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The Qantas organisation provides air transportation for customers regionally, domestically, and internationally through two main airline brands: Qantas and Jetstar. Qantas has released a sustainability report to show its progress and results in tackling sustainability issues related to its specific business by aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. Multiple ethical issues, particularly climate change, aim to contribute to SDG 13: Climate Action. Despite leaving a significant environmental footprint, Qantas acknowledges its responsibility to address sustainability issues. Other ethical issues that Qantas chooses to alleviate include protecting marine ecosystems, which relates to SDG 14: Life Below Water, and the use of single-use plastic items, contributing to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Qantas, 2024). Qantas is devoted to reducing its carbon emissions to address climate change and minimise environmental impacts (Baker, 2024).

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With the main issue of climate change and lessening environmental footprints that Qantas leaves as a business, this relates to multiple UN SDGs, including SDG 5: Gender Equality, as Qantas is more prone to prioritise inclusivity; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as Qantas invests in sustainable technologies; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, with the goal of minimising waste; SDG 13: Climate Action, as Qantas chooses to set goals and reduce climate change impacts; and SDG 14: Life Below Water, as a way to protect the underwater environment (THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development, n.d.). By addressing previously discussed ethical issues and aligning them with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, Qantas reassures that it will implement business practices sustainably while also trying to reduce the environmental and social impacts of the business, aligning itself with global development goals (Our Planet | Qantas Group, 2023).

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‘Circular economy approach in solid waste management system to achieve UN-SDGs: Solutions for post-COVID recovery’ is a journal article that elaborates on why adopting circular economy approaches in solid waste management can eliminate negative impacts caused by COVID-19. This journal tackles the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UN SDGs and illustrates the relationship between circular economy and waste management in relation to the UN SDGs. This approach helps improve SDG 12 and SDG 13 while simultaneously generating economic, social, and environmental co-benefits connected with sustainable development. It was established that considerable progress toward achieving the UN SDGs may be undermined by the negative effects of COVID-19 (Sharma et al., 2021). ‘The current status of the sustainable development goals in the world’, demonstrates the significance of advocating for a durable environment and taking an active role in promoting environmental protection and urban planning initiatives on a global scale (Medina-Hernández et al., 2023).

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Qantas has acknowledged its environmental impact and is now taking significant steps to address climate change and sustainability issues. The airline is progressing in fostering greater inclusion and diversity and enhancing respect in relation to human rights. Specifically, regarding SDG 5, Qantas has gone beyond measures to increase the representation of females in senior management roles, achieving 40% as of current statistics, and is adhering to the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency by reducing salary inequities and eliminating gender bias. Qantas aims to become a better company and contribute to a better society by promoting equality without prejudice toward “people of all ages, genders, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and abilities,” according to Qantas. Regarding SDG 9, climate change remains one of the important issues for society to tackle. Qantas has put together a “Climate Action Plan” to help address climate challenges from their business, which includes investing in sustainable aviation fuel research and development and improving aircraft by implementing environmentally friendly planes to reduce carbon emissions. In tackling SDG 12, Qantas has established an efficient waste minimisation plan and achieved a drastic reduction of 75% in single-use plastics on board by collaborating with suppliers. Qantas Airways has made significant progress in its commitment to address SDG 13, with steps that include setting goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and a target of 10% SAF usage by 2030 (Qantas, 2024).

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Utilitarianism is an ethical framework that would be useful to apply when assessing Qantas’s sustainability goals. This framework emphasises evaluation not only of current actions but also of their future implications, which aligns well with sustainability aims. The organisation’s decision-making may include considering all stakeholders involved—employees, customers, and the general community (Capsim, 2018)—as well as the long-term environmental implications of their practices compared to temporary economic advantages. It seeks to bring the highest benefit to the greatest number of people through sustainability initiatives (Ethical Theory: Utilitarianism, 2022).

