SDG- [ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL ] MATRIX

Steps for Achieving Sustainable Developments for Organizations

An “SDG matrix” is a planning and analytical tool used by organizations and governments to evaluate, prioritize, and manage their contributions toward achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Matrices are effective because they reveal the relationships between various goals and specific activities, helping to identify synergies and potential trade-offs. 

1. SDG Industry Matrix

Created in partnership between the UN Global Compact and KPMG, this matrix helps businesses align their corporate strategy with the SDGs. 

• How it works: This matrix provides industry-specific examples and practical actions that a business can take for each of the 17 SDGs. It profiles opportunities that create shared value for both shareholders and society.
• Example: A food and beverage company can use the matrix to identify actions related to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by improving sustainable sourcing or reducing food waste. 

2. SDG Interaction Matrix

This type of matrix systematically maps the interlinkages between different SDGs and their individual targets to reveal how they influence one another. 

• How it works: It uses a scale to score the relationships between each SDG pair as either reinforcing, indivisible, or conflicting. This approach helps policy-makers understand the systemic consequences of their decisions.
• Example: A government planning a new policy on clean energy (SDG 7) can use an interaction matrix to see how this initiative might create positive synergies with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by reducing air pollution. 

3. SDG Materiality Matrix

This tool helps organizations determine which sustainability topics and SDGs are most important to their business and their stakeholders. 

• How it works: The matrix plots issues on a two-dimensional graph, weighing their significance to the business (e.g., financial impact, risk) against their importance to external stakeholders (e.g., customers, investors, communities). The most critical issues are those that are material from both a business and a stakeholder perspective.
• Double materiality: A more comprehensive approach, this matrix considers both the impact of sustainability issues on the business (financial materiality) and the business’s impact on society and the environment (impact materiality). 

How organizations use an SDG matrix

Regardless of the type, an SDG matrix provides a clear framework for action. Organizations typically use them to: 

• Guide strategy: Align core business strategies with global sustainability goals.
• Prioritize efforts: Focus resources on the most relevant and impactful areas.
• Enhance reporting: Provide clear and transparent communication to stakeholders about their contributions to the SDGs.
• Assess risk: Identify potential trade-offs or conflicts between different sustainability goals.
• Improve performance: Identify gaps where performance is lagging and where new initiatives or governance changes are needed.