Health, Well-being and Scope 4: The Overlooked Link in Sustainability

When we talk about sustainability, the conversation too often narrows to carbon, energy, and supply chains. These matter, of course, but the real story is bigger. If we go back to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, number three stands out: Good Health and Well-being. It is not an add-on. It is central. And it connects directly to the next stage of sustainability reporting that businesses can no longer afford to ignore-Scope 4.

The Human Side of Sustainability

For years, organisations have measured their progress through Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. These frameworks have helped us understand where greenhouse gases come from, and where to act. But they stop short of the human dimension.

Scope 4, sometimes called human sustainability, addresses that gap. It brings well-being, health, and people’s lived experience into the sustainability agenda. It asks: are the systems we design-from workplaces to supply chains-actually supporting people, not just minimising harm to the planet?

Avoiding this conversation is no longer possible. Employee well-being, community health, and social value are not separate from environmental progress. They are inseparable.

Why Health and Well-being Belong in the Sustainability Agenda

Consider the basics. A workforce that is overstretched, unhealthy, or disengaged cannot deliver on sustainability targets. The culture of an organisation directly influences whether environmental strategies succeed or fail.

Equally, communities affected by poor air quality, unsafe working conditions, or lack of access to healthcare bear the cost of short-term business decisions. These are not abstract issues. They affect productivity, recruitment, retention, reputation, and long-term resilience.

By embedding health and well-being into sustainability, businesses are not just protecting people. They are building the conditions in which innovation, accountability, and performance thrive.

The Role of SDG 3

SDG 3 makes this explicit. Good health and well-being are essential foundations of sustainable development. Meeting this goal requires investment in safe workplaces, mental health support, equitable access to resources, and healthy environments.

For businesses, aligning with SDG 3 is not a matter of philanthropy. It is about recognising that environmental and human sustainability reinforce one another. Cleaner supply chains reduce health risks. Better working practices improve both well-being and efficiency. Decisions that support people also tend to support the planet.

Why Scope 4 Can No Longer Be Ignored

Scope 4 is where these threads come together. It recognises that human impact needs to be measured, reported, and acted on with the same rigour as emissions or energy use. It moves sustainability beyond carbon, to capture the broader picture of how businesses affect lives.

Avoiding Scope 4 might feel convenient, but it leaves a business exposed. Investors, regulators, and employees are asking harder questions about culture, health, and well-being. And businesses that cannot answer them will face both reputational and operational risks.

The Essential Next Step

Addressing Scope 4 is not about adding complexity for the sake of it. It is about recognising that sustainability is not just environmental, but human. Without integrating health and well-being into our strategies, we cannot claim to be building a sustainable future.

Businesses that understand this, and act on it now, will not only meet expectations but lead the way in shaping a new model of sustainability. One where people are not left out of the equation, but placed at the centre.