When you look at sustainability as a whole, it can appear overwhelming. It spans environments, societies, and the way organizations function. At a closer look, sustainability can still look overwhelming. When you dissect every pillar, there is an array of topics and subtopics waiting to be uncovered. Learning about climate change and sustainability can be cumbersome with its heavy jargon, scientific concepts, evolving practices, and emerging regulations.
Sustainability is constantly changing along with time and the state of our environment. As climate change continues to affect society, we are pressured to act and create changes in our current practices in order to build more sustainable and resilient businesses and communities. Sustainability has evolved into a vital part of business and it is crucial for business leaders to kickstart their transition into sustainability.
Taking a business from its traditional practices to more sustainable operations requires a smooth sustainability integration through the form of education and training. We cannot effectively combat an enemy we do not know. We also cannot effectively build sustainable businesses if our people are not properly aligned with business goals. To adopt sustainable practices, a business must first help its members embrace sustainability.
Incorporating sustainability into onboarding, and learning and development programs fosters a culture of sustainability. This keeps people informed about company goals and how sustainability applies to their respective functions, building a greater sense of environmental and societal awareness and responsibility and motivating them to apply sustainable practices in their day-to-day activities. Through sustainability training, businesses are able to be more resilient. For example, procurement and sourcing teams can apply sustainable sourcing practices to mitigate risk and ensure their suppliers have no negative impact on people and the environment. Logistics, operations, and supply chain teams can apply sustainability by finding ways to reduce environmental waste and emissions. People-centric teams can contribute to resiliency and sustainability through programs and activities that empower, educate, and uplift both internal and external stakeholders.
Sustainability can be implemented across the organization and it starts with integrating sustainability through an effective training program.
An effective sustainability training program is able to upskill and empower individuals and equip them with the right tools and resources that can steer them towards sustainable business practices. These programs can be likened to the characteristics of the overall sustainability landscape: dynamic and evolving. A sustainability program should be effective, adaptive, and in the state of continuous improvement. Here are a few steps to kick off your sustainability training program:
Sustainability programs are dependent on the needs of the company. To start developing a training program, assigned teams must first evaluate what is material to the business. This can be done by going through established sustainability materiality assessments that detail key sustainability topics and issues that have high impact and relevance to the business and its stakeholders. Training program developers can also look into the company’s overall sustainability goals and objectives and their current performance and progress. By understanding business needs and current performance, the team can build a robust training program that addresses areas where the business can make the most impact, whether it be improving energy efficiency or reducing waste.
Now that we understand that a sustainability training program must cater to the sustainability goals of a business, it is time to lay out the details of the training program.
Given the complexity and newness of sustainability, it is important to ensure a smooth transition, transforming employees into passive and wary individuals into active and committed participants who practice sustainability daily. To do this, a business must first educate and inform employees about sustainability and its relevance to the business. Sustainability needs to matter to them on a personal level. Inform them about how climate change can impact their work and their personal life. Inform them about how sustainability can help alleviate, mitigate, and prevent further risk. By shaping minds towards urgent action, employees can be more motivated to help strengthen sustainability strategies in the company.
Yet this doesn’t end with motivating and informing employees about sustainability and its core topics. A sustainability training program comes to life by providing specific resources and tools that resonate with the functions, duties, and responsibilities of a team or an individual. Keep the content of your program relevant and timely to the needs of the business. Use realistic examples and case studies they can relate to and apply in the workplace. A good sustainability training program is informative. An effective sustainability training program ensures real-life application.
Sustainability training begins when a new hire joins the company. Its effectiveness must last beyond their stay, creating a long-lasting impact and building their capacity to act sustainably in future endeavors and in their personal lives. An effective sustainability training program should be incorporated across the business, its functions, and all its levels.
Ensure that employees are able to access the program and it is implemented in their operations. Make sure that teams spend time to learn more about sustainability and how it applies to them. Demonstrate sustainability leadership by embedding sustainability from top management as this can encourage more members of the company to follow. Work with sustainability experts that can help ease learning and development. Incorporating sustainability training and education is an activity that stretches across the company. Its results should be visible in the company’s sustainability journey. Continuous activation and implementation is needed to ensure that the business progresses towards sustainable development.
Everybody learns and absorbs information differently and a diverse training program keeps employees engaged and motivated to learn more.
Utilize different teaching methods, from visual aid to interactive modules. Create quizzes that help people review what they learned in a specific module. Make videos that can be easily absorbed and watched by different audiences. Create presentations or documents that are both rich in information and easy to view. Seminars and workshops can also be conducted to keep audiences engaged and allow interaction between experts and teams.
Make sure your sustainability program is effective. The strength of your program will show in how teams practice sustainability and how new changes and strategies contribute to overall sustainability performance. See if there is any visible progress being made. Engage with employees and management to determine if there are any gaps that need to be filled, if there are topics that need further attention and if the materials provided are sufficient in an educational and design perspective.
Learning is a continuous process. Sustainability teams and management must keep up with the best sustainability practices and new changes in policies and regulations. A sustainability training program should be continuously updated, informing employees about the new landscape and with practices they can adopt to keep up with the evolving environment. Continuous engagement and improvement can deepen enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment towards sustainability.
Creating sustainable businesses is a team effort. Companies need sustainability-focused leaders to help steer initiatives geared toward future-proofing the business. A sustainability training program not only improves the company but also future-proofs its people by equipping them with the knowledge and capacities to practice sustainability in everything they do. By designing an effective sustainability training program, a company can foster a strong culture of sustainability and transform the way we do business.
At Keslio, we are deeply passionate about sustainability, equipping us with the expertise and extensive network needed to guide clients through their sustainability journey effectively and efficiently. Our expertise is particularly valuable for companies looking to embed sustainability practices into their businesses and investors looking to integrate ESG and impact into investment portfolios. To learn more about how Keslio can assist your organization on its sustainability journey, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
