When discussing sustainability, one group of organizations has an especially powerful voice – NGOs.

But what are they, and why are they important to remember?

We’ll give you an overview here.

What is an “NGO”?

NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization.

This means that governments have no say in their activities.

They are usually non-profits (though not always), and can work on a community, national, and international level.

Most NGOs have social, environmental, or political goals.

What do NGOs do, exactly?

Some NGOs provoke and point fingers at who they see as the “bad” guys, for instance by arranging protests and demonstrations.

Others work more like diplomats, collaborating and partnering with both the public and private sector.

Why should you care about NGOs?

NGOs are powerful when it comes to making noticeable changes - or ‘moving the needle’.

Some NGOs are loud and very outspoken, speaking up about the problems they encounter, and that can have huge consequences.

Therefore, it is worth thinking about partnering up with an NGO, which can be beneficial in several ways:

• You can contribute to ethical goals.

• You can have different and complementary skills and expertise, which might help you set and reach ambitious sustainability commitments.

• If your values and actions align, their reputation and image can influence your reputation.

How do you choose an NGO to work with?

Before deciding to work with an NGO, make sure you know your own goals and values.

Because you don’t want to work with an NGO that doesn’t fit with your brand identity.

If you do, you may end up using resources on things that don’t fit with your values, and that will most likely confuse many of you stakeholders – employees and customers alike.

So do your research and decide if it’s a good match.

Examples of NGOs

There are plenty of examples of big and well-known NGOs – Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and the Red Cross to name a few.

But our advice is: spend some time researching other smaller and international NGOs to keep an eye on and potentially collaborate with.

Because it is not only the big ones that do important work.

Some examples are:

• Fashion Revolution Denmark: working for a more socially and environmentally friendly fashion industry

• CARE: helps the people who are exposed to the extreme consequences of climate change

• World Animal Protection: fights for animal protection and welfare

NGOs can be very valuable partners for you on your sustainability journey.

So it’s definitely worth looking in to the possibility of a collaboration.