Impact on sustainable development

As a large company, we are responsible for the various ways we create an impact across society, in the Benelux and beyond. Alongside the execution of our strategy, we also need to look at the value we create over the longer term and on a broader range of societal topics. We have based the output and outcomes of our value creation model on our key material topics and linked these to the longer-term impact on the UN's Sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Our focus

To progress on sustainable development and improve the impact we have on society we have identified four focus SDGs that our business activities have the greatest impact on. From our own operations, decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) is our most relevant SDG, followed by climate action (SDG 13). Through collaboration along our value chain, we focus on making progress on industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9) and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). Because all SDGs are interrelated, the actions we take to make headway with our four focus SDGs impact all other SDGs.

How we are making progress

We have developed our approach towards our focus SDGs and identified relevant interrelations between other SDGs based on specific SDG sub targets as defined by the United Nations (UN). We have mapped the material topics to the focus SDGs and the contribution they make to the linked SDGs, as seen in the table below. More information about our contribution to the SDGs can be found in 'Non-financial statements'

PostNL Connecting value creation to SDGs

Connecting our value creation to focus and interrelated SDGs
Value	Ambition	SDG	Focus SDG - sub target	SDG	Linked SDG - sub target
Customer value	Doing good		8.2 Higher levels of economic productivity		17.3 Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources
	Doing good		9.4 Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit business model to make it sustainable
	Doing good		9.5 Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities
Social value	Avoiding harm		8.8 Labour rights, safe and secure work environment for all, equal pay		3.6 Road traffic accidents
	Doing good		8.5 Full and productive employment for all		4.3, 4.5 Quality education
					10.2 Promote inclusion of all
Environmental value	Doing good		9.4 Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit business model to make it sustainable		7.2 Increase the share of renewable energy
	Avoiding harm		12.4 Management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle including reducing waste to land, air and water		3.9 Reduce death and illness from pollution to air, land and water
	Avoiding harm		13.2 Implement climate change measures in strategy and planning		11.6 Reduce adverse impact on air quality; waste management
					17.6 Enhance international cooperation on and access to technology and innovation
Financial value	Doing good		8.1 Contribute to economic growth		1.2 Reduce the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty