ISO, UNDP Launch Global Standard to Embed SDGs into Corporate Strategies

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (ESG Today) – The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched ISO/UNDP 53001, “Management systems for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Requirements”, on Thursday, introducing a new framework for organisations to embed the 17 UN SDGs into their strategy, governance and operations.

The standard is designed to give companies and other entities a set of tools to identify and assess both beneficial and adverse impacts of their activities, engage relevant interested parties, set measurable SDG objectives, collect impact data and evaluate progress, according to the joint announcement by ISO and UNDP.

“The SDGs have provided a shared global vision for a decade. Today, organisations are looking for concrete ways to translate that vision into action. International Standards have long helped organisations address complex global challenges by providing a common language and a shared framework for action.

We are delighted to launch ISO/UNDP 53001 today, extending this proven approach to the SDGs and helping organisations create positive impact for people and planet,” said an ISO spokesperson in the release.

The standard specifies requirements for a management system that optimises an organisation’s contribution to achieving the SDGs. It calls for analysing organisational context, engaging with relevant parties to identify, assess and prioritise actual and potential impacts, setting organisational SDG objectives and targets, collecting data on impacts, making decisions that consider the risks that affected stakeholders can accept, and understanding and managing inter‑dependencies, synergies and trade‑offs to achieve positive results while avoiding unintended adverse impacts.

“The SDGs provide a shared blueprint for a more inclusive and prosperous future. Achieving that requires organisations everywhere to turn ambition into action. We are proud to launch ISO/UNDP 53001 alongside ISO as a tool to help organisations embed the SDGs into the way they operate, lead and govern. By making sustainability part of everyday decision‑making, the standard can help accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda,” said a UNDP representative.

With the publication of ISO/UNDP 53001, organisations seeking to align their operations with the 2030 Agenda now have a globally recognised set of requirements to integrate sustainability into everyday decision‑making, offering a common language for reporting and performance measurement across sectors. The standard is now available for adoption, and ISO and UNDP indicated that further guidance and support materials will be released to assist entities in implementing the new requirements.

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