SDG Flag Day 2025: Celebrating a Global Movement and 25 Years of UN Global Compact
- melanieferreira8
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
At the end of September, organizations across Switzerland and Liechtenstein once again raised the SDG Flag to demonstrate their commitment to a more sustainable future and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s SDG Flag Day was particularly special as it not only marked 10 years since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 193 UN member states, but also the UN Global Compact's 25th anniversary. What began in 2000 with just 44 companies has since grown into the world’s largest corporate sustainability movement, with over 22'000 participants in more than 160 countries.
The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the SDGs remain a crucial roadmap to address human rights, protect the planet, and tackle inequalities. But today, we face the sobering reality that only 35% of the Goals are currently on track or making modest gains according to the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025.
In this context, the role of business is more important than ever. Over the past 25 years, the UN Global Compact has united businesses, governments, and civil society to support companies embedding sustainability into corporate strategy by providing a platform for collaboration, innovation, and accountability to drive meaningful action on the SDGs and build more resilient and inclusive economies.
The SDG Flag Day is a global visual expression of this commitment. Since 2023, over 300 flags have been raised across Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with participation from multinational corporations, SMEs, municipalities, and universities. Additionally, many have shown their support digitally through virtual flags on platforms like LinkedIn. However, the initiative is more than a visual symbol - it is a call to action. By raising the flag, organizations publicly affirm their support for sustainable development and inspire others to join the movement.
A special thank you to all the organizations that participated in this year’s SDG Flag Day and contributed to its success. It was inspiring to see the creative and thoughtful ways in which sustainability was brought to life - through awareness campaigns, employee engagement, community events, and stakeholder involvement. Whether through physical flags or virtual participation, your actions sent a clear and powerful message: we are #TogetherForTheSDGs.
Below are some highlights and impressions from participants and partners of the Switzerland and Liechtenstein network.
Would you like to include your images? Please email us and we will gladly add it to our gallery: info@globalcompact.ch
Photo credits: The organizations shared their photos with us and granted permission to feature them in this article. Photo credits belong to the respective organizations.
