Delivering the SDGs requires productive partnerships between business, government and society and last year we became a signatory to the UN Global Compact (UNGC), a voluntary initiative which brings together leading businesses committed to UN goals and universal sustainability principles.

This year we’re pleased to report our first annual Communication on Progress (COP) in our 2020 Sustainability Performance and Data Report.

By demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the UNGC’s Ten Principles in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption, we’re substantially advancing our vital work towards meeting the SDGs.

We’ve mapped our sustainability programme to the SDGs to ensure our priorities are in line with the wider world. Our activities relate to all 17 goals but the following are especially pertinent to what we do and how we do it. You can find all of our sustainability commitments here.

SDG 1: No poverty

We support people furthest from the job market in our local communities by providing training, work placements and a direct route into a job.

SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing 

We are committed to ensuring our buildings are designed and managed to maximise wellbeing and we put strong emphasis on health, safety and security in everything we do.

SDG 4: Quality education

We run a high-profile community education programme that has a real impact on local communities.

SDG 5: Gender equality

We’re committed to making measurable improvements to the profile – in terms of gender, ethnicity and disability – of our employee mix.

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

We’re committed to buying 100% renewable electricity across our portfolio and to investing in low carbon technologies in our buildings, including solar power.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

In addition to our community employment work, we protect labour rights and maintain an exceptional standard of health, safety and security in all the working environments we control.

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

We focus on sustainable design and innovation, e.g. through investing in clean technologies as well as collaborating with our partners to encourage greater supply chain transparency and the proliferation of responsible practices in our value chain.

SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

As well as working to create substantial social value through our community programmes, we’re working to ensure that everyone working on our behalf, in an environment we control, is given equal opportunities, protected from discrimination and paid at least the Real Living Wage.

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

We work to create spaces and places that help our customers and communities thrive, a process which includes thinking about how we can enhance local infrastructure and prosperity.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

We promote responsible sourcing of materials, and as well putting in place stretching waste management targets, we’re now working to implement circular economy principles.

SDG 13: Climate action

We were the world’s first property company to have an accredited science-based carbon reduction target, which now forms part of our net zero carbon strategy, underlining that we’re playing our part in keeping to a 1.5^oC world.

SDG 15: Life on land

We’re committed to maximising the biodiversity potential of all our development and operational sites and aiming to achieve significant biodiversity net gains across sites with the most potential.

SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions 

We embrace our responsibility to respect human rights and have zero-tolerance policy for bribery and corruption, in addition to collaborating with our supply partners in order to prevent modern slavery and promote fair, ethical treatment of everyone working across our sites on our behalf.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

We’re dedicated to working with our supply chain partners, charity partners and the communities within which we operate, as well as the real estate industry and government, to tackle global environmental and societal problems and thereby achieve the SDGs.