Sustainability is the most important Megatrend of the 2020ies. After overcoming the overwhelming threat of a nuclear overkill in the 1990ies it becomes obvious that the biggest problem for mankind is non-sustainable behavior on a long run. Based on this insight, an intensive discussion began around the question of which challenges the global society is facing and how they can be solved.

Finally, in 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals were enacted by the UN. The SDGs take into account all 3 dimensions of societal development, the ecology, economy and the social component.

These 17 SDGs can both make sustainable development more concrete and tangible, and serve as a guideline to make private, public and economic activities more sustainable in a targeted way.

This presentation breaks down the 17 SDGs to the level of manufacturing companies. It shows which SDGs play a direct role in process media application in machining or forming production or can be influenced. In this context, the application of machining media such as Metal Working Fluids is dealt with in detail. Particularly concerning health, climate protection, environment protection and responsible consumption most manufacturing plants have a huge sustainability potential.