SUSTAINABILITY ROBERT PERRY
Eleven ways for HR to influence on sustainability
Rob Perry, Manager Thriving People at the Sustainable Business Council, provides proven strategies for HR professionals to advocate for sustainability within their organisations.
S
14 HUMAN RESOURCES | SUMMER 2023/24
ustainability is crucial for any business. However, driving meaningful sustainability action can be challenging, which is why it’s crucial to develop a strong leadership team that is knowledgeable, committed and capable of inspiring change. HR professionals are both primed and uniquely positioned to help businesses embrace sustainability through their people management approaches, broad skillset and the deep cross-organisational connections they foster. HR leaders need to make sure they are equipped to seize this opportunity and bring it to executives’ attention. We’ve seen enormous growth and progress in the environmental sustainability space, but what about the other areas of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) suite? The
Sustainable Business Council’s recently launched flagship report Strengthening the S in ESG aims to put ‘thriving people’ at the heart of business. The report shows that ‘S’ in ESG is lagging behind the increasingly structured approaches of the ‘E’ and the ‘G’. The ‘S’ in ESG is evolving rapidly. The landscape is complex. Emerging regulations are broadening business responsibilities, while stakeholders are intensifying their scrutiny of the social performance of businesses. Yet, the ‘S’ is lagging, and action remains relatively siloed and issue-specific, with impacts falling short of ambitions. As the natural stewards for the ‘S’ in ESG, HR practitioners will be critical in broadening boardroom perspectives beyond just the ‘E’ and ‘G’. Here are 11 strategies HR professionals can use to effectively advocate for sustainability within their organisations. • Understand the business case: Before progressing with the executive team, it’s critical
•
•
•
•
•
to understand the business case for sustainability and how it aligns with the organisation’s purpose, strategic goals and objectives. Organisational maturity: Assess current progress on sustainability (including the ‘S’) to identify strengths and weaknesses, create a benchmark, and start conversations on building capability, accountability and transparency. Develop a sustainability strategy: Work with senior leadership to develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy that aligns with the organisation’s purpose and values and focuses on your material issues. Training and development: Providing sustainability leadership and development opportunities will help senior managers acquire the skills and knowledge they need to tackle these issues. Lead by example: Exemplify sustainability behaviour and practices to inspire executives. Leadership advocacy: Stay informed on legislation,
