Why champion sustainable practices at work?

Other than aligning your values of sustainability at work, there is a range of additional benefits on offer:

• By implementing tangible changes in your business, you can deliver results for the triple bottom line whilst achieving a sense of empowerment.
• A more environmentally ethical workplace is a healthier one. Improvements in working conditions such as more natural light and better air quality will enhance your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Satisfying your need for a more sustainable workplace also improves productivity and loyalty according to some research.
• Offers you the chance to engage in new dynamic teamwork and professional development.
• Getting involved in green initiatives could open new doors. Opportunities may arise to collaborate with local organisations to reach common goals in sustainability campaigns and events.
• Be one of the driving forces behind a more sustainable business and you could be leading your organisation towards meeting future sustainability regulation in the process.
• Leading by example helps to influence and inspire others to make their own meaningful changes.

2. Focus on communication

Keep fellow employees and management informed and involved through effective communication. Establish the best channels to communicate progress and give regular updates, welcome contributions and feedback.

A good starting point is to highlight what your business is already doing well in terms of sustainability. Audits are available which allow you to conduct assessments and plan green initiatives in relation to your company’s specific priorities. The GBB Certification for instance, looks at transport and office materials and provides tools for communicating and sharing successes.

In your approach to communication, avoid preaching at or criticising people for their flaws – this only creates resistance to change. New practices are better received if gradually introduced and the focus remains positive. Employees and management stand to gain from the improvements so be sure to promote this information in realistic, relatable, and manageable terms. Designing a rota for employees to check equipment is switched off at the end of day is one example of a simple cost-saving practice to implement.

If you are faced with obstacles and setbacks with management, try not to be discouraged or underestimate the value of your efforts. Barriers to the acceptance of sustainable practices can be common. Factors like implementation costs and complicated methods of evaluating impact affect uptake. Overcoming such barriers can be helped by promoting successful case studies. Lower maintenance costs is one example of a long-term saving achieved by some organisations through more sustainable behaviours.

4. Educate the wider team

Empower others to become sustainability champions themselves by providing opportunities to inform and educate staff on the climate crisis and how they can respond. Microlearning sites like mysustainonline offer training that spans sustainable lifestyle, circular economy, sustainable workspaces and more.

5 Green Initiatives to implement immediately (cont'd)

4. Set up employee environmental pledges and competitions

Encourage staff to make their own choices and take responsibility for their impact, empowering them to change.  Promote simple pledges that have a significant impact on your carbon footprint such as,

• Go single-use plastic free in the office.
• Choose a vegetarian or vegan option for lunch every other day.
• Commute on foot, car-share, cycle or use public transport.
• Buy second-hand or office attire made from sustainable materials and donate old clothes for a season

Incentivise teams to become the biggest achievers through competitions awarding prizes to recognise positive work. To read more about your carbon footprint, see our articles ‘5 ways to reduce your footprint significantly’ and guides on your Environmental footprint.

5. Push for perks to mitigate climate change 

In response to employee pressure for more sustainability in the workplace, more businesses are offering staff climate-related perks as incentives. Take advantage of this shift in policy by requesting your company donate or raise funds for an organisation directly involved in fighting climate change. Examples of organisations likely to resonate with staff include those targeting the biodiversity crisis. This is among the UN’s highest priorities as they recently drafted a Paris-style agreement to halt biodiversity loss. Here at Mossy Earth, we set up a membership to fund impactful rewilding projects that produce a high ecological return on investment by protecting existing biodiversity and restoring absent life to their correct habitats. These types of projects also provide optimism among employees as they experience the captivating journey of seeing vulnerable species recovering.