A sustainability toolkit for your workplace

Climate change has become yet another scary and often hopeless-seeming conversation. Yet it's one employers and employees should be prioritizing, as businesses can have an outsize effect on policies and practices that both help — and hurt — the environment. 

No matter the industry or individual, the effects of climate change are expected to have an impact: Damage from natural disasters, for example, is expected to cost businesses $1 billion annually, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Additionally, employees stand to lose nearly $25,000 in wages due to extreme weather and the associated health risks, according to consulting firm ICF and Consumer Reports. Higher taxes, higher climate-related healthcare costs and increased business and operating expenses will also impact the bottom line.  

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Today, employees expect employers to take a stand on these issues, and make a vocal commitment in their efforts. Yet overall, employees are feeling disappointed: According to research from recruitment firm Robert Walters, just 15% of employees think their employer is doing enough to combat climate change, and less than one in five believe their workplace is sustainable. Additionally, 71% don't think their organization has a progressive plan to address these issues. 

"This is clearly something that is on the mind of employees, and if companies haven't picked up on that or are doing something about it, you're going to end up with a disconnect," says Sean Puddle, managing director for Robert Walters' New York offices. "You're going to drive a wedge between the company and the people, and have issues with attraction and company reputation." 

Pointing the finger

Research from non-profit organization CDP, which works to disclose corporate environmental impact, found that 100 global energy companies are responsible for 71% of total industrial emissions, the third leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, 15 of America's top food and beverage companies, including Nestle and General Mills, generated a combined 630 metric tons of greenhouse gasses, more than the entire continent of Australia. 

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While it's tempting to point a finger at larger corporations, businesses and individuals all have their role to play in reducing their carbon footprint. But before taking action, it's important to lay out any targets and goals, and offer a transparent way to track progress, Puddle says. 

"Companies need to have business-wide climate or sustainability targets, and provide a framework for measuring progress to hold organizations accountable," he says. "When you look at continuous improvement and driving that change, it will also help align an entire workforce towards one common purpose." 

Robert Waters has set a global target of becoming "net zero" by 2024, balancing out what they produce with how they reduce their environmental impact as a business. They have target dates for switching to renewable energy, and are also cutting back on business travel, investing in remote work, and even committing to planting a tree for every new candidate they place with an organization. 

"Last year we planted 16,600 trees, and that's a tangible number that employees can see has an impact," Puddle says. "We've also moved most of our marketing and recruitment activity to being paperless, and have numerous recycling measures in place for all of our offices. And then we also do the reusable water bottles and no single-use plastics."  

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Small efforts like reducing single-use plastics may seem like a drop in the bucket, but it has a huge impact when done over time. Reducing plastic waste cuts back on pollution, and switching to reusable products like tote bags, water bottles and coffee mugs can save businesses upwards of $10 billion dollars, according to estimates from Upstream, an organization that helps companies switch from single-use to reusable items.   

"A lot of the time companies will be providing food and drinks to their employees — are they using biodegradable forks and knives or single-use plastics? Are they providing reusable water bottles or plastic ones?" Puddle says. "Recycling programs, paperless practices, encouraging the use of eco-friendly products and materials are all little things that can definitely make a difference."   

Employee participation matters, too

But employers are just one part of the equation, Puddle says. When an employer makes an effort to address sustainability, it's important that employees participate. 

"It's a collective effort that requires a certain amount of collaboration and commitment from everybody; there's an element of shared responsibility," Puddle says. "Encouraging employees to carpool or use public transportation, or offering digital tools for people to work remotely can have an impact. Each person knows that if the work they do on a daily basis has an absolute direct impact on something that promotes ESG, that can be powerful." 

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When employers and employees are aligned on their values around sustainability and the actions they're taking to get there, a business reaps the rewards in employee loyalty, and the ability to use their values as a positive recruiting tactic. Especially for younger employees who highly prioritize these values, it's imperative to invest for both the immediate and long-term sustainability of the business. 

"You're going to miss out on potentially good candidates who value ethical and responsible ESG practices. Millennials and Gen Z's have proven this is something that's important to them," Puddle says. "Companies are being forced to address this if they want to look at the future of their business."