Local businesses hold back from engaging in global development issues primarily due to a lack of knowledge rather out of reluctance or economic concerns, an SOS Malta survey has found.

SOS Malta's Business with a Heart survey found that many business owners did not know much about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals or how they could apply them to their business.

Participants at the workshop.Participants at the workshop.

The survey informed a workshop on business and sustainable development held at Deloitte Malta offices in Mrieħel late last month, which sought to encourage and stimulate business owners to engage in tackling the SDGs. 

UN member states agreed to the 17 SDGs in September 2015, with the goals focused on ending poverty, protecting the planet, bringing about gender equality and ensuring prosperity for all. Each goal has specific targets to be met over the period to 2030. 

Malta Business Bureau Sustainable Development Manager Geoffrey Saliba highlighted the need, as well as benefits, for businesses to integrate sustainability into their business models, while Soap Cafe owner Charlene Mercieca explained how a sustainable business model was achievable for small business owners. 

SOS Malta's Business with a Heart project is partly funded by the re-granting fund of the EU-funded Educating For Change project implemented in Malta by SKOP. 

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