17 GOALS – UNITED NATIONS

Home | UN Goals

The 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global plan to promote sustainable peace and prosperity and protect our planet. Since 2016, all countries have been working on translating this common vision for combating poverty and reducing inequality into national development plans. When doing so, it is particularly important to address the needs and priorities of the most vulnerable countries and groups in society – because only if no one is left behind can the 17 goals be achieved by 2030.

How does Green Finance implement the 2030 Agenda?

The Green Finance Group has set itself the task of making sustainability the focus of its activities, which is why the global sustainability goals are integrated into relevant strategies and programs in order to develop action plans and measures where necessary. The thematic priorities are based on the Green Finance Group’s Responsibility & Sustainability Report.

What does Green Finance do to contribute to achieving these goals?

Green Finance Group AG implements measures to achieve the global sustainability goals in the following areas, among others:

Especially at a time when the majority of people are struggling with the issues of rising prices, increased energy bills and inflation, it is important to create sustainable jobs and promote equality. With the Green Finance Group, every person has the opportunity to build up a side income without having to make major purchases (such as machinery or special work equipment). Both lateral entrants and experienced employees are more than welcome to join the group.

The Green Finance Group sets a good example. The Group donates to people in our society who need support and who have found themselves in an emergency situation, sometimes through no fault of their own. Whether it is internal company fundraising campaigns for children’s cancer charities or the commitment of individual employees who are involved in the fight against hunger in Africa. At the Green Finance Group, ecology, economy and social responsibility always go hand in hand. Social outreach and commitment to society are our clear focus.

Ensuring a healthy lifestyle and promoting the well-being of each individual employee are essential for sustainable corporate development. Work–life balance is one of the Group’s major issues. The Green Finance Group has enabled its sales partners to achieve precisely this balance between work and leisure right from the start. Because a good work–life balance makes people happier while benefitting the company at the same time. Employees who feel they have more opportunities and control over their lives feel better at work. This leads to less absenteeism, sickness and stress and at the same time promotes motivation for top performance.

The company holds monthly training sessions and seminars to explain the Group’s philosophy and career opportunities. For existing Business Partners who have been with the company for some time, there is also training in the area of personal development as well as workshops on current topics to keep their finger on the pulse. For people who are interested in becoming a Business Partner, there is the opportunity to take part in selection procedures or company presentations without obligation. All training units are free of charge and catering is also provided.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Women not only enrich the corporate culture in administration and marketing, the Group also sets a good example with its business partners. This is because equal access for women and equal representation in commercial decision-making processes will promote the transformation towards sustainable economic growth and benefit society as a whole.

Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation impair the food security and livelihoods of people around the world. In all its projects and activities, the Group takes care to save and conserve groundwater. A good example of this is the Green Business Centre in Linz, where the property is located in a water protection zone. Here, the existing asphalt, contaminated with pollutants, has been excavated and treated to protect the groundwater resources and maintain their excellent quality.

The majority of the Green Finance Group’s real estate projects produce part of the energy they consume themselves from the power of the sun. The Group also owns other photovoltaic systems to promote the spread of solar power and ensure greater grid and energy stability. The Green Finance Group believes that public and private investment in renewable energy must be increased and more emphasis placed on innovative business models in order to change the world’s energy systems in a sustainable way.

Green Finance also focuses on sustainability when it comes to mobility in everyday working life. As of 2022, we have already converted 54% of our vehicle fleet to hybrid or electric drives. The aim is to increase this factor to 75% by 2024.

Sustainable economic growth requires companies to create conditions that stimulate the economy while not polluting the environment. The projects and activities of the Green Finance Group are among the most booming sectors of all: renewable energies and valuable real estate. These areas, which are relevant to society, are also increasingly being promoted by politics and are the focus of media attention.

Investing in infrastructure is crucial for sustainable development and for strengthening communities in many countries. It has long been known that increasing productivity and income, as well as improving health and education outcomes, requires investment in infrastructure. The Green Finance Group selects its real estate projects primarily on the basis of location. For example, the properties are all very easy to reach by public transport, resulting in shorter working distances and energy-saving transport.

Right to equal pay for equal work: At the Green Finance Group, pay levels are balanced, regardless of gender and origin. Whether you are a Business Partner or a Business Partner, the level of commission is independent of gender. The Group does not tolerate any discrimination between women and men. The company recognizes the performance of each individual employee and knows how to value it financially.

Sustainability plays an important role in the Green Finance Group’s real estate projects. The company thus selects its properties in places that also follow this credo. A good example of this is the municipality of Weng, where the Green Finance Group has implemented its next real estate project. This is where the company Hargassner is based, which makes environmentally friendly heating possible from the raw material wood. With the construction of modern, highly efficient heating systems and the creation of new jobs, the company is thinking sustainably and this is in line with the philosophy of the Green Finance Group.

The sustainability practiced by the Green Finance Group is aimed at “doing more and better with less”, keyword: quality instead of quantity. The Group is continuously optimising its resource consumption in all areas of its business activities. This includes saving and avoiding the use of resources, sustainable consumption, and responsible production methods. For example, the Green Finance Group uses recycled paper for all of its promotional items, avoids unnecessary orders and often uses online files that can be retrieved. The subject of waste prevention and waste separation is also very important to the company.

Climate change concerns us all. Weather conditions are changing, and greenhouse gas emissions are reaching their highest levels in history. Without appropriate measures, the average surface temperature of the earth is likely to rise by more than three degrees Celsius this century compared to pre-industrial levels. To help tackle the problem of greenhouse gas emissions, the Green Finance Group has developed the 10,000 Trees Program. This programme reserves company-owned areas for the planting of 10,000 trees.

Careful use of the important global resource of water is an essential part of a sustainable future. Rainwater, drinking water, the weather, climate and coastlines – much of our food and even the oxygen in the air that we breathe are ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. The Green Finance Group relies on glass bottles instead of plastic in everyday business life, avoids plastic waste wherever possible, uses degradable and recycled advertising materials, and always keeps an eye on environmental standards.

Forests cover 30.7 percent of the Earth’s surface and not only provide food security and shelter, but are also critical in the fight against climate change, for the preservation of biodiversity, and for indigenous peoples.

The Green Finance Group now owns and manages more than 20 hectares of forest in Austria, and the trend is rising. The company is careful to promote mixed forests in particular and thinks very long-term in this respect.

The fruits of this land will only be reaped by the generation after next, which is in line with the company’s sustainable philosophy.

For the Green Finance Group, the issue of justice and fairness is particularly important. Very often in companies, subjective aspects come into play during promotions that, ultimately, affect the choice of person promoted. This very often has something to do with nepotism, or favouritism, etc. The Green Finance Group has a clear career plan that defines the required criteria down to the last detail. And, here, it is only facts that ultimately decide promotions, and relationships with decision-makers play absolutely no role.

Especially as a business partner, it is hardly possible to achieve the defined career goals alone. You always need a team to rise to the highest positions of the company. Under the motto “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”, the Green Finance Group promotes team spirit within the company. This creates partnerships between the business partners that also extend into the private sphere, where real friendships for life are formed. For the team is always stronger than the individual.