Why our sustainable habits stop at the office door (and what it might take to bring them in)
There’s a curious disconnect in how we approach sustainability.
In our own homes, we’re seriously conscious about our overall impact on people, communities, and the planet. Supporting local social enterprises, choosing the energy efficient washing machine, and buying the organic chicken (or cutting out meat products altogether). Sandra and Sarah from down the road have installed their solar panels, and even your skeptical grandfather is opting for reusable beeswax wrap over the plastic alternatives – the green warrior we, er, never expected.
Despite tighter pockets, we’re increasingly making environmentally and ethically responsible choices in our personal lives. A recent McKinsey survey shows two thirds of consumers factor impact into their buying decisions. We’re driven by not just a sense of responsibility, but by the clear short- and long-term benefits.
At home we have control, and we use it.
But step into the office, and we’re not nearly as decisive.
Have you noticed that the enthusiasm for the environment and “doing good” we have at home doesn’t quite follow us into work, even with the best intentions? The conversations might sound familiar:
“I really doubt I can make any substantial change at work. I’m just an analyst.”
“I want to do the right thing, but it feels like an uphill battle and there’s no incentive for me to push.”
“I’d love to support a local supplier committed to empowering women, but it seems like such a hassle, especially when the supplier we’ve always used is cheaper and easy enough to work with.”
“If Craig’s not washing out the milk bottle, why should I?” (Sorry Craig).
“I just can’t be bothered.” (Really? Come on, Craig).
Research shows this disconnect isn’t just anecdotal. At work, we lack the direct financial incentives we have at home to reduce energy consumption and rarely have access to real-time information about our individual impact, much like our smart meter or from the B-Corp logos staring at us from our kitchen cupboards.
Perhaps, more fundamentally, we’re reluctant to act because we don’t feel like it’s ours. We don’t feel as though we have a stake in the outcome.
Yet, businesses need their people.
With increasingly interconnected, complex global challenges, from climate change to social inequalities, organizations have never had more responsibility and potential to create meaningful change. They’re setting ambitious targets, not just for environmental sustainability, but for social impact and ethical governance.
But it’s not enough. At the current rate, we’re not expecting to reach net-zero emissions during this century.
There’s a missing link: your people.
For real progress to be made, sustainability needs to be woven into the DNA of the organization – from leadership, to managers, all the way to front-line teams. It’s not enough to have a sustainability team working on long-term targets. Every employee, at every level, needs to be empowered to act sustainably.
But, hang the bunting, appetite for meaningful engagement exists! Think of all the Sandras and Sarahs in their own homes – their enthusiasm is just waiting to be unleashed at work.
The power of inside-out sustainability
To give people a stake in the outcome, we should shape sustainability strategies, approaches and initiatives with our people at the core.
It might sound simple – and in many ways, it is. While it won’t solve every challenge overnight, empowering your people to take ownership of sustainability creates lasting change.
So how can we help employees bring their passion for doing the right thing at home to work?
- They need to be heard
Create regular forums to listen to your people. What matters most to them? What ideas do they have? By crowd-sourcing ideas, you can uncover innovative approaches and secure buy-in across the organization.
- They need clarity
Translate complex sustainability goals into everyday actions. Instead of sharing dense sustainability reports, create engaging content that speaks to your people’s daily experiences. This isn’t graphs, it’s people.
- They need to hear from people they trust
Create sustainability ambassadors! Those who empower passionate people from across your business to be the voice of the movement, translating high-level sustainability ambitions into actionable steps for their teams.
- They need to see their impact
Make it personal. Whether it’s a procurement specialist choosing sustainable suppliers or simply a member of the team thinking more intentionally about what they need to print – help each person see how their daily decisions contribute to the bigger picture. Create dashboards or tracking systems that show individual and team contributions to sustainability goals.
- They need to be rewarded
When you integrate sustainability metrics into performance reviews and key performance indicators (KPIs), you prove it matters just as much as other business priorities. After all, what gets measured gets done.
Small actions sparking big change
Individual actions at work can cascade into massive change. When a lab technician figures out a better way to recycle, suddenly they can spearhead an initiative to transform the whole site’s waste management process. Or when a determined researcher pushes for more inclusive clinical trials, it doesn’t just change one study – it reshapes how the entire organization thinks about patient representation. It’s that simple ripple effect: one person cycles to work, and before you know it, the bike rack is full. Someone questions packaging materials, and next thing you know, they’re fully involved in an operations working group.
These ripples become waves of change. It’s about inspiring a generation of sustainability champions to bring their enthusiasm from home into every corner of their work life. When everyone finds their thing, their purpose – whether that be diversifying the supply chain or revolutionizing packaging – it builds momentum. One person, one passion, one purpose at a time.
And when people feel they have a real responsibility to deliver on their organization’s sustainability ambition, it lasts long beyond specific initiatives and starts to become a habit. The lab technician reducing waste brings ditches single-use coffee cups. The cyclist never leaves without switching off their computer. Participating in transformative initiatives creates everyday, sustainable habits.
As we face increasingly complex global challenges, top-down mandates just won’t cut it. Real progress comes when people feel ownership, when they’re empowered to act, when they know their actions matter. It starts with showing your people they have a real stake in creating a better future – and trust me, those sustainability champions are already there, hiding in plain sight. They just need the opportunity to make their mark.
Remember Craig? He’s organizing a team rubbish collection day. Get ready to uncover your Craigs.
