Sandvik speaks at two prestigious UN meetings in New York

Christina Båge-Friborg, Head of Sustainable Business at Sandvik, spoke at the international negotiations for the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations in New York and at the UN Global Compact’s second Business for Peace annual event.

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As a formal member of the Swedish delegation participating in the negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sandvik – represented by Christina Båge-Friborg, Head of Sustainable Business – made an intervention on the role of global business in the sustainability agenda and the future SDGs. The intervention was made within the framework of the multi-stakeholder dialog, which is a formal part of the SDG international negotiations. Sandvik spoke on behalf of the Business and Industry group as well as of the Swedish Leadership for Sustainable Development network. This was the first time a global company spoke directly at UN negotiations.

During her intervention, Christina Båge-Friborg described how Sandvik and the members of the Business and Industry group promote the sustainable development agenda in a number of capacities; as a part of everyday life in the societies in which they operate, as suppliers or customers of goods and services, as providers of employment and as a source of economic development, know-how and experience.

“We thereby possess the capacity to take a leading role in transforming the world and moving it toward a more sustainable future,” commented Christina Båge-Friborg.

Christina Båge-Friborg also attended the UN Global Compact’s second Business for Peace annual event, which is convened as part of the “Global Compact+15: Business as a Force for Good” event series, held to mark the UN Global Compact’s 15th anniversary.

The event, focusing on the United Nations’ global agenda for sustainable development, brought together more than 250 representatives of business, Global Compact local networks, civil society, investors and governments to demonstrate how the private sector is taking action and partnering to advance societal priorities.

Together with Sandvik’s customer Lonmin Plc, represented by Executive Vice President Lerato Molebatsi, Nick Weatherill, Executive Director of the International Cocoa Initiative and Jonas Borglin, CEO of the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), Christina Båge-Friborg participated in the capacity as a speaker in an interactive session addressing collaborative sectoral and industry initiatives launched in recent years to tackle some of the most pressing sustainable development issues of our time. She described how Sandvik works to ensure sustainable operations in high-risk markets. She also talked about some of the collaborative actions in which Sandvik participates, such as how the Group creates decent work and development opportunities, both for employees and suppliers, through such initiatives as vocational training or health schemes. An example of Sandvik’s involvement highlighted by Christina was the Swedish Workplace HIV and AIDS Program (SWHAP), which is conducted in collaboration with the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), the Swedish Industrial and Metal Workers’ Union and other Swedish companies. The program operates in 11 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the DRC, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda.

“I believe the private sector, public sector, academia and civil society need to work together to find new solutions to global challenges. We all have complementary resources and skills and can –through joint collaboration – be more effective in creating favorable conditions for sustainable development,” commented Christina Båge-Friborg.