Analyzing CSR & UN SDGs: Case Studies of Woolworths & ALDI Group

This report examines the interrelationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It begins by defining CSR as a company's responsibility towards the sustainable development of society and the environment, aligning with the UN's 17 SDGs, which address global challenges like poverty, hunger, education, and climate action. The report then evaluates the CSR policies of two Australian companies, Woolworths and ALDI, assessing their contributions to achieving the SDGs through initiatives such as promoting gender equality, reducing food wastage, minimizing carbon emissions, supporting sustainable food production, and conserving resources. The analysis highlights specific measures taken by both companies to align their business practices with the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection.

Running head: INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Interrelationship between CSR and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals
(SDG)
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Executive Summary
The aim of this report is understand the interrelationship of the CSR and the United Nation
Sustainable development goals (SDGs). A detailed discussion has been made in the report on
how the can a company can fulfil the objective of the United Nation SDGs by just
appropriately complying with their company CSR policy. Further at the end of the report a
critical analysis has been made Woolworths and ALDI an Australian based company. The
analysis has been made to understand how these two company fulfill their responsibility
towards the society by following their CSR policy.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................4
PART-A.....................................................................................................................................4
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).................................................................................4
United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).........................................................5
Realizing the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through CSR...........8
PART –B....................................................................................................................................9
Evaluation of CSR policies of Woolworth and Aldi in the achievement of the United
Nation sustainable development goals (SDGs)......................................................................9
Woolworth’s group................................................................................................................9
Significant measures taken by Woolworths.........................................................................10
ALDI....................................................................................................................................11
Significant measures taken by ALDI...................................................................................12
Conclusion................................................................................................................................13
References................................................................................................................................14

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to understand the role of Corporate social responsibility
(CSR) in the in the achievement of the United Nation sustainable development goal. CSR is
basically the responsibility of the business or the corporation towards the sustainable
development of the society and the environment in which they run their business
(Bebbington, & Unerman, 2018).
These business extract almost everything from society and the environment to run
their business operation. Such resources includes human work force, raw material for
production, water, land and natural resources. These business owes a responsibility towards
the society, therefore they must return back to the society by contributing good deeds.
Such contribution has been set up as 17 goals by the United Nation refers as
Sustainable development goals (SDGs). Some of the goal included are No poverty, Zero
hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality and sanitation,
affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, Industry Innovation and
Infrastructure and many others.
Further at the end of the report a critical analysis has been done between the two
Australian firm known as Woolworth’s group and ALDI. Both are Australian firm,
Woolworths is listed on the ASX and Aldi is not listed on the ASX. The aim of this Analysis
is to evaluate whether both is company CSR policy is achieving the United Nation
Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) in context of Australia.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Discussion
PART-A
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the company sense of responsibility towards
the society, in which they operate their business. It is a business approach in which the
company or the business organization contributes for the sustainable development of the
society by providing social, environmental and economic benefits for all the section of the
society either directly or indirectly (Behringer, & Szegedi, 2016).
It is a self-regulating business model that held a company to be responsible to the
society. CSR is also known as corporate citizenship. As per the principle of CSR the
corporation and business entity must be aware and fully accountable for the impact that they
have created on the society in which they are operating their business.
CSR activities is not only advantageous to the society rather it is equally important for
company as well. Through CSR Program, the company can increase the trust among the
shareholder, and as a result it will increase the value of the company goodwill. The bond
between the company and its employee get deepen with the CSR activities of the company.
CSR run around three main principles. Those are sustainability, accountability and
transparency.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)
The United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the road map for the
achievement of more sustainable and better future for all. This was adopted by the 193
countries across the globe on 25 September 2015.
These goals aims at removing the global challenges faced by the people of the world.
There are 17 global goals which are set by the United Nation which are to be achieved by the
end of 2030. Those global goals includes the following.
1. No poverty
It is aimed to eradicate the poverty in all the form everywhere.
2. Zero hunger
This goal is aimed to achieve food security across the globe, it is intended to ensure
that by 2030 there is no single person on this globe who sleep empty stomach (Haski-
Leventhal, & Concato, 2016).
Nutritional food is accessible to all being. Further it also focusses on the sustainable
agriculture.
3. Good health and well being
This ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of the all across the globe.
4. Quality Education
This promotes equitable and quality education for the people across the globe.
5. Gender equality
This aims to secure gender equality across the globe by the 2030.
6. Clean water and sanitation

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
This goal is aimed to save water and ensure that clean and safe water is made
accessible for drinking.
7. Affordable and clean energy
This ensure people of the world is accessible to affordable, reliable and Eco-friendly
energy.
8. Decent work and economic growth
Encourage sustained, inclusive and maintainable economic development, full and
productive employment and good and healthy work for all.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Construct robust structure, endorse inclusive and sustainable development and raise
modernization.
10. Reduced Inequalities
This minimizes the dissimilarity within and among the countries (Kolk, 2016).
11. Sustainable cities and communities
This is aimed to made cities and town which are environment friendly, safe, robust i.e.
they can sustain the earth quake, volcano, and cyclone.
12. Responsible consumption and production
This goal is aimed that there is a balance in the consumption and production pattern
across the globe. This further aimed that business production should be environment
friendly and suitable for the human needs.
13. Climate Action
This goal of the United Nation aimed that all the countries across should work for the
protection of environment and the wild life. Environmental friendly measures must be
adopted to deal with the impact of the change in the climate.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
14. Life Below water
For the sustainable development to take place the forest, river, aquatic life needs to be
protected. Contaminated harmful chemical water of the factory should not be poured
in the sea water, as it kills many aquatic plants and animals (Kourula, Pisani, & Kolk,
2017).
15. Life on land
The objective of the united nation is to protect the lives on the earth by the
conservation of the natural resources, reversal of the land degradation, protection of
the forest.
16. Peace Justice and strong Institutions
This goal aimed to ensure that justice is accessible for all the people across all the
level. This can be possible only when there is independent functioning of the judiciary
system.
17. Partnership for the goals.
SDGs is the universal call to the action among the developed and developing
countries to end poverty, guard the planet and confirm all the people appreciate peace
and prosperity.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Realizing the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through
CSR
The concept of the sustainable development should be integrated into the operation
and investment activity of the business of the company. The company and the business
should report in their financial statement the impact that their business operation is creating

