Aviva, the UN Foundation, and Index Initiative are rounding up the consultation phase of the World Benchmarking Alliance. From September 2017 until May 2018 we engaged with regional and global stakeholders in various ways, to gather input and insights on WBA’s objectives and governance structure, and to identify and prioritise critical intersections between industries and SDGs. The WBA aims to develop, fund, house, and safeguard free, publicly available corporate sustainability benchmarks aligned with the SDGs.
Stay in touch and keep up to date with our findings and results from the consultation phaseBenchmarking Companies as a Driver for Change
We envisage a sustainable future, where everyone will be able to see how companies contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“I’m excited to be a part of a strong alliance of stakeholders that collectively shape and realise the World Benchmarking Alliance. It was wonderful that our recent Rome Roundtable comprehensively endorsed the progress of the WBA and enabled many more allies and ambassadors to come on board in support”
Steve Howard
Secretary General, The Global Foundation
“This is not about companies spending money as charity, viewing it that way disrespects the spirit of the SDGs. It’s about companies making the SDGs part of their core business and being held accountable.”
Sigrid Kaag
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, The Netherlands
“The ultimate goal is that all companies report on their contribution to the SDGs. This allows us to compare commitments and performance to our peers and shows us where we must improve.”
Paul Polman
CEO Unilever and Co-chair of the BSDC
“EAT is proud to be a strategic partner to the WBA consultations and supports the development of metrics and indicators capturing the full range of co-benefits of sustainable and healthy diets. Competition makes us faster, collaboration makes us better. The WBA aims to do both. By ranking companies based on their contribution to the SDGs, competitive benchmarking can be a powerful catalyst for change.”
Dr. Gunhild A. Stordalen
Founder & President, EAT Foundation
“We need more businesses of all sizes and investors to embrace the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Benchmarks can translate the SDGs into a business and innovation agenda, creating clarity on the unique role and abilities of companies to contribute to sustainable development in developing countries. Clarity on the role of business will equally demonstrate where we as governments must step up.”
Ulla Tørnæs
Minister for Development Cooperation, Denmark
“Our clients expect us to meet investment objectives as well those of society over the long term. The efforts of the World Benchmarking Alliance will assist asset managers to achieve this alignment.”
Hendrik du Toit
CEO Investec Asset Management
“The world needs business and leaders to step up, speak out, and act on the defining challenges of our time – climate change, the inclusion of women as leaders & drivers of change, and genuine equality. Benchmarks can credit those wo do, and inspire others to act.”
Sam Mostyn
Company Director, Non-Executive Director, Chair (Citibank Australia), and Sustainability Adviser
“The World Benchmarking Alliance was born from a realisation that the way in which markets function is putting too much strain on the planet; a recognition that investment capital is not doing enough to reward good business practices.”
Mark Field
UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office