What are some effective ways to help colleagues understand the importance of sustainability?

Gosto muito da frase "No final, só conservaremos aquilo que amarmos. Só amaremos aquilo que compreendermos. Só compreenderemos aquilo que nos ensinaram" do Baba Dioum. Se uma pessoa não tem conhecimento sobre um tema, não verá valor naquilo. A partir do momento em que se transmite o conhecimento em uma linguagem acessível e com paciência, tudo fica mais fácil. Partimos da premissa de que nossa equipe desenvolveu habilidades em outras áreas e o que pode parecer "obvio" para a área de sustentabilidade não é a realidade vivida pelos demais, havendo um compartilhamento de saberes.

This also lays the groundwork for a shared understanding and commitment. This approach helps to embed sustainability into the organisational culture, making it a part of everyday conversation and decision-making. Through education, colleagues become aware of how their actions can contribute to larger sustainability goals, creating a sense of responsibility and empowerment. Inspirational stories and examples further motivate them to actively participate in sustainability initiatives, creating the effect of positive change across the organisation.

Educating and Inspiring for Sustainability - Education and awareness are crucial components in the realm of sustainability. With the prevalence of misinformation, it's essential to sift through and gather accurate facts. These facts then need to be woven into a compelling narrative that resonates with both your team and customers. Importantly, this is not a one-off task but an iterative process. Continuously updating and refining the information we share ensures that our message remains relevant and impactful, fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to sustainability within our organization and beyond.

What resonates in us most are emotions. Start with gaining people’s hearts: everyone cares about the future of their children, so explain how sustainability can preserve the planet for them. Talk about values, talk about the "why.” Numbers and Excel spreadsheets can come later. Tell how your organization finds its mission in the bigger “why,” what you want to achieve and by what means. Ask for their input -- ownership is an amazing tool for getting people involved.

Sustainability is an important topic that affects us all. However, Fortunately, there are several effective ways to help colleagues understand the importance of sustainability. First, educating through examples is an excellent way to show colleagues how sustainability can be implemented. Second, encouraging involvement through activities such as planting trees or reducing waste can help colleagues understand the impact of their actions. Third, providing incentives for colleagues to make sustainable choices can be a powerful motivator. Offer discounts on sustainable products or give rewards for reducing waste to encourage sustainable behaviour. Fourth, creating a culture of sustainability within the workplace is essential.

Start with the management. It is not only you who should lead by example but also the company management. If they incorporate sustainability into their actions and treat it as a natural part of all undertakings, it will become obvious for the rest of your organization to take sustainability into account. Find out what “clicks” most with your management – is it numbers or savings, is it a mission to make the world a better place or compliance with governmental regulations? Prepare arguments, talk with them as a group, but also talk with everyone individually. If you and they lead by example, your company will be on its way to becoming more sustainable.

Leading by example is vital for driving sustainability. I'll integrate eco-friendly practices in my daily routine, like reducing waste, conserving energy, and selecting sustainable products and suppliers. My actions will reflect our sustainability policies and standards, serving as a model for the team. I'll also transparently track and share my sustainability achievements, showing how feedback and data guide my process improvements. This approach will not only demonstrate my commitment but also inspire colleagues to adopt similar practices, fostering a culture of sustainability through practical actions.

This is definitely an important step. all talk and no action is of no use and will not influence anyone. While your actions alone can influence your colleagues to an extent, it is important have policies in place also which create a sustainable culture in the workplace. Offices can be designed or certain spaces can be created in a way that makes it easier for employees to follow sustainable actions seamlessly.

Treinamentos tradicionais muitas vezes não são a melhor saída para comunicar e manter a equipe envolvida quando o assunto é a criação de estratégias ESG. Invista em sensibilizações inovadoras e disruptivas. Já pensou em organizar uma ida para um scape room com o time que tenha um mistério com esse tema? A criatividade é a ferramenta essencial para transformar o propósito da sua empresa no propósito do colaborador, e passar valores relacionados a sustentabilidade para a sua equipe de uma maneira leve. Mas além de treinamentos inovadores, outra estratégia é tentar criar ambientes em que a sustentabilidade é um imperativo, e naturalizada no dia a dia da equipe. Para isso acontecer, uma boa estratégia de governança é essencial.

Engaging and empowering colleagues is crucial for promoting sustainability. I encourage their involvement in sustainability projects by inviting them to join or form teams, providing necessary guidance, resources, and recognition. Creating a collaborative space for sharing ideas and feedback will harness diverse perspectives and enhance our sustainability efforts. I also plan to facilitate learning and collaboration opportunities with other stakeholders and experts in sustainability. This approach will not only inspire but also empower our team to actively contribute to and shape our sustainable practices.

Crie métricas de sustentabilidade na sua empresa e promova um campeonato anual de divulgação das equipes ganhadoras. Impacto de lixo, maior arrecadação de dinheiro para uma causa social, quantidade de livros lidos a respeito do tema são algumas ideias para você criar o seu. Ao final do ano, uma cerimônia com prêmios, que também podem estar relacionados ao ESG, vão ser a cereja no bolo de motivação que o time precisa para engajar.

Some ways to reward employees by implementing sustainability into their everyday work: 1. Offer tangible rewards such as gift cards, company-branded merchandise, or experiences. 2. Monetary Incentives such as bonuses, profit-sharing, or performance-based financial rewards. It allows to recognize exceptional performance with a tangible financial benefit. 3. Offer opportunities for training, workshops, or conferences to enhance skills. In this way you demonstrate an investment in the employee's professional growth. 4. Grant additional paid time off as a reward to provide a valuable work-life balance incentive. 5. Promote outstanding contributions with a promotion or career advancement by acknowledging their impact on the organization.

Celebrating and rewarding sustainability efforts is key. I'll acknowledge our colleagues' contributions with incentives, recognition, and feedback. By showcasing their success stories and best practices, we'll inspire others in the organization and our customers. Also, fostering a fun, positive culture around sustainability is important. We'll organize engaging events and activities focused on sustainability awareness, making eco-friendly practices enjoyable for everyone. This strategy will reinforce the importance of sustainability and build a supportive community committed to environmental stewardship.

In a study by Adobe, 37% of employees think that instituting sustainability practices at work would create more opportunities for innovation. Starting a sustainability conversation in your workplace allows projects and practices to be viewed from a different angle. New opportunities and solutions arise when your perspective shifts to a sustainability focussed mindset.

Challenging our colleagues to innovate in sustainability is vital. I'll encourage them to rethink their habits and explore sustainable solutions and approaches. Emphasizing the importance of risk-taking and learning from failures will be key. To foster a creative and curious sustainability culture, I'll provide the necessary tools, platforms, and networks for discovering and implementing new ideas. This approach will not only drive innovation but also enhance our collective efforts towards sustainable practices.

Altering established behaviors within an organization is as critical as influencing customer consumption behaviors. It involves discovering novel models for designing, producing, and communicating both internally and externally. In this context, innovation becomes the paramount response, as relying on conventional ways of thinking and acting that brought us to our current state is no longer sufficient. Embracing innovation is essential to navigate the evolving landscape effectively.

Quando o assunto é a comunicação de iniciativas ambientais, de governança e sociais, não precisamos nem dizer que o time de endomarketing da sua empresa precisa estar 100% alinhado com o time do RG e de estratégias em ESG, não é mesmo? Uma ideia bem interessante é criar um programa de embaixadores da sustentabilidade na sua empresa. Comece pelas lideranças engajadas nessas causas. Com líderes envolvendo positivamente a sua equipe, e tendo suas imagens trabalhadas pelo endomarketing, é questão de tempo até seus colaboradores impactados comecem também a virar figuras influentes junto às equipes. Você pode utilizar da gamificação, e do poder de engajamento dos seus embaixadores para comunicar o ESG dentro da sua empresa.

I promoted & facilitated participation in external sustainability conferences & seminars. Attending these events allowed employees to gain broader insights into sustainability trends & practices, enriching their understanding & enthusiasm for sustainability. To empower employees, I ensured they had access to tools & resources that helped them make more sustainable decisions in their work. This included guidelines on sustainable purchasing, energy-saving tips & waste reduction techniques. Understanding that different teams within a company have varied priorities, I tailored sustainability messages to resonate with their specific roles & interests. For example, for the finance team, I highlighted cost savings from energy efficiency.