Sustainability: Is Your Business Doing Enough?

Sustainability is a major topic across many industries, with employees indicating that they want greater openness about their workplace’s environmental impact. The significance of this topic will only become more apparent as we move away from the post-pandemic period. As companies return to a new normal, acknowledging that peoples’ priorities have changed, corporate sustainability is once again shifting into focus particularly for the younger generations of workers.

With this in mind, many workplaces are overhauling their business models to reflect a modern sustainability strategy. By offering more eco-conscious practices, businesses have a greater chance of retaining and attracting candidates who seek employment at a company with a corporate sustainability culture.

The engineering and manufacturing industries are confident about the possibility of increased sustainability in workplaces. In a recent global Harris Poll survey commissioned by Google Cloud, manufacturing executives expressed the greatest optimism in their company’s commitment and reported the highest rates of office sustainability practices and efforts to offset their carbon footprint. 55% reported they were designing products and offerings with sustainability in mind and 56% reported they were taking steps to operate more sustainably.

So that brings us to the question – why sustainability and is your business doing enough?

Employees Demand Sustainability Strategies and Practices

The modern worker desires an employer that doesn’t just have aspirations for sustainability but shows commitment to those aspirations. According to a recent report by Deloitte, a meaningful response to climate change is critical to protecting resources, generating long-term sustainable value and attracting and retaining high-performing young employees.

A 2019 Totaljobs survey of UK workers found that 28% of workers said they would check a company’s sustainable practices before an interview. For Millennials, this statistic climbs to 39%. In addition, Millennials reported they were prepared to reduce their salary by £11,400 if it was a role at a company or NGO that worked to protect the environment. Two-thirds of Millennials, meanwhile, would consider not working for a company that damages the environment.

With the UK engineering industry widely reporting a skills shortage, showcasing a commitment to sustainable practices can make all the difference in attracting the most sought-after workers and ensuring employee retention.

Aligning with Candidates’ Values

The Covid-19 pandemic brought sustainability issues to the fore and gave companies the opportunity to restructure back to a more sustainable model. According to Knight Frank’s 12 Dynamics of the Post-Covid-19 Workplace, the form and function of the workplace will change and evolve going forward and increasingly become a place for socialisation, collaboration, innovation and education. In turn, employees will have a renewed focus on reducing carbon footprint, health and wellbeing and supporting local businesses.

Workplaces must respond to this changed focus in order to align with the values of their employees. Candidates will find themselves drawn to organisations whose values align with their own and are demonstrated throughout all levels of the business.

Steps to Increasing Sustainability in the Workplace

As we mentioned, the modern worker seeks an employer that doesn’t just have aspirations for sustainability but shows commitment to those aspirations.

There are three key steps to increasing sustainability in the workplace:

1. A Visible Sustainability Strategy

Businesses must develop a sustainability strategy that is built into their wider business strategy.

Where possible, your strategy and results should be visible to potential candidates seeking more information about the company and its values. Employees appreciate openness and honesty when it comes to sustainability; while you may think that your company isn’t far along in its eco-friendly journey, demonstrating that you take the issue seriously and are making progress is still a good approach.

The KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting has tracked changes in sustainability reporting since the survey was first published in 1993. Back then only 12% of companies published sustainability reports. Now in 2022, 96% of G250 companies report on sustainability.

A good and clear sustainability strategy will naturally elevate your company’s reputation and entice employees who have like-minded values. One way to showcase your business’ commitment to sustainability can be by seeking awards and recognition from outside organisations.

2. Integrating Sustainability with Company Culture

A sustainability strategy that integrates with a company’s culture and people practices is more likely to succeed when attracting sought-after candidates and retaining eco-conscious workers.

By engaging your employees, the business will be able to effectively communicate your company ethos while actively making changes for the better. For example, introducing awards for an Eco-Hero of the Month, encouraging sustainable changes such as cycling to work or recycling waste and providing passionate employees with the opportunity to identify and champion their own sustainable innovations.

Your employees are also a valuable resource for assessing your business’ progress. Giving your people the chance to be involved in the strategy can be beneficial for everyone in the organisation.

3. Committing to Demonstrating Sustainability

A well-considered sustainability strategy must go hand-in-hand with tangible efforts to increase sustainability. Eco-initiatives can often seem costly, however, studies show that well-managed sustainability efforts can lead to profitability. Businesses that fail to take sustainability seriously risk losing existing eco-conscious employees to organisations offering attractive packages for candidates with green skills.

Take tangible steps to increase sustainability in the workplace. Cut down on waste, change lightbulbs to LED, create a hard-to-recycle station, challenge suppliers to cut down on waste, actively seek volunteer opportunities and partner with nonprofit groups to create a more sustainable workplace.

Summary

Embracing corporate sustainability can be a challenge for many organisations. However, it is essential for leading your business into the future.

As employees seek more eco-conscious workplaces, it is worthwhile to reflect on your company’s sustainability strategy and consider if you are doing enough. By creating a visible sustainability strategy, integrating green practices with company culture and committing to demonstrating environmentally friendly actions, your business can reap excellent benefits.

For assistance from our specialists in engineering recruitment, reach out to the team at CV Consulting. As a UK recruitment agency, we’re able to draw on a vast network to help you find the perfect candidate for your engineering roles.