Reflective Journal: Sustainable Business Practices, BUGEN 5930 Course

This reflective journal explores the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to business practices. The student discusses the importance of SDGs in addressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. The journal highlights the significance of SDG 15, focusing on the conservation of forests and biodiversity, and emphasizes the role of businesses in contributing to these goals. It further examines how SDGs can define future business opportunities by providing tools for identifying and increasing sustainable opportunities. The author reflects on the importance of economic growth, decent working conditions, and employee well-being in achieving sustainable development, and concludes by emphasizing the need for global guidance in addressing universal challenges and ensuring a better life for all.

Assessment Task 1 – Reflective Journal – Sustainable Business 2022
Course Code: BUGEN 5930
Course Name: Business, Society and the Planet
Student Name:
Student ID:
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Introduction
In this paper, I am going to discuss sustainable development goals. I choose this topic as I think
this is an important topic and people of the entire world in today's date are concerned about this
topic. It can be said that this is referred to as a hot topic and people, as well as various
organizations, are contributing much to achieving all those goals(Kroll et al., 2019). I totally
agree with this point that for the world to become much better, it is significant to achieve all of
those goals. In this paper, I will be discussing the concept of sustainabledevelopment goals in
depth and mainly I will be sharing my own perspective regarding the same.
Main Body
As I learned from this course that the United Nations has adopted a plan within they seek to
achieve a better future for every individual within the world. I also learned that with the help of
these sustainable development goals (SDGs), it will be easy to address the issue of poverty,
injustice, inequality and many other issues which are currently present in every country of the
world. I also get to know that achieving this goal will also help out the planet. For instance, I
take SDG 15 which mainly pays attention to managing the sustainability of forests, reversing and
halting lands, degradation of natural habits, combating desertification successfully and
preventing loss of biodiversity(Sianes et al., 2022). According to my perspective, this SDG is
much important for our planet and environment as this SDG facilitates conservation and
biodiversity sustainably. I also think that this SDG in turn helps to keep people healthy and fit
and also helps them to lead a healthy life. Similarly, there are other developmental goals that are
important for offering water, food and an enhanced ecosystem. I think it is much important to
have a balanced ecosystem as this will ensure that the needs of every individual are being
fulfilled. The most important thing which I have learned from this course is that SDGs almost
cover the aspects of every business. for instance, I found out from this course that this defines the
future opportunities of the business by providing the future leaders of business with the tools
using which they will be able to identify and increase the sustainable opportunities(Smith, 2020).
I have identified various ideas using which we also can contribute to these goals and we are
already doing some. For instance, there are various places where you might find writes that pay
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some extra for education or for feeding poor people or poor children. We should not ever step
back from those. For all of us, it is not always possible to help people that might be financially or
physically and that is the reason I think that small contributions should always be done(Turcea &
Ion, 2020). We might not know but those small contributions also have the ability to make big
changes within our society. Along with these, every individual should take a pledge and should
commit to; that pledge that they will contribute to achieving these goals according to their limit. I
believe that inclusive and sustained economic growth can be considered an essential requirement
in order to carry out sustainable development in various aspects including key business
operations. I can find it can further contribute highly to enhanced livelihoods for individuals in
the entire world (Ec europa eu, 2022). This effective sustainable development goal can lead me
to a better future by bringing better and latest employment opportunities as well as offering
higher economic security to all people. For example, I can relate that decent operating conditions
and quality employment can be useful for me within the workplace in minimizing poverty and
inequalities as well as empowering individuals particularly women and young individual which
are most vulnerable like people suffering from disabilities.
I have been able to understand this easily because economic development can be the accepted
objective. Growth will enable me to find more jobs or opportunities as well as do more income in
the near future from several organizations. I have also gained knowledge and understanding
regarding economic development that can only be attained by diversifying, upgrading, and
innovating for economic productivity (Sengupta, 2021). I will be required to give major
emphasis on labor-intensive units which contain additional great value. Besides this, I can find
that having better health conditions in the workplace as well as promoting well-being shall be
useful in creating a positive working atmosphere as well as preventing stress where businesses
and individuals can exist. In addition, I can opine that good well-being and health can act as a
key enabler for me in relation to enhancing organizational performance and developing ways to
bring out employee involvement more. If I am able to develop well-being feelings, it will result
in improving my overall health condition along with providing me the ability for overcoming
complexities successfully. I can achieve whatever I want truth in my life easier. In fact, I am also
aware of the fact that past attitudes and experiences can create a significant emotional and
physical impact on my life following particular situations that can take place in both personal
and professional life. Overall, I can denote that businesses can look for employees' well-being
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and safety by contributing greatly to effort and time (Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2020). I feel the
basic life quality of employees can be enhanced by making fair payments as well as carrying out
skills development effectively and efficiently. I can be trained in the future along with other
employees and staff to start and implement a nutritional policy in the workplace so that workers
are able to enjoy a nutritional meal in a single day so that they can be kept in a stable and healthy
condition.
Conclusion
Sustainable development goals will be essential for me in the workplace to attain global guidance
in relation to addressing universal challenges. Altogether, it would also provide me with
direction to protect the opportunities of every single individual as well as living in prosperity and
dignity across generations. The prime advantage that I shall receive with regards to sustainable
development is making sure that I am able to lead a better life for future and present work that I
am doing for me as well as for the community.
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References
Ec europa eu. (2022). Employment and decent work. international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu.
Retrieved 7 August 2022, from
https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/sustainable-growth-and-jobs/
employment-and-decent-work_en.
Kroll, C., Warchold, A., & Pradhan, P. (2019). Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Are we
successful in turning trade-offs into synergies?. Palgrave Communications, 5(1).
https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0335-5
Sengupta, S. (2021). Relevance of SDGs for companies and business. Seventeen goals Magazin.
Retrieved 7 August 2022, from https://www.17goalsmagazin.de/en/the-relevance-of-the-
sustainable-development-goals-sdgs-for-companies/#:~:text=The%20SDGs%20provide
%20worldwide%20guidance,dignity%20and%20prosperity%20across%20generations.
Sianes, A., Vega-Muñoz, A., Tirado-Valencia, P., & Ariza-Montes, A. (2022). Impact of the
Sustainable Development Goals on the academic research agenda. A scientometric
analysis. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0265409. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409
Smith, M. (2020). Sustainable Development Goals: genuine global change requires genuine
measures of efficacy. Journal Of Maps, 16(2), (i)-(iii).
https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2020.1749386
Turcea, V., & Ion, R. (2020). How Important are the Sustainable Development Goals? A
Bibliometric and Modern Data Analysis. Proceedings Of The International Conference On
Economics And Social Sciences, 624-635. https://doi.org/10.2478/9788395815072-063
Weziak-Bialowolska, D., Bialowolski, P., VanderWeele, T., & McNeely, E. (2020). Character
Strengths Involving an Orientation to Promote Good Can Help Your Health and Well-
Being. Evidence From two Longitudinal Studies. American Journal Of Health
Promotion, 35(3), 388-398. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117120964083
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