indieDwell aligns its positive impacts on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, as well as the company’s economic impacts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals. We focus on 12 of the 17 goals.
Special thanks to our partners at Impact Metropolis for recognizing indieDwell’s impact on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues.
indieDwell supports the the following UN goal in pursuit of the elimination of poverty:
1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance.
Specific actions we take:
*Producing high-performance affordable housing for those with incomes far below median giving them an asset that increases health and economic well-being.
indieDwell focuses on the following UN goals to support good health and well-being:
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
Specific actions we take:
*Certify our homes to U.S. EPA IndoorAirPLUS
*Collect data on how our homes contribute to physical health
*Collect data and publish efforts on reducing emission of harmful pollutants.
indieDwell supports the following UN goals related to everyone receiving a quality education:
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
Specific actions we take:
*In conjunction with training partners we develop employees from unskilled labor positions to certified trade occupations.
indieDwell supports UN goals on achieving gender equality
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life.
Specific actions we take:
*Placing women in leadership positions including the C Suite and Board of Directors.
*Maintaining GoodWell and B Corp certifications demonstrating indieDwell nurtures an equitable work environment.
Our business practices improve water quality and support these goals:
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
Specific actions we take:
*Certify all our homes through the U.S. EPA WaterSense program.
indieDwell supports moving toward affordable and clean energy:
7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
Specific actions we take:
*Build all homes to the U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home standard
*HERS rate every home to insure compliance with ZERH
*Collect and publish data on annual energy savings of our homes vs. standard homes
We help achieve UN goals toward decent work and economic growth:
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
Specific actions we take:
*Pay living wages to all trade employees
*Pay 100% of employee medical, dental and vision premiums
*Provide employees ownership in the firm
*Provide employees paid time off, and maternity/paternity leave
indieDwell supports these UN SDG goals:
9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
Specific actions we take:
Our mico-factory model brings manufacturing back to areas which are in need of high quality jobs. At the same time our housing innovation brings sustainable development to one of the least sustainable industries on the planet - construction.
indieDwell actively reduces inequalities related to the following UN goal:
10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Specific actions we take:
*Actively including women and persons of color in leadership and decision making positions.
*Maintaining a wage and benefit structure that promotes economic well-being.
indieDwell builds high-performance affordable housing, which supports the following UN goal:
11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
Specific action we take:
*Developing workforce and permanent supportive housing communities
*Work with partners to deed restrict properties to maintain affordability
*Partner with land trusts to ensure our housing remains affordable
indieDwell practices responsible consumption and production practices in support of the following UN goals:
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
Specific actions we take:
*Building housing from upcycled materials
*Practicing zero waste manufacturing protocols
indieDwell supports these components of SDG goal 13:
13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Specific actions we take:
Our housing is highly weather resistant, highly energy efficient and extremely durable. This results in a lower energy footprint, and reduced replacement material necessary after natural disasters. Additionally our commitment to carbon neutral and waste free production process ensures a high level of sustainability.