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
on the environment. By adopting the CSR principle company and business organization can
fulfill the objective of United Nation sustainable development goal.
Company around the world are actively participating in the fulfillment of their
responsibility towards the society (Lamb,Jennings ,&Calain, 2017). Some of the CSR
responsibility that is aligned with the United Nation Sustainable development goals are listed
below:
 Abolition of hunger and poverty
 Ensuring quality Education is accessible for all the section of the society
 Promoting gender equality at the work place
 Women empowerment
 Minimizing child mortality
 Safeguarding environmental sustainability
 Ensuring proper health treatment is accessible to all the section of the society.
 Conservation of water and reducing pollution.
PART –B
Evaluation of CSR policies of Woolworth and Aldi in the achievement of the
United Nation sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Woolworth’s group
This Company deals with Australia’s most Renowned and reliable brands. This is a
big Australian corporation with wide retail reach throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
the second leading entity in Australia by revenue in retail sector, after Wesfarmers and the
second biggest in New Zealand.
Significant measures taken by Woolworths
The company CSR policy can be seen in total alignment with the United Nation
sustainable development principles. Following are some of the remarkable move made by the
company in fulfilling its responsibility towards the society.
 The company has promoted gender equality in their workforce by providing women
to work in the executive and senior manager position. There has been no salary gap
among the male or female employee of the same position.
 The company has been working hard to minimize zero wastage of food going for the
land fill.
 The company is aiming to reduce the emission of carbon from their operation up to 10
percent.
 The company has been working on the production of the sustainable food, inspiring
the customer to consume healthy and nutritious food (Pedersen , 2018).
 The company has signed green bonds to issue finance projects that deliver positive
environmental outcomes. The entity have established bond outline in line with the
green bond principles 2018 issued by the international capital market Association.
 The company is working with the farmers and supplier of Australia, to focus attention
on the welfare of the animals. The company regularly consult with the veterinarians,
academics, government representatives, training providers to provide the animal
regular medical treatment.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
 The company has been involved in the production of sustainable sea food. These sea
food come from the fisheries and the aquaculture operation that do not threaten the
survival of the fish population and do not damage the environment or do not cause the
any negative impact on the other species or habitat.
 Woolworth has been supporting the producers of the sea food, locally and globally,
who are making meaningful progress towards sustainable development towards the
protection of the ocean and sea life.
 The company has signed the Paris agreement in order to combat challenges of the
climate change. The business communities around the world agree to use information
technology in order to reduce the global warming up to 2 degree (Pillai, Slutsky,
Wolf, & Stever, 2017).
 The company has been focusing on making healthier eating easier by offering free
fruit for the kids in all Woolworths supermarket across Australia, the company
distributed more than 26 million pieces of fruit each year.
ALDI
This is another super market in Australia, which is specializes in selling groceries
product like organic food, baby care product, chocolate, coffee, Laundry, Liquor, Olive oils,
skin care product across Australia.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Significant measures taken by ALDI
The company has been strictly following the United Nation guidelines for the
achievement of sustainable development goals. Some of the action taken by the company
towards sustainable development are mentioned below.
 The company recycle 96% of the plastic packaging used in their store.
 The company has banned the use of artificial color in their product which causes
health diseases.
 The company is suing 100% of palm oil in their product which has no health side
effect.
 The company has been committed to increase the use of natural resources and
renewable energy in their 42 stores and two distribution center (Scherer,2018).
 The company is aiming to reduce the emission of carbon from the operation by 30%
from the 2012 base line.
 The company is aiming to conserve and optimize the use of the water in their
operation.
 The company is aimed at reducing, reusing and recycling of wastage. For example the
coffee capsule recycling program has relished unbelievable achievement since their
launch.
 ALDI is the first and only supermarket in the Australia who has taken major step in
the safe recycling of the battery. Earlier the batteries were dumped in the landfill areas
result in nasty chemical release in the atmosphere and the farm land.

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
 The company has made remarkable achievement in the management of wastage. The
company has been able to increase sustainability in their packaging through better
teamwork, better design and the utilization of the more eco-friendly materials.
Conclusion
From the detailed analysis of this report about the role of the CSR in the achievement
of the SDGs, it is concluded that company like Woolworths and ALDI has properly align
their CSR policy towards the achievement of the United Nation Sustainable development
goals (Scheyvens, Banks, & Hughes, 2016).
Despite the fact that the Woolworths is listed on the ASX and the ALDI is listed not a
listed company in Australia. Both the company is full filling their responsibility towards the
society by taking significant measures for the sustainable development of the society
(Schönherr, Findler, & Martinuzzi, 2017).
Some of the remarkable steps taken by the corporation includes the reduction of use
of plastic bags, anti-dumping of chemical wastage in the sea and the farm land, conservation
of drinking water, maximizing the use of renewable resources and many more. All these
significant measures taken by the company are in alignment with the fulfilment of the United
Nation SDGs (Storey, Killian, & O'Regan, 2017).

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR AND THE UNITED NATIONS’
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
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