The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address 17 global challenges the world is currently facing. They involve ambitious plans of action to benefit people, planet, and prosperity. These goals are universal, applying to all nations and people. The goals include areas on improving equality and people’s lives, increasing economic sustainability, and the protection of ecosystems. The goals can only be achieved with the aid of the private sector working with governments, parliaments, the United Nations (UN) system and other international institutions, local authorities, civil society, the scientific and academic community – and all people.   

The main aim of the SDG Industry Matrix is to convert the interest stimulated by the SDGs into strategic industry activities that grow in scale and impact. This could be through generating new innovative approaches, prompting companies to replicate successful activities in new markets, catalysing new collaborations, and increasing participation in existing collaborations. This report is one of six reports which recognise that opportunities for action vary significantly between industries. The collection of reports explains how each industry can use the SDGs to influence action that creates value for shareholders and society.   

This report explores how companies within the food, beverage, and consumer goods industry can engage in sustainable action for the good of their own company, society, and the environment. The report focuses on the idea of shared value representing the coming together of market potential, societal demands, and policy action to create a more sustainable and inclusive path to economic growth, prosperity, and wellbeing. The report then goes on to profile some of the most significant opportunities, principle-based initiatives, and collaborations for the food, beverage & consumer goods industry to engage in. For example, good practice of the Fairtrade movement certification scheme involves marking products with the Fairtrade symbol to acknowledge that the ingredients and production of the product meet the Fairtrade social, economic, and environmental standards. These standards include protection of the workers’ rights and the environment and payment of the Fairtrade minimum price. 

The report outlines opportunities for companies to create value for their business and society through each of the 17 SDGs.  This section of the report also includes leading examples of companies currently implementing such change. For example, the Poverty Footprint Studies conducted by Unilever, Coca-Cola, SABMiller, and IPLs are given as leading examples. These studies impact SDG 1 to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere”, as the research assesses the impact of these companies’ operations on people living in poverty.

This research then informs and improves the companies’ policies, practices, and product design, which enhances the economic and social impact.   

1. KPMG International and the UN Global Compact have developed six industry matrices which provide industry-specific practical examples and ideas for action for each Sustainable Development Goal. They profile opportunities which companies expect to create value for shareholders and for society. The six areas are: Financial Services, Food, Beverage and Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Industrial Manufacturing, Transportation and Energy, Natural Resources and Chemicals.
2. The SDG Industry Matrix aims to inspire and inform greater private sector action to drive inclusive, sustainable prosperity. It assists each specific industry to recognise specific opportunities, providing industry specific ideas for action and practical examples for each relevant SDG.
3. Companies in the food, beverage, and consumer goods industry can implement change to create shared value across all 17 of the SDGs.
4. Many companies within the industry have already implemented SDG focused action, increasing their value.
   
5. Opportunities for shared value creation within the food, beverage and consumer goods industry involve enterprise development, sustainable supply, healthy, sustainable living, and product innovation.
6. The SDGs provide an opportunity for companies to create shared value in four ways: developing products, services, technologies, and distribution channels to reach low-income consumers; investing in supply chains which are ethical, inclusive, resource-efficient and resilient; improving the skills, opportunities, well-being and hence productivity of employees, contracts and suppliers; and increasing investment in renewable energy and other infrastructure projects.
7. Current trends make opportunities for shared value more compelling to companies. Firstly, the projected increase in the population of developing regions compared to developed regions. Secondly, the growth in the spending power of the world's bottom 40%. Thirdly, rapid innovation and improved technology. Finally, increased collaborations allowing for the development of new ways of working with each other in pursuit of compatible objectives.
8. Companies within the food, beverage, and consumer goods industry are collaborating to advance sustainable development and increase shared value. For example, the Global Food Safety Initiative involves collaboration with the world's leading safety experts across retail, manufacturing, and food service companies, as well as international companies, governments, academia, and service providers. They aim to provide thought leadership and guidance on food safety management system and the supply chain.
9. Good practice, principles, and initiatives within the food, beverage, and consumer goods industry involve certification schemes, standards, and tools. Examples from these three areas include the Rainforest Alliance; Food Loss and Waste Protocol; and High Conservation Value Networks.