Sustainability is of paramount importance to businesses today. It helps them protect the planet and remain relevant in the eyes of clients, consumers, and business partners.
Despite noble intentions, there is room for critical errors in judgement here. After all, some firms have been accused of ‘greenwashing’, the act of marketing themselves as sustainable when reality paints a different picture. Each step your company takes in these initiatives needs to be legitimate.
The best way to enforce this positive change is to educate your employees on sustainability. But what factors do you need to consider here? Which strategies might prove the most useful? You’ll find some suggestions after the jump.
Maintain Consistency
The world of sustainability is constantly evolving. New technologies and techniques are immerging all the time.
However, many people fail to remain committed to eco-friendly values. At the start of this year, reports surfaced claiming that it takes an average of 13 days for UK adults to give up their sustainable habits. Obviously, these types of attitudes can’t be allowed to persist, especially in a business context.
Therefore, you should try to nurture a positive and proactive attitude among employees to educate them better on sustainability. Pitch the idea of appointing eco officers in your existing workforce to implement and oversee initiatives. Place informative signs around the building that provide tips and tricks on greener behaviours. Provide regular training with online courses that keep users informed on the latest rules, regulations, and adaptable work processes.
Ultimately, sustainability needs to be baked into your work culture and not just a passing thought for PR purposes. Ensure that’s the case by maintaining consistency in your approach.
Work with Informative Suppliers
Responsible suppliers don’t just ship goods to a company. They also endeavour to be as informative and sustainable in their practices as possible, educating their client base and matching their inherent values.
Companies like OCL Regeneration Ltd supply sustainable construction and building materials, but they also publish informative web copy about the strength of sustainability. They detail how they recycle building materials and how they keep resources in use for as long as possible to get the maximum amount of value from them. Everything they do is optimised with sustainability in mind.
Working with such businesses is a great way for your employees to recognise the depths other firms are willing to go to. It shows how sectors are moving forward and the importance of operating within a circular economy that creates new opportunities for growth and innovation. Being associated with such entities can be inspiring and motivational too.
Provide Clarity
If you want your employees to learn more about sustainability, then you should try to be as clear as possible in your aims and motivations. Following rules is much simpler when they are easier to adhere to.
Develop a robust sustainability plan for your business. Explain where and why new technologies or strategies are coming into effect. Address which critical parts of your infrastructure will be changed and improved, and set hard deadlines for each goal to be met.
This will press the urgency of the situation upon your employees and compel them to get informed to keep pace with business change. Keep communications short and sweet, and offer rewards to incentivise cooperation.