Considering previous ethical issues mentioned, Qantas has contributed to climate action by setting a net-zero emissions target and increasing sustainable aviation fuel usage; through these efforts, they aim to reduce long-term environmental harm. Qantas has also committed to promoting gender equality by ensuring fair income practices regardless of gender, age, sexuality, or race, and by increasing the percentage of women in leadership roles. Additionally, Qantas has minimised waste and promoted sustainable products to lessen environmental impacts while improving operational efficiency.

Qantas has also invested in sustainable technologies that positively impact the environment and improve the industry. However, the utilitarian approach presents challenges for Qantas, including aligning the interests of stakeholders, assessing outcomes, and evaluating short- and long-term benefits. While the utilitarian framework has provided a pathway toward ethics aligned with sustainability, it also has its limitations. It offers the company a different approach to its operations and business decisions, aiming for actions that yield overall benefits for a larger group of stakeholders, including future generations. This can help Qantas find a balance between economic, social, and environmental issues for sustainable development (Tardi, 2024).

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By evaluating the response given by Qantas to tackle various sustainability issues, multiple factors need to be considered in sustainable decision-making. Qantas undertakes numerous actions to be sustainable, addressing problems such as climate change, gender equality, responsible consumption, and innovation. Its efforts demonstrate a growing commitment to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and responding to increasing demands for businesses to act responsibly. Influencing factors include social movements, politics, and peer and competitor pressure on ethical and sustainable decision-making within organisations. The rise of climate activism and groups like Fridays for Future has influenced how companies approach sustainability. These movements exert pressure on the public, raise awareness, and encourage companies to take stronger actions on environmental issues (Sevelsted & Toubøl, 2022). Politics have also pushed airlines to adopt more sustainable practices, as seen with the Paris Accord. The pressure from political forces can encourage companies to act voluntarily while also enforcing mandatory regulations (The Paris Agreement | UNFCCC, n.d.). Regarding peer and competitor pressure, as more airlines adopt sustainable practices, there is increasing pressure on other airlines to do the same to maintain competitiveness and a positive image.

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I would recommend a variety of tactics that could be adopted by organisations that want to make progress toward the UN SDGs. This includes identifying which SDG would be most relevant to a particular organisation by assessing multiple factors. Collaborating with stakeholders, such as different organisations or governments with similar or mutual goals, can help avoid any hindrances or conflicts. By following these recommendations, organisations can better support the SDGs while also improving their own sustainability and long-term success.

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Baker, C. (2024, September 5). Turtle under water at the Great Barrier Reef. https://www.qantas.com/au/en/about-us/our-company/in-the-community/sustainability-at-qantas.html

Capsim. (2018, May 4). Five ways to shape ethical decisions: Utilitarian approach. Capsim. https://www.capsim.com/blog/five-ways-shape-ethical-decisions-utilitarian-approach

Ethical Theory: utilitarianism. (2022, August 8). The Concise Encyclopedia of Business Ethics. https://conciseencyclopedia.org/entries/ethical-theory-utilitarianism/

Medina-Hernández, E. J., Guzmán-Aguilar, D. S., Muñiz-Olite, J. L., & Siado-Castañeda, L. R. (2023). The current status of the sustainable development goals in the world. Development Studies Research, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21665095.2022.2163677

Our planet | Qantas Group. (2023, May 29). https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-group/sustainability/our-planet.html

QANTAS. (2024). QANTAS SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2024. In Qantas. https://investor.qantas.com/FormBuilder/_Resource/_module/doLLG5ufYkCyEPjF1tpgyw/file/annual-reports/QAN_2024_Sustainability_Report.pdf

Sevelsted, A., & Toubøl, J. (2022). Introduction: Movements and morality. In Nonprofit and civil society studies (pp. 3–13). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98798-5_1

Sharma, H. B., Vanapalli, K. R., Samal, B., Cheela, V. S., Dubey, B. K., & Bhattacharya, J. (2021). Circular economy approach in solid waste management system to achieve UN-SDGs: Solutions for post-COVID recovery. The Science of the Total Environment, 800, 149605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149605

Tardi, C. (2024, May 6). Utilitarianism: what it is, founders, and main principles. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/utilitarianism.asp

The Paris Agreement | UNFCCC. (n.d.). https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. (n.d.). https://sdgs.un.org/goals