Engaging Employees: A Key to Sustainability Success

World Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22nd April, is a global event dedicated to environmental protection. In 2025, the focus will continue to be on raising awareness about climate change, promoting environmental education, and fostering a sense of responsibility towards our planet.

According to the World Economic Forum, 48% of organisations cited a lack of employee engagement as their primary obstacle to achieving sustainability goals. 

World Earth Day is significant because it acts as a catalyst for change, encouraging individuals and organisations alike to take actionable steps towards sustainability. By highlighting the importance of collective action, it underlines the need for businesses to integrate sustainable practices into their core strategies.

Employee engagement is a key driver in the success of sustainability initiatives. When employees are actively involved and committed to sustainable practices, they are more likely to adopt and advocate for these practices in their daily work.

Engaged employees bring innovative ideas to the table, help in reducing waste, and promote a culture of sustainability within the organisation. They become ambassadors of the company's green goals, ensuring that sustainability becomes a shared responsibility across all levels.

Despite the clear benefits, a disconnect persists between organisational sustainability goals and employee awareness:​

• Information Deficit: While 82% of employees value sustainability, only 28% feel adequately informed about their company's sustainability strategy. (Jump, 2024 Sustainability Engagement Trends Report)

• Desire for Involvement: A majority of employees express a willingness to contribute to sustainability efforts but often lack the necessary resources and guidance.

Sustainability success requires an active role from everyone in your organisation, all team members, from leadership down to the front line, need to be engaged in doing their part to help the organisation achieve sustainability success.

How can you ensure employee engagement in your sustainability efforts? We’ve identified four key factors that contribute to success. To use the full potential of your workforce in achieving sustainability goals, consider the following approaches:

1. Involve Employees in Strategy Development

Engage employees in the formulation of sustainability initiatives. Their insights can lead to innovative solutions and create a sense of ownership.

2. Enhance Communication and Transparency

Regularly share updates on sustainability goals, progress, and challenges. Transparent communication builds trust and keeps employees informed and motivated.​

3. Provide Resources and Training

Equip employees with the tools and knowledge necessary to contribute effectively to sustainability efforts. Training programs can empower them to make environmentally conscious decisions in their roles.​

4. Recognise and Reward Sustainable Practices

Implement recognition programs that celebrate employees' contributions to sustainability. Acknowledgment can reinforce positive behaviours and encourage ongoing participation.

Employee apps can play a pivotal role in promoting sustainability strategies within an organisation. Employee apps serve as a central platform for communication, education, and engagement, ensuring that every employee, including frontline, dispersed teams, are aligned with the company's sustainability goals.

Through features like real-time updates, educational resources, and incentive programmes, employee apps can make sustainability a part of the daily routine, with easy access to everything. They can boost individual and collective progress, celebrate milestones, and provide a forum for sharing best practices and innovative ideas.

To implement an effective employee app for sustainability, organisations should start by clearly defining their sustainability goals and the role of the app in achieving these goals. Engaging employees in the design and testing phase can ensure the app meets their needs and preferences.

Next, organisations should focus on integrating the app with existing systems and providing comprehensive training to ensure seamless adoption. Regular updates, feedback loops, events, and competitions can keep employees motivated and engaged over the long term.

Success Stories: People, Businesses, and the Planet Thriving Together!

Many Thrive clients have successfully used their employee apps to drive their sustainability initiatives. 

For example, McCue, a commercial fit-out and bespoke joinery company in Northern Ireland, successfully procured 100% of its electricity from a green energy source for its headquarters. But beyond its main office, it had goals that each project would have a minimal impact on the environment. For that to become a reality, the company had been focused on bringing every team member, not just those at HQ, on the same journey toward sustainability.

To do so, they established a three-way collaboration with two of their existing tech suppliers – Thrive and SustainIQ. McCue uses SustainIQ, to measure, monitor and report on its sustainability efforts. The real-time reporting software provides valuable data under four key pillars of sustainability which McCue was then able to communicate out to all employees using an app from Thrive.

As we navigate the complexities of environmental challenges, the role of employees in driving sustainability cannot be overestimated. By creating a culture of engagement, organisations can not only achieve their sustainability objectives but also cultivate a resilient and committed workforce.