The concern over environmental issues across the globe is growing. Younger generations now rate environmental issues as one of their top causes for concern and have come to expect their employers to be behind the green agenda. It's the expected thing to do, and the right thing to do.
Building a green and sustainable workplace can have a very positive impact on attracting and retaining quality talent.
Research from Cone Communications suggests that 91% of millennials would switch to use a brand based on its commitment to social good and investment in things like sustainability. Over the last few years, big names have started to lead the charge and prioritise sustainability in the workplace.
Facebook has a dedicated website for sustainability. According to the site, they're committed to 'reducing our greenhouse gas footprint by 75% and reaching 100% renewable energy by 2020'. They also publicly release their sustainability numbers and progress.
Google also has a dedicated hub for sustainability and report on sustainability, as well as being transparent about their progress. They've also created an Environmental Insights Explorer, which offers data and environmental insights for major cities around the world to raise awareness. More noticeably restaurants and bars have begun to remove single-use plastics and straws due to growing demand from consumers and government - while the EU has voted to ban a large range of single-use plastics by 2021.
Companies and governments know that doing this not only forces them to be accountable for their actions, but it directly feeds into their talent strategy too.
2 ways being more sustainable will benefit your talent strategy
Reducing your business's carbon footprint can benefit your business in many ways. In this blog, we explore how a green and sustainable workplace impacts your business's talent strategy.
1. Improve your Employer Brand
Communicating your environmental policy can enhance your reputation with current and future employees, which will have a direct effect on attracting and retaining talent.
According to Forbes, Generation Z are concerned for the environment, as they are the generation who will bear the brunt of climate change issues. It's important that your company is aligned with that concern and committed to creating a sustainable workplace.
Unilever are a great example of a brand using sustainability to improve their employer brand. The brand's Global Resourcing Director Paul Maxin credits sustainability as a core factor to improving their Employer Brand,
'Product innovation and sustainable living are at the core of our business, and thus at the core of our brand. This is inextricably linked with our employer brand: we consider ourselves the outstanding employer of choice for people committed to 'working on the future' in a sustainable way'.
Showing that you're accountable and transparent about reducing the company's carbon footprint will demonstrate integrity and a drive to make a real change to future candidates. Ensure that you regularly report on progress and build initiatives in your organisation to impact positive change.
2. Positively impact your budget
Reducing your carbon footprint can save you money across your business. According to PepsiCo's sustainability report, it saved over �370 million due to its sustainability initiatives.
Going paperless is one example of how you can reduce recyclable waste and stationary. At Cpl we've recently made our hiring process all paperless, significantly reducing our paper usage. According to Tech Republic, corrections, revisions, and updates on printed documents contribute to 90% of all office waste in the US, so finding alternatives is a great start.
Not only can this help you save budget but think about the savings from your recruitment spent. With both Millennials and Gen Z seeing sustainability as a priority for any business, it can help you retain key talent for as long as possible.
Overall, sustainability can be used to strengthen your Employer Brand for current and future employees and is the right thing to do for future generations.
Transparency is key in creating that image. If you outline a plan to make your business more sustainable, it's vital that you're reporting on that progress honestly and openly for potential candidates to see.
Sustainability can also have a big impact on your recruitment budget and bottom line. By showing an effort to reduce your carbon footprint to the millennial and Gen Z demographics, this will reflect positively for acquiring and retaining talent.
Interested in growing your business?
Cplis a global provider of recruitment and total talent solutions for all types of companies, from start-ups to multinationals in every sector.
If you'd like to discuss how we can help your business get in touch tobook a free consultation.