Celebrating standards

Today society faces global challenges around; poverty, inequality, climate change, access to health and education and protection of our natural environment. The global standards system is built on convening, collaboration and consensus to provide standards that empower people to address real-world challenges with practical and pragmatic solutions.

This year we celebrate World Standards Day on 14th October, with the theme ‘our shared vision for a better world’ and how standards support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals were developed following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by UN member states in 2015. The SDGs act as an urgent call for all countries to work in global partnership, with the aim of ending poverty, improving health and education, reducing inequality, and tackling climate change.

BSI was established in 1901 with a clear objective of 'responsibility to society' and that aim is as relevant today as it was 120 years ago. BSI are a signatory of the UN Global Compact, the world's largest sustainability network, which is supported alongside the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The most effective way for society to meet the goals is for business and government to ensure that the goals are aligned to their objectives and fully embedded in their activities.