How can a city use the SDGs as a compass for sustainable policy? Mechelen's story
City of Mechelen
The City of Mechelen wanted to make its sustainability policy transparent and future-oriented. Route 2030 helped develop an SDG report that bundles actions, data, and objectives into a single, clear overview. The result is a report that provides direction and builds trust among citizens, partners, and policymakers.
In 2020, the City of Mechelen faced a significant challenge: how do you make visible what you do as a city for sustainability, livability, and inclusion—and how do you frame this within an international standard like the SDGs?
Mechelen wanted not only to report on what was going well, but also to create a clear guiding framework that could be used by policymakers, citizens, and partners. To make this possible, the city asked Route 2030 for support in developing its first sustainability report, fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals .
Why Mechelen opted for reporting according to the SDGs
For Mechelen, the SDGs were more than a list of 17 goals. They provided an internationally recognized compass for evaluating, strengthening, and communicating local policies.
The city council wanted:
more transparency about sustainability efforts
a structured picture of projects and initiatives
a report that was understandable for citizens
and a framework that supports future-oriented policies
The SDGs provided clarity, structure and a shared language.
How Route 2030 guided the process
Route 2030 worked closely with city services, policy areas, and experts to collect, structure, and translate all information into an accessible document.
Our role included:
structuring actions, policies and projects according to the 17 SDGs
the collection and analysis of relevant data
refining and formulating clear objectives and indicators that tie in with the multi-year plan
facilitating interactive sessions in which services discovered coherence and developed a shared language
translating complex policy information into a clear, readable report
The result was a process in which insight, dynamism, direction and story came together.
The result: a sustainability report that provides direction
The City of Mechelen received a report that:
for the first time, it has been fully built according to international SDG standards
enables transparent and accessible communication with citizens, partners and employees
trust and support strengthened
provides a clear framework for policy guidance and future sustainability initiatives
The report became a reference point within the city and laid the foundation for further embedding sustainability in strategy and multi-year planning.
With this process, the City of Mechelen demonstrated that the SDGs are also a powerful steering tool at the local level. By combining actions, clarifying objectives, and communicating openly, the city built trust and a stronger sustainability policy.
The report shows not only what Mechelen is doing, but also where the city wants to go — and invites stakeholders to help build that future.
👉 Does your municipality or city also want to report in line with the SDGs, or use the goals as a strategic compass? Route 2030 guides you from initial insights to a finished report. Let us shape your sustainability story together .