10 Years of SDGs: The Time for Companies Is Now

Ten years after the signing of the 2030 Agenda, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain the compass for tackling decisive challenges such as climate, equity, and inclusive growth. Companies have a fundamental role to play: they can turn global visions into local, measurable, and shareable actions, helping to build a resilient and sustainable future for everyone.

What Are the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 by the United Nations as a universal agenda to guide the world toward a fairer future.
They are 17 goals that range from eradicating poverty to fighting climate change, from promoting quality education to protecting biodiversity. Each goal is interconnected: achieving gender equality, for example, also contributes to reducing inequalities and boosting economic growth. The SDGs are therefore not a list of isolated actions, but an integrated roadmap that calls on governments, civil society, citizens and, above all, businesses to play their part.

When, in 2015, the 193 UN member states signed the 2030 Agenda, the ambition was clear: to radically transform the global development model in just 15 years. Ten years later, this anniversary becomes a moment of both assessment and relaunch. Some results are encouraging: millions of people have gained access to clean energy and primary education, and public awareness of sustainability has grown. However, crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, conflicts, and the pandemic have slowed progress. Looking at this decade means recognizing what has been achieved, but above all what remains to be done. It’s a deadline that reminds us of the urgency to act now, turning goals into concrete actions.

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The Role of Companies

If governments define strategies and policies, companies are the practical engine of the transition toward sustainability. Their ability to innovate, invest, and influence entire value chains makes the private sector decisive for achieving the SDGs. It’s not just about reducing emissions or improving efficiency: it means rethinking business models in a circular way, creating decent work, fostering inclusion, and ensuring transparency.

Today, companies that limit themselves to “greenwashing” risk losing credibility, while those that integrate the SDGs into their corporate strategy demonstrate foresight and resilience. Stakeholders – consumers, investors, employees – demand coherence and genuine commitment. Thus, the role of companies is no longer accessory but central: they are the protagonists in turning the SDGs from a global vision into daily actions, capable of having both local and global impact.

Measuring Progress

Measuring progress on the SDGs is a complex but essential task. The UN has defined 231 official indicators, monitored by countries through their statistical systems.
These data are now complemented by new sources such as big data, environmental sensors, and contributions from civil society. According to UNECE, data quality is crucial: they must be timely, reliable, comparable, and accessible. Yet challenges remain: in many countries there are still statistical gaps, coordination difficulties, and scarce resources.

For companies, contributing to this system means publishing transparent sustainability reports, adhering to international standards (such as GRI or the SDG Compass), and integrating ESG metrics. In this way, data become tools not only for measurement but also for communication and accountability toward stakeholders. Without data, the SDGs remain abstract goals; with data, they become concrete, verifiable commitments.

Ten-Year Results

According to the UN 2025 Report, the results achieved in ten years are partial.
On the one hand, extreme poverty has decreased, renewable energy use is increasing, and access to healthcare and education is improving in many countries. On the other hand, the climate crisis continues to worsen, global CO₂ emissions are not decreasing enough, and social inequalities are widening, also due to the pandemic and conflicts.

In Europe, and particularly in Italy, progress has been made in health, gender equality, and energy efficiency, but setbacks are evident in biodiversity, land use, and reducing economic inequality. The picture is like a mosaic: some tiles shine, others remain incomplete. Precisely for this reason, the decade that remains before 2030 must be one of acceleration, with strengthened commitment from all actors – companies included.

Why They Matter for Companies

The SDGs provide companies with a universal language to communicate their commitment and a framework for guiding innovation and growth. More and more consumers are choosing brands that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility; investors look at ESG criteria to assess solidity and prospects; employees, especially younger ones, seek companies with authentic values.

In this context, integrating the SDGs is not a luxury but a necessity: it means building trust, reducing risks, accessing new markets, and strengthening competitiveness. Moreover, working with the SDGs helps identify business opportunities in emerging areas such as clean energy, circular economy, and social inclusion. For companies, therefore, these goals are not only ethical responsibilities but strategic levers for a more resilient and innovative future.

Virtuous Examples

Many companies have shown that linking their strategy to the SDGs is possible and generates value.
Of course, every company starts from a different baseline, but each can develop a path that makes sense for its business. Think of Unilever, which through its “Sustainable Living Plan” has reduced emissions, improved the health and well-being of millions, and demonstrated how sustainability can go hand in hand with economic growth. Or Microsoft, committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030. These are huge multinationals, with massive impact, yet they are striving to mitigate it. And then there are examples like Patagonia, which has built its identity on a radical commitment to the environment.

Treedom too, though younger, is an emblematic case of how innovative organizations can be protagonists: through our work, we contribute to 11 Sustainable Development Goals. Our corporate partners – such as Coop, Timberland, Internazionale, Unipol – have chosen Treedom to translate their commitment into tangible, communicable, and engaging actions for clients and employees. These examples demonstrate that the SDGs are not a constraint but an opportunity for leadership and innovation.

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How Treedom Can Help

Treedom is a unique platform that enables companies to take concrete action on the SDGs and communicate it authentically.
Planting trees doesn’t just mean absorbing CO₂ – it also means supporting local communities, protecting biodiversity, and promoting inclusive economic development. For companies, adopting Treedom projects means integrating their ESG goals with measurable and communicable actions: every tree has an online page that tells its story and the benefits it generates.

This allows companies to engage employees and customers, transforming an environmental gesture into a powerful shared narrative. In addition, Treedom provides transparent reports that help companies communicate results in sustainability reports, reinforcing credibility. Thus, a simple gesture like planting a tree becomes a strategic lever to demonstrate commitment to the SDGs, improve reputation, and strengthen relationships with all stakeholders.

The Future

Ten years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the SDGs remain a beacon lighting the way to a fairer and more sustainable future. The challenges are enormous, but so are the opportunities: innovation, inclusion, and collaboration can turn crisis into momentum. For companies, commitment to the SDGs is no longer optional: it’s a condition for remaining relevant and resilient. Governments, businesses, and citizens must move together: only then can the SDGs cease to be a list of good intentions and become the reality of a better world for all.