate sustainability into the core of their organisations. This is where SBI comes in.
NGOs
Civil society has an important role in aiding other sectors by creating awareness and spreading knowledge of the agenda. It can also help in mobilizing citizens for action around sustainability. There are many organisations, that are not directly involved in sustainability work and can therefore be seen as an untapped source for accelerating the realization of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. We are currently collaborating with a number of NGOs ranging from think tanks, research institutes, innovation platforms, sports clubs and humanitarian organisations.
Academia
Science is perhaps more important than ever. Working together with academia is the only way we can ground ourselves in accurate, truthful and transparent clarity of the social, economic and environmental crisis at hand. Therefore we need to follow science closely. We also need to carefully monitor and measure the progress of Agenda 2030 and SDGs - this is done by scientists all over the world through 244 indicators. SBI collaborates closely with academia. We are verifying and testing our concepts, method development, workshops and presentations together with university students and faculty.