Exploring the Prioritisation Process of the Sustainable Development Goals by Business

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate emergent working practices in terms of how individual businesses determine which SDGs are most relevant to them and therefore which ones to prioritise for their business. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A questionnaire-based method was applied to enhance corporate sustainability experts' opinion on the specific subject of the SDG prioritisation process. FINDINGS: The results of this study suggest that board and CEO involvement in the process of decision-making for SDGs is lacking. Interestingly, the existence of current policies in place to reduce negative impacts together with commercial reasons were found to be the main motivation for prioritisation. In addition, many respondents indicated drawing a materiality matrix for the prioritisation process. Further investigations into the data indicated a lack of active research, ambition, and inaccurate reporting systems on SDGs for many of the studied companies. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results imply the need for regulatory policies for a quantitative reporting scheme. This will document both negative and positive impacts that can be measured clearly with KPIs, together with their financial implications. Another policy implication is for the government to introduce additional legislation and actively engage with industry to ensure that SDGs that are agreed by the global international community are adequately mandated. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study adds to businesses' wealth of information on SDG prioritisation steps by combining different variables that are significant determinants of the SDG selection process. It also provides an essential piece of information for businesses, sustainability leaders, policy-makers, and broader society to consider "who", "why" and "how" the SDG prioritisation decisions are being made.