Motivation
Sustainability and environmental issues aren't always at the forefront of people's minds when at work because, at first, business benefits might not be obvious. The reality is though, by adopting a positive attitude towards sustainability, it can result in winning more business which benefits everyone within the organisation.
The public sector is leading the way in promoting sustainability within the UK. For example, for the London 2012 Olympics, potential suppliers must adhere to the Sustainable Sourcing Code in order to be considered. An Environmental Policy and Sustainability Policy are normally minimum requirements when applying for any public sector or local authority tenders.
Considering the environment isn't just a proven business winner however. By cutting waste from implementing an environmental management system like ISO 14001, it leads to reduced costs and increased profit margin.
If you can't motivate the sceptics with the possibility of winning more business, what about the fear factor? Can you find competitors who are leading the field in sustainability? Any member of the management team should be concerned if you're not one step ahead of the competition!
Finally, there is legislation to consider. Environmental issues will never go away, so the sooner your organisation gets to grip with current regulations, the better. Staying ahead of the curve by being proactive towards future legislation can result in saving money too.
Reputation
The BP oil spillage was a major environmental disaster and knocked BP's reputation considerably. The unfortunate event made it clear how important an issue the environment is for the worldwide community.
Have you considered how your organisation's brand and reputation could be enhanced by engaging in sustainability? Customers, shareholders, employees and the local community can all feel better about being associated with you when they know you're doing your utmost to be environmentally friendly. In the current financial climate, adding value to what you offer may be the difference when trying to keep and win over new customers.
Champions
If you're reading this article, there is a high chance that you are your organisation's sustainability champion! It's important to get everyone involved, but your work may be made easier if you can identify fellow colleagues who are interested in your organisation becoming more environmentally friendly.
Planning
Before expecting buy-in, there should be a plan in place that analyses risks and opportunities. Targets are essential, and it's important to know what resources and budget would be required to implement any initiatives.
Many initiatives aren't always initially attractive because they are based around a life-cycle approach. For example, buying a new printer may seem an expensive extravagance at first, but not if it pays for itself by using less ink over it's lifetime.
Building your sustainability plans into your organisation's ethos is important in order to ensure it becomes part of your ongoing mission. By making the environment a consideration in all business functions, from job inductions, to travel, to procurement, your plans can be repeated to the workforce on a daily basis.
We hope the above helps give you some ideas into how to gain buy-in from everyone within your organisation. You may also find other other green articles on the right-hand side helpful when it comes to moving onto the next steps.
The British Assessment Bureau's reputation was established in 1969 and we achieved pre-eminent status in 1997.
As well as providing certification to internationally recognised standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, we provide bespoke assessment services for people, services and organisations of all sizes.
For more information visit www.british-assessment.co.uk.
