In 2023, corporate sustainability will be an essential strategy for every major corporation, and most small businesses will be engaged in developing sustainability plans and programs, as well. Yet, there simply are not enough skilled sustainability professionals to go around. The demand for green talent has become incredible, with some roles seeing a 38.5 percent growth rate, and already, many organizations are struggling to develop and implement sustainability strategies without sufficient support from knowledgeable and skilled staff. Likely, businesses will continue to see a dearth of green talent for years to come as the next generation of sustainability professionals gain training and experience.
Yet, few organizations can afford to wait to act upon their sustainability hopes and dreams. As sustainability becomes an important factor driving consumer and employee engagement, business leaders need to be able to build and execute sustainable strategies as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are ways for executives to leap over the sustainability skills gap.
Invest in Professional Development for Existing Leaders and Workers
It is a well-known fact in business that training existing employees is dramatically less expensive than hiring new ones. The primary reason that organizations continue to prioritize attracting new talent over investing in professional development is time. It will take weeks, if not months or years, for current leaders and workers to develop the same level of expertise as a sustainability professional — even a sustainability professional who is fresh out of school. Yet, when the demand for green talent is so intense, it is likely that organizations will need to wait some time before they can acquire a dedicated sustainability worker, and in the meantime, they might as well put their budget toward improving the sustainability knowledge and skill of existing staff.
There are all manner of short sustainability courses available online, with information targeting every level of employee. For example, executives might enroll in business sustainability strategy courses to gain insights about practices, processes, programs and projects they might enact without the help of sustainability experts.
Focus on Sustainability Programs That Do Not Require Expert Help
While more advanced and intricate sustainability initiatives will thrive with strategy and supervision from a sustainability expert, not all green programs require guidance from a dedicated professional. Business leaders equipped with knowledge and skill from sustainability courses might be more adept at identifying organizational areas ripe for simple sustainable improvement, but almost every business can benefit from these relatively easy-to-enact green projects:
- Change product packaging to recyclable materials and provide end users with tools for responsible disposal of packaging.
- Sell overstock or slightly defective products at a discount, which reduces wastefulness and provides a new stream of income.
- Increase remote work opportunities for staff, to reduce the need for workers to commute everyday to corporate offices.
- Invest in energy-efficient office appliances, to include digital devices, break room appliances and lighting.
Leaders should invite current employees to engage in brainstorming for additional green projects that might eliminate waste, improve efficiency and add to an increasingly green image for the brand.
Build Teams Around Must-have Green Expertise
As green talent becomes more readily available, organizations should integrate sustainability professionals strategically to ensure they do not waste their budget on unnecessary expertise. Leaders should think critically about their most pressing sustainable projects requiring expert oversight and hire specifically candidates that have skills and experience to ensure the success of those projects.
Depending on the scope of those projects, it might be possible to leverage the power of contingent workers, like sustainability consultants. The primary benefits of hiring sustainability consultants or other short-term, third-party sustainability experts include that an organization will not be paying them an ongoing salary for years to come; they can access deep knowledge and skill to complete a specific project with clear objectives for a straightforward, agreed-upon fee. What’s more, organizations can return to the same sustainability contingent workers again when they have another green need.
In the coming years, almost every organization will need to adopt a strong sustainability strategy — or else face the wrath of green-minded consumers and the fees of increasing amounts of climate-friendly regulation. Before more sustainability professionals emerge onto the job market, business leaders can begin developing and executing their sustainability strategies — as long as they know how to do so to success.
