Engaging Employees in Corporate Sustainability

The past year has seen a significant shift in eco awareness and the debate on climate change.  In the world of business and finance, climate change has developed from a sidebar topic to a mainstream conversation.  Accompanying climate change discussions are questions as to how to increase eco awareness in business.  Fortunately, people are waking up to the idea that business sustainability is creating a bright spot of opportunity for businesses.

In building corporate sustainability, it’s encouraged to have a comprehensive business sustainability program.  While that may be the preferred path, there are other steps you can take as well.

“Green Teams“, are formal or informal groups of people in a company who are passionate about environmental issues.  They are gathering in offices across America to brainstorm solutions and promote ways in which their company’s practices can become more environmentally sustainable.  Green teams, blessed with management’s approval can be effective in spearheading sustainability initiatives: reduce paper use, initiate or increase recycling programs, promote energy conservation efforts, and more, making a huge difference within a department or building.

Link eco awareness programs to existing company offerings, as in wellness programs.   Wellness programs have been uses as instruments to address weight reduction, reduced stress levels, improved physical fitness, health, and well being.  They may include fitness, recreation, social activities and programs to enhance intellectual and spiritual development.  Providing employees with wellness programs not only provides them a way to improve their health, but it also demonstrates corporate social responsibility.

Create individual employee sustainability programs: The basic premise of a personal sustainability program is to reduce your carbon footprint, lighten the load on the planet as well as reap the benefits of living a more sustainable lifestyle.    Eco actions taken in a personal sustainability plan can be anything from riding a bike to work or eating organic healthy meals or recycling.  It can also be about achieving a personal goal, sustaining it, and building from that platform.

Educate: Offer ongoing workshops, training, lunch and learns, and educational activities to educate workers on the environmental issues (energy, water, waste, and others) and the associated actions causing the problems.  Identify new behavior and eco actions that individually workers can take to create new patterns of behavior and choices that support environmental solutions and are aligned with the company’s overarching sustainability plan and values.   The key to success?  Education.  Ongoing education, and education targeted at different levels within the organization helps create lasting change.

Create a sustainable work environment: The benefits of a sustainable work environment include a healthier more sustainable workforce; a more productive workforce; attracts quality employees and helps to reduce turnover. It also reduces lost work time related to health issues.

These efforts enable proactive businesses leaders to capture the benefits of sustainable business: reduce business costs, improve business reputation, and attract and maintain top job candidates.

Stay tuned to SocialYell for more information on how to bring sustainability into your business and to find sustainable businesses.