Three ways to engage your employees on your sustainability journey

Sustainability is a hot topic for today’s workforce. 70% of Gen Z and millennials say environmental credentials are important to them when choosing an employer, and more than 1 in 10 have changed jobs because of concerns about environmental impact.

This means employee engagement should be a key part of your CSR strategy. When people understand and relate to your sustainability mission, they feel involved, invested and engaged. 

There are lots of ways you can bring your team along for the ride. To give just one example, setting up an EV salary sacrifice scheme is a planet-friendly move that helps your team save money, too.

It all ties back to a sense of purpose – something that 89% of Gen Z and 92% of millennials say is somewhat or very important for their job satisfaction and wellbeing. 

As an employer, you can help build your employees’ sense of purpose:

• At work – by involving them in the company’s sustainability ambitions
• At home – by helping them make greener choices like switching to an electric car. 

Your team is your most important asset. When people feel engaged, motivated and proud: 

• They stick around longer
• It supports their wellbeing
• They spread positive energy about your brand
• It drives better business results.

It all starts with giving people the tools, the voice and the recognition to make a difference. 

You’ll want to make sure everyone understands the how and why of sustainability. What are the company’s goals? Why is sustainability important to the business? When people can answer these questions, they can start to visualise how their role fits in. 

You can then build up your team’s sustainability knowledge. Help people contribute in small ways to the bigger picture – for example by reducing waste, making smarter energy choices, or switching to an electric vehicle. Plan some workshops about sustainability topics and invite a guest speaker to set the tone.

You don’t need to call the trophy engravers. A simple shout-out can go a long way. If colleagues take part in a rubbish clean-up, for example, share photos or a video clip from the day. It feels good to be recognised, and the sustainability momentum will soon build. 

One of the most impactful things a person can do for the environment is switch to an electric car. Businesses that set up an EV salary sacrifice scheme through Octopus Electric Vehicles like to spread the word in the office.

“This month is our anniversary” says Estelle Chijarira Košš, Head of People at Whisper TV. We've got 15 people with cars and a few more waiting for theirs. So it's been a success!”

Movements work best from the ground up, so encourage people to lead their own initiatives. They could set up an EV owners club, or lead a lunchtime workshop about a sustainability topic they’re passionate about. 

These activities spark creativity and innovation and can be a chance for people to spot opportunities that leadership teams miss. By giving your team freedom to act, you’re building a culture where sustainability is baked in.

Not every employee will leap at the chance to join your green mission. Skeptics might wonder how it affects their day-to-day role or suspect that sustainability is just a corporate buzzword. Let’s face some of these concerns head-on. 

Go back to the big picture. When people understand why sustainability is a business priority, and how it benefits the team, the business, the planet and them personally, the evidence is compelling. 

Lead by example. Contribute to conversations about sustainability, make green choices yourself, and advocate for the company’s perks and benefits.

Stay flexible. Not everyone will be in the same place, or care about the same things. Give people a range of ways to get involved so sustainability feels accessible, not exclusive. 

Start by identifying some clear KPIs. (Remember when these were just called objectives?) You might choose to measure:

• EV uptake through your salary sacrifice scheme
• Reduction in carbon emissions per employee
• How well your internal sustainability communications perform 
• Survey metrics including attitudes to sustainability.

But numbers only tell part of the story. Ask your employees for candid feedback – what’s working, what’s missing, and what would help them do more? Show them that sustainability isn’t just a one-off campaign but an ongoing collaboration.

Here are a few ideas that will benefit the business, your employees and the environment. 

• Volunteer – Set aside one or two days a year for the team to volunteer in environmental activities. You could plant trees, maintain a local park or clean up a beach. 
• Go green on energy – Invest in solar panels to power your business. It’s a visible signal that you’re committed to sustainability, and will help reduce the company’s carbon footprint, too.
• Start composting – Reduce what you send to landfill by asking employees to sort their food waste. You can ask the council to collect it or go fully DIY and make your own compost for the office garden.
• Ditch single-use cups – The UK throws away over 3 billion takeaway cups each year (and they’re very rarely recyclable). You can encourage people to make the switch by ordering some nice branded mugs and water bottles for the team (think Love Island).
• Switch to electric cars – Our EV salary sacrifice scheme will cost your company nothing to set up and helps employees save up to 40% on an electric car. We offer leasing and fleet solutions, too. 

Don’t think of your employees as passengers on your journey to a sustainable future. Get them involved, help them take action and celebrate their achievements. This helps build a sense of purpose that’s the key to a motivated and engaged team. 

Small choices can add up to powerful results. Whether that’s your company’s biggest flat white fanatic breaking up with their barista to brew up at the office for the first time. Or the reformed petrolhead taking delivery of their first electric car. 

Is it time to kick that conversation off?