Industry

Industry holds an indispensable relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations, illuminating the fact that sustainable industrial development plays a vital role in achieving these global objectives. Industry, particularly manufacturing, serves as a critical driver for economic growth, employment, and technological advancement. SDG 9, specifically, underlines the importance of industry, innovation, and infrastructure, underscoring the need for resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. However, the intricate interlinkages between industry and other SDGs must not be overlooked.

For instance, clean and sustainable industrial processes contribute significantly to SDG 13, aiming at climate action, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and adopting clean and environmentally sound technologies. Similarly, SDG 12, responsible consumption and production, demands the industries to promote resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and provide access to basic services, green and decent jobs, and a better quality of life for all. It motivates industries to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

The role of industries extends to SDG 8 (Decent work and Economic Growth) as industries stimulate economic activities that lead to job creation and thus, improve living standards. Also, in respect to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), industrial sectors have the potential to provide opportunities for women in the workforce and help bridge the gender wage gap.

Nevertheless, the transformation to a more sustainable industry is not without challenges. The demands of rapid technological changes, the need for significant capital investments in green technologies, and the transition to a circular economy are some of the hurdles industry faces. Further, this transformation requires a multilevel and multi-stakeholder approach, calling for cooperation among governments, private sectors, academia, and civil society to pave the path to achieving SDGs.

This chapter aligns with SDG Goal 5: Gender equality and Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure by exploring how to impactfully develop industries like sea cucumber aquaculture to empower women's growth within the industry.
An image of a laptop displaying LexisNexis report
In a first-of-its-kind report, learn which companies are the world’s leading patent owners with the potential to drive transformative innovation toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Heavy duty freight transportation is a key part of global transportation, but is a large contributor to growing CO2 emissions. Here the authors design an on-board system for heavy duty vehicles to capture CO2 as it is released. This supports SDGs 7 (reducing CO2 emissions toward clean energy), 9 (modifications to existing vehicles to mitigate carbon emissions) and 13 (reducing emissions that contribute to climate change).
Elsevier,

Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 119, June 2023

Shows how practical economic levers can make the shipping industry more environmentally sustainable.
This Article supports SDGs 9 and 13 by looking at how carbon emissions can be mitigated by way of public procurement with environmental conditions
To mark the 50th Anniversary of World Environment Day on 5 June 2023, Elsevier proudly presents a curated list of publicly available journal articles and book chapters in support of this year's theme “Solutions to Plastics Pollution”. Please share and download.
Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd every year to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The theme for Earth day 2023 is Invest In Our Planet. Elsevier is proud to highlight these freely accessible book chapters and journal articles in honour of this event.
Elsevier,

Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation, Volume 209, 15 March 2023

The research aims to assess the environmental sustainability of measurements, and the investigation is conducted through two case studies within the information and communication technology sector. The authors put forward recommendations for increasing a measurement's environmental sustainability.
Elsevier,

The Lancet, Volume 401, Issue 10375, 11–17 February 2023, Pages 472-485

This Series paper supports SDG 3 by providing a new vision on how to address breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support at scale through multilevel, equitable approaches, and by examining how individual-level parent and baby attributes interact with breastfeeding determinants at other levels of the socioecological model, how these interactions drive outcomes, and what policies and interventions are necessary to achieve optimal breastfeeding.
Elsevier,

The Lancet, Volume 401, Issue 10375, 11–17 February 2023, Pages 486-502

This Series paper supports SDG 3 by examining how the marketing of commercial milk formula (CMF) comprehensively undermines access to objective information and support related to feeding of infants and young children, and contributes to reduced global breastfeeding practices by influencing normative beliefs, values, and political and business approaches to establish environments that favour CMF uptake and sales.

Pages